Mascots of 2025

Shinsegae Duty Free's 'Paul and Bani' Campaign Wins Grand Prize at Digital Advertising Awards

Shinsegae Duty Free won with a shopping theme park campaign led by its own characters, Paul and Bani. The campaign was linked to the Sky Park at its Myeongdong store.

Archive · Dec 16, 2025

Hanami and Banguri Merchandise Vending Machines Open at Two Line 5 Stations

Hanam City has installed merchandise vending machines at Misa and Hanam City Hall stations. It runs them with the Hanam Regional Self-Sufficiency Center.

Archive · Dec 8, 2025

November

KBL Picks Capybara Character Basbara as Its Youngest Mascot With 52% of Fan Vote

A capybara-inspired character won 52% of a fan vote that drew about 4,000 ballots. It becomes the youngest member of the KBL lineup.

Archive · Nov 19, 2025

People · Feature

Youth and College Mascots Born From Votes and Contests in 2025

In Asan and Gangseo, young people voted to pick the mascots ARO and Funfuni. At Kyungnam University, students designed Handami and Kusomi.

Archive · Nov 18, 2025

Local · Feature

Byeolsan, Joayong, Boogi and Seochi Win Grand Prizes at 2025 Character Awards

Yangju's Byeolsan, Yongin's Joayong, Busan's Boogi and Seodaemun's Seochi were among the grand prize winners. Six of the seven winners are local government characters.

Archive · Nov 2025

October

V-League Launches Official Cheering Sticks for All Clubs, Plus 3 Merchandise-Only Characters

The Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) released official cheering sticks for every V-League club with Kofan Global. It also unveiled three new characters made only for merchandise.

Archive · Oct 25, 2025

News · Feature

Hospitals That Gained Mascots in 2025, From Bubaegi to Ilbaegi

Busan Paik Hospital unveiled Bubaegi and Ilsan Paik Hospital unveiled Ilbaegi. KIRAMS and the National Center for Mental Health brought out their characters as plush dolls and costumes.

Archive · Oct 10, 2025

Tsingtao's Ttao Tours Festival Booths Selling Merchandise

Ttao booths sold merchandise at a rock festival and an illustration fair. A batch of 25,000 limited-edition Ttao emoticons ran out in one day.

Archive · Oct 2025

September

Local · Feature

Baekhodori and Todeogi Win Grand Prizes at 2025 Public Character Festival

Baekhodori of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation and Todeogi of Gimhae won grand prizes. Ums Friends of Gangdong District and others took top excellence awards.

Archive · Sep 13, 2025

Hollys Unveils Holly Bear, a Bear That Came Down From the Forest

Hollys introduced Holly Bear, a bear drawn down from the forest by the smell of coffee. The chain released three seasonal menu items and merchandise, and some items sold out right after launch.

Archive · Sep 2025

2025 Joayong Festival Draws 45,000 Visitors Over Two Days

The Joayong Festival drew 45,000 visitors over two days. Pop-up sales topped 14 million won ($10,000), more than four times the forecast.

Archive · Sep 2025

August

Public Procurement Service Unveils New Mascots Narumi and Dali

The Public Procurement Service has redesigned its 2007 mascot for the first time in 18 years. The new lineup pairs Narumi, a stork, with Dali, a squirrel.

Archive · Aug 14, 2025

Ulsan Keunaegi Becomes First Local Government Character on Kakao Talk Deal

Ulsan Keunaegi is the first South Korean local government character to open a store on Kakao Talk Deal. It sells more than 30 products, including tumblers, socks and umbrellas.

Archive · Aug 12, 2025

Business · Feature

Public Mascots Reach Out Through Free KakaoTalk Emoticons

The National Fire Agency, the Gangwon State Office of Education, Taebaek, Yongin and Yanggu gave away free emoticons. Most sets had 16 designs, and one reached up to 270,000 people.

Archive · Aug 2025

July

Local · Brief

Jinju's Hamo Wins Grand Prize for Tourism Design at Tourism Policy Awards

Jinju City's Hamo tourism character project won the grand prize in tourism design at the Tourism Policy Awards. The project ties together merchandise, the Hamo Store, a night mission tour and a stamp tour.

Archive · Jul 15, 2025

Daejeon's Jung District Issues Guidebook for Junggu Halmae and Grandson Junggu

The guidebook sets out the characters' basic and applied forms and usage standards. In March, the district also gave away free Junggu Halmae passport cases.

Archive · Jul 10, 2025

Sports · Feature

T1, SSG Landers and PBA Unveil New Mascots in July 2025

T1 unveiled ATI, SSG Landers introduced Puri and Batty, and the PBA revealed Billy Bear. Gen.G Esports' GenRang served as an EWC ambassador.

Archive · Jul 2025

June

Business · Feature

South Korean Local Governments Widen Paths to Mascot Merchandise in First Half of 2025

Yangpyeong County and Bucheon City opened the economic rights to their characters. Gyeongju City cut the copyright fee for its symbols to 1%.

Archive · Jun 17, 2025

Doosan Bears Mascot Cheorungi Gets New Friends 'Bemily,' Debuting at June Lotte Game

The new mascot group Bemily was unveiled at the June 7 game against Lotte. Official 'Cheorungi and Friends' merchandise was released the same month.

Archive · Jun 7, 2025

Hyundai Livart Furniture Character Family Draws About 11,000 to Seongsu Pop-Up

More than 80% of visitors to the Seongsu pop-up were in their 20s and 30s. In September, the company released six character figures.

Archive · Jun 2025

May

Seosan Tourism Mascots Gati and Osyu Share Live Broadcast Stage With Lightning Man

Gati and Osyu teamed up with Lightning Man on stage. Within three months, the mascots won a contest grand prize and their trademark was opened to small businesses.

Archive · May 22, 2025

Yongsan District Unveils Official VTuber Yongirang, Named by Residents

The rookie civil servant VTuber got its name through a public contest that drew 1,507 entries and a vote with 1,645 participants.

Archive · May 8, 2025

Knotted's Sugar Bear and Cream Bunny Join KartRider Game

Knotted teamed up with KartRider Rush+ for the game's fifth anniversary. More than 10 Knotted items were added to the game.

Archive · May 2025

April

K League x Sanrio Pop-Up Opens in Seongsu With 27 Characters

The pop-up featured 27 characters and 23 types of merchandise. A second pop-up in Daegu followed, along with a Zootopia collaboration.

Archive · Apr 24, 2025

LG Uplus Mascot Mooner Tours Six Japanese Cities With Pop-Up Stores

Mooner's touring pop-up drew about 40,000 visitors across six cities in Japan. In South Korea, the character moved into stationery stores with dedicated branches.

Archive · Apr 10, 2025

Yanggu's Baekkobi Hosts Nine Scenic Views of Yanggu Pop-Up in Seoul's Yeonnam-dong

Yanggu County opened a pop-up in Yeonnam-dong where its mascot Baekkobi introduced the Nine Scenic Views of Yanggu. In August, the pop-up moved to Hyundai Department Store's Cheonho branch.

Archive · Apr 2, 2025

March

Brands · Brief

Hanatour Cat Character Hanyang Debuts in April Fools' Day Video

Travel agency Hanatour introduced its cat character Hanyang in an April Fools' Day concept video. Hanyang then appeared in promotional events and a cat model photo challenge, becoming the company's mascot.

Archive · Mar 31, 2025

Local · Brief

Seocheon Webfoot Octopus Festival Unveils AI Games Featuring Kkumi and Dongbaegi

Seocheon County released five AI interactive games to promote the 23rd Camellia and Webfoot Octopus Festival. It also introduced Seobeulli and Maru at its blueberry festival.

Archive · Mar 14, 2025

National Park Mascots Bandari and Ggomi Bring About 150 Items to COEX Mall Pop-Up

About 150 character products went on sale at COEX Mall in Seoul. In the fall, the pop-up moved to the Juwangsan visitor center.

Archive · Mar 6, 2025

February

Suncheon Teams Up With CJ ENM to Refresh Hooded Crane Mascot Rumi

Suncheon aims to post an Instagram comic twice a month and make about 30 kinds of merchandise. It plans a full promotion at the Global Content Festival in October.

Archive · Feb 24, 2025

Business · Brief

Kkumdori and Daejeon Hana Citizen to Release 10 Collaboration Goods in Stages

Daejeon will release 10 Kkumdori goods one after another over the season. They are the first result of a joint branding agreement between the city and the club.

Archive · Feb 21, 2025

Daegu's Dalseo District Turns Mascots Dalsu and Dalhui Into AI Announcers

The two characters deliver district news on the official YouTube channel. The district plans to expand their story through musicals, animation and merchandise.

Archive · Feb 11, 2025

January

Gimpo Redesigns Posu and Pomi as Baby Characters Called Gimpo Aegiz

Posu, created for social media in 2015, takes on a baby look after 10 years. Merchandise is sold at the Aegibong exhibition hall.

Archive · Jan 24, 2025

Brands · Brief

Shinhan Financial Opens Official Website for Its Shinhan Friends Characters

The site has three sections: a character archive, e-cards and digital goods. The characters also appeared at a character fair in July.

Archive · Jan 2025