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Japanese actor Sakaguchi Kentaro is once again making waves across Asia, but this time not entirely for his charm. After rising to even greater fame through his recent drama collaboration with South Korean actress Lee Se-young, titled The Love That Came After, the actor announced a long-awaited return to Seoul for his fan meeting event.
However, the ticket prices for the 90-minute show have stirred considerable backlash online.
Sakaguchi last held a fan meeting in South Korea back in September 2023. Now, nearly 18 months later, he's returning for another round with fans—but with a noticeable price hike.
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The official organiser, Sound Alliance, released ticketing details on 9 April through social media, sparking immediate debate.
Tickets for the Seoul stop of his Asia tour are divided into three tiers, ranging from 142,000 KRW to a staggering 253,000 KRW.
The priciest tier offers several perks: a “Hi-Bye” session, group photo, official poster, exclusive photocards, and a lucky draw chance to receive an autographed poster.
Despite these extras, the steep pricing has triggered backlash among Korean netizens.
Many were quick to compare the current rates to those of 2023, where tickets maxed out at 143,000 KRW—nearly half the current premium price.
The short 90-minute duration of the event only added fuel to the fire. Comments flooded online platforms, with fans expressing both disappointment and frustration.
Some sarcastically asked if the price hike included “Trump-style tariffs,” while others questioned whether a simple fan meeting without a full performance deserved such high prices.
“Yes24 Hall, 253,000 won? Insane, especially for just 90 minutes,” one user commented. Others voiced their dilemma, saying they wanted to go but simply couldn’t justify the cost.
Though Sakaguchi’s popularity remains sky-high, the sentiment online is clear: fans aren’t happy with what they see as unreasonable ticket inflation.
As his Asia tour moves forward, all eyes will be on whether organisers in other countries adjust pricing—or if fans will continue to push back against what many now label as “VIP pricing without the VIP experience.”