Busan Transportation Corporation Unveils New Mascots Booray and Tavio, First in 15 Years

Busan Transportation Corporation (Humetro), which operates Busan Metro, unveiled its new official characters Booray (BOORAY) and Tavio (TAVIO) on July 1, 2026. They are its first new characters in 15 years, following the previous character Family Hue.

The two characters were chosen by vote. In March 2026, Busan Transportation Corporation picked the new characters in a vote weighted 60% to citizens and 40% to employees. In effect, the citizens who ride the metro and the employees who run it chose them together.

Booray combines a seagull and a train car, with a pantograph antenna, headlights and roller shoes. Tavio is a veteran paper ticket character whose role is to take charge of citizens' travel.

The corporation said it plans to use the two characters in station notices, safety campaigns, media art and merchandise, and to expand the character IP. In station spaces, it sold plush dolls, stationery and household goods, and also ran photo zones and visitor events. In effect, the stations where passengers come and go served as a stage to introduce the new characters.