K-pop snack collaboration gone wrong? Fans protest after Stray Kids’ Han missing from Pepero package

The special edition Pepero package sold in Canada / Captured from X

A Stray Kids collaboration package for the Korean snack product Pepero, produced by Lotte Wellfood, has sparked controversy among fans after it was discovered that one member, HAN, was missing from the design. The special-edition package, sold in Canada, quickly drew backlash online as fans questioned why only seven of the eight members appeared on the box.

Photos of the collaboration box began circulating online on Dec. 21, after a fan shared an image allegedly taken at a Canadian store. The packaging showed Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N — but HAN’s image was absent, leading fans to call out what they viewed as an inexplicable omission in an officially licensed group product.

Fans tagged the brand’s official accounts and demanded an explanation, with some users saying they found it difficult to see the incident as a simple oversight. Others criticized the move as disrespectful for excluding a single member from a group promotion, while some called for a temporary boycott until the company issued a response or corrective action.

Captured from X

As criticism continued to spread, Lotte Wellfood issued an official apology on Dec. 23, acknowledging the mistake. The company said, “Lotte Wellfood has identified an issue with the PEPERO × Stray Kids package design sold in Canada since December, in which the image of Stray Kids member ‘HAN’ was omitted.” The apology was released in both English and Korean.

Lotte Wellfood also said it apologized directly to Han and added, “We once again sincerely apologize to 'HAN' and fans for any inconvenience and confusion caused.” The company said it is continuing to monitor fan feedback and will provide further guidance for customers who purchased the product.

Stray Kids / Xportsnews

Discussion has continued to circulate across fandom communities and social media, where users are sharing photos of the packaging and debating whether global brand collaborations involving K-pop artists require stricter design review to prevent similar controversies in the future.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.