The items in question are from the Chinese and Korean Servers, they had to pay for them to obtain them as well/they were limited time availability. SE can't just turn around and say, well the JP, NA and EU servers get it for free, but the Chinese and Koreans, they have to pay.

That's the business standpoint they were working from, if they just make it free here, they create strife with those who paid to obtain those items because they look at the other servers and go "Hey why are these free?". So of course you have to charge for them.