RESCENE's Woni sparks controversy over cutting Pokemon card packs

RESCENE member Woni has become the center of controversy in Japanese online communities after a clip showing her cutting unopened Pokemon card packs with scissors went viral. However, as the context of the full live broadcast has emerged, both criticism toward Woni and defensive opinions stating that "the store owner's suggestion was the trigger" are surfacing simultaneously.

On the 21st, during a live broadcast on RESCENE's official YouTube channel, Woni visited a Pokemon card shop to perform a "box-opening" segment, opening cards worth approximately 600,000 won.

Woni, who mentioned she previously had little interest in Pokemon, explained her motivation for participating by saying, "Because you all called me Charmander, I gradually became interested," and "I enjoy things like gacha and box-opening, so I decided to do this card-opening content."

As Woni opened the prepared card packs one by one, she checked the rarity and value of the cards in real-time with her fans. She showed reactions typical of a novice collector, such as asking fans if the cards she pulled were good.

The controversy stemmed from a special opening method suggested by the store owner. The owner suggested a method to Woni where she would cut unopened card packs through the middle with scissors, calling it a "box-opening trend popular in the United States."

Woni did not readily agree at first. She hesitated twice, but after the owner repeatedly encouraged her, she eventually picked up the scissors and cut the unopened packs herself.

However, once the packs were opened, the cards inside included Pikachu and other cards that other members had been looking forward to, rather than the Charmander card Woni had originally wanted. Since the packs had already been cut, Woni expressed disappointment. Afterward, she continued to check the cards by opening the packs one by one in the usual manner.

The issue arose because it was not the overall flow of the live broadcast that caused trouble, but rather the specific scene of "Woni cutting unopened Pokemon card packs with scissors" being edited separately and spread online.

Particularly in Japanese online communities, where Pokemon cards are perceived as products combining collection culture and rarity rather than mere toys or consumables, there was significant resistance to the act of intentionally damaging unopened packs. Some Japanese netizens expressed critical reactions, claiming Woni disregarded the value of the cards.

However, the atmosphere shifted somewhat after the full content of the broadcast was shared. As it became known that Woni did not actively suggest the action but acted following the store owner's explanation and repeated encouragement, opinions defending Woni began to appear.

Some Japanese netizens reacted with sentiments such as, "It seems like the owner instigated it," "RESCENE worked hard to become famous, so why did the owner suggest such behavior?" and "Now that I know the full story, I actually feel sorry for Woni."

Of course, the criticism has not completely vanished. Opinions such as "Even if she was encouraged, Woni was the one who ultimately picked up the scissors" or "Even if it is a card she purchased, it is difficult to understand the act of cutting unopened packs during a broadcast watched by fans" continue to emerge.

This controversy serves as an example of how a short, edited video can convey the actual event in a vastly different context. Especially as idols' overseas activities become more active, there are increasing cases where the same action is interpreted with entirely different meanings between domestic fandom culture and the collection/consumption culture in overseas regions, including Japan.

Woni did not continue any separate actions after cutting the card packs, and the scene itself appeared as part of the content production following the store's suggestion within the overall flow of the live broadcast. However, considering the cultural perception of Pokemon cards and the sentiments of collectors, the controversy sparked by the short video may not subside easily.