Eric, 23-year-old Korean singer and member of K-pop boy group THE BOYZ, accidentally shared a photo of a condom pack, mistaking it for a box of Pepero sticks Monday morning. To share heartwarming wishes on November 11, celebrated every year as Pepero Day, a South Korean celebration similar to Valentine’s Day K-pop idol Day posted a handwritten letter to his fans. The affectionate message was accompanied by a photo of what he wholeheartedly believed to be Pepero, the sensation Korean snacka chocolate-covered stick, at the heart of the beloved holiday.

“I could buy 4.03 million Pepero sticks for the Derbys I love,” he wrote to THE BOYZ fandom.

However, it was only late in life that Eric finally realized that his “Pepero” purchase was actually a packet of condoms that amusingly resembled the festive packaging usually carried by Pepero boxes. What ultimately became the cause of the K-pop star’s embarrassment was a collaborative product made in a partnership between manufacturer Barun Saenggak and GS25 convenience stores. The limited edition product “Love Day 11.11” was only available through Pepero Day.

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Eric from THE BOYZ removes condom message on Pepero Day + explains

A delayed reveal ultimately caused hilarious embarrassment among K-pop fans and perhaps a humorously embarrassing central memory for the 4th generation idol.

In a pertinent response to the issue, he finally explained himself on fan communication app Bubble: “Happy Pepero Day! Honestly, I’m so embarrassed right now that I want to hide for a week. In an obvious move, THE BOYZ member found comfort in fans’ responses, agreeing that they could have easily fallen into this trap as well.

Eric also confirmed through his series of Bubble messages that he picked up the packet of “Pepero-like” condoms from a convenience store to share a heartfelt message with his fans. The hilarious mistaken identity ultimately led him to quickly delete the post as he realized.

Condom brand apologizes after THE BOYZ Eric’s hilarious mix-up

The condom manufacturer also reacted Monday afternoon to the avoided scandal. “We sincerely apologize for the confusion caused,” read the official statement on their Instagram page.

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The post continues: “We created this adorable set as a special event product called LOVE DAY 11.11, specifically for November 11th. We’re aware of comments saying: “I bought this thinking it was Pepero”, “Why make adult products so cute?” and “Barun Saenggak should apologize.” We apologize; it was entirely our responsibility.

Also urging people to keep an open mind about contraception, the brand wrote: “Our brand activities aim to reduce negative perceptions when purchasing or owning contraceptives. The condoms included in this product are considered medical devices and not adult products and may be purchased by adolescents. If our product can raise awareness, we will accept all responsibility for this incident.

The statement concluded: “We also sincerely apologize to the GS25 store managers who may have mistakenly displayed the product in the snack aisle rather than the appropriate section. »