“82WORLD: LA,” a large-scale festival hosted by the global K-pop platform hello82, is facing backlash from early ticket buyers after rolling out a last-minute promotion offering sizable store credits just weeks before it opens, TenAsia reported on the 30th. “82WORLD: LA” is hello82's first large outdoor festival, held on October 17 and 18 at Los Angeles State Historic Park. Day one features P1Harmony at the top of a bill that includes AMPERS&ONE, BE:FIRST, cosmosy, GIRLSET, xikers and 8TURN, while day two centers on ATEEZ and the fan-experience program “ATEEZ x TINY ISLAND.” The controversial promotion gives new two-day ticket buyers about $200 in hello82 online store credit, and buyers of the $599 two-day “club82” package $300 in credit. hello82 first sold a limited number of two-day passes for $82 on Black Friday in November 2025, before a single artist had been announced, followed by a $150 presale in April; the final lineup was only revealed in August. Current regular prices are $299 for a general two-day pass and $599 for the club82 package, which includes an exclusive viewing area, entrance lane and restrooms. Early buyers, who purchased tickets trusting the brand without knowing the lineup, are protesting what they see as reverse discrimination, since later buyers now receive bigger perks. One buyer argued that early purchasers who spent more than $700 should also be offered remedies such as refunds, and complaints have also grown over delays in announcing essential information such as the timetable, venue map and accommodation details. After the criticism, hello82 quietly deleted the promotional post from its official social media, but has not explained the deletion or whether the perks have been withdrawn. Some local fans speculate the organizer is trying to make up for weak ticket sales, but the outlet noted that exact sales figures have not been disclosed and that an aggressive promotion alone is not proof of failure.