What Are Your Thoughts on K-pop Companies Encouraging Fan Spending?

I’ve been thinking about how K-pop companies have so many ways for fans to spend money—voting apps, fan club memberships, limited-edition merch, album versions, and even streaming goals. Obviously, supporting idols financially is part of being a fan, but sometimes it feels like companies really push competition between fandoms to drive up sales.

Things like voting battles and bulk-buying for charts can make some fans feel pressured to spend more just to ‘do their part.’ And while all this definitely helps idols succeed, I wonder—where’s the line between genuine support and being taken advantage of?

Do you think companies are just doing smart business, or do they take it too far sometimes? Have you ever felt pressured to spend money just to keep up?