"Even with Coffee Trucks Sent" Samsung Also Upset... Idol Boasted About 'iPhone' After Contract Ended

Boys Next Door Takes iPhone Selfie in Front of Reporters
Collaborates on Various Projects Sponsored by Galaxy
"Samsung Also Uncomfortable... Full Review of Celebrity Marketing"

The group Boy Next Door is taking out an iPhone and taking photos at Incheon International Airport. [Source=YouTube channel 'Newsen']

An idol group that had been sponsored with Galaxy phones by Samsung Electronics recently sparked controversy by openly taking out iPhones.

Boy Next Door departed for Madrid, Spain through Incheon International Airport on the 11th for an overseas performance. On the day of departure, they posed in various ways for photographers at the airport entrance. At that moment, one of the members took out an iPhone, and the other members looked at it and took a selfie together. Additionally, three of the members were wearing Apple products such as AirPods Max.

Samsung Electronics sent a coffee truck to the pre-recording site of the music show by Boy Next Door last April. [Source=Online Community]

The issue was that they had been using Galaxy phones sponsored by Samsung Electronics until recently. In November last year, Samsung Electronics conducted a photo shoot for Boy Next Door’s Galaxy Z Flip5 advertisement through a fashion magazine. Also, a month later, they invited Boy Next Door and 100 of their fans to a special event at the Galaxy S23 FE launch party.

In particular, at the pre-recording site of their music show after releasing new music in April, Samsung sent a coffee truck with the phrase "Galaxy supports Boy Next Door’s future shining like stars in the night sky" to encourage them. Moreover, in May, Samsung C&T’s new clothing brand 'Sand Sound' installed a stylish photo zone matching the group name Boy Next Door at the Seongsu popup store, attracting attention. Having collaborated with Samsung Electronics in various ways over a considerable period, their act of immediately taking out a competitor Apple’s iPhone after the contract ended has been criticized as somewhat reckless.

On the 14th, Herald Economy reported that "Samsung is also quite displeased, and there are internal calls for a comprehensive review of celebrity marketing for Galaxy products." Netizens also expressed unfavorable views such as "If I were the advertising manager, I would be really angry," "There is no consideration for the sponsor at all," and "What advertiser would like such behavior?"