March 2024 Local Mascot Roundup: New Faces and New Story Worlds

Mascot news from local governments and public institutions came one after another in March 2024. One place picked a new official mascot through a resident preference survey. Another reorganized its existing characters into a single story world. A foundation released characters made by its own staff, and a county set up a mascot pavilion at a tourism fair.

Hapcheon County: Byeolkung, chosen by survey

Hapcheon County, South Gyeongsang Province, said on March 4, 2024, that it had developed Byeolkung as the county's official mascot. Byeolkung reflects the results of a preference survey of about 2,300 residents and tourists. After finishing the mascot, Hapcheon County has been using Byeolkung to promote county administration.

Korean Red Cross: blood donation mascots become the Blood Friends

Korean Red Cross Blood Services reorganized its blood donation mascots into the Blood Friends story world in March 2024. The Blood Friends are made up of five characters: Nanumi, Jeogi, Sori, Baegi and Jjangi. Along with the new story world, Blood Services distributed a character manual and emoticons. An introduction to the Blood Friends appears on the character page of the Blood Services website.

Jeonbuk State Culture and Tourism Foundation: JuBi and JayBi, who wear a new mask every year

The Jeonbuk State Culture and Tourism Foundation (JACT) introduced its characters JuBi and JayBi on its website on March 13, 2024. An internal department of the foundation created the two characters itself. The foundation developed them by gathering opinions from all of its staff. JuBi and JayBi have a story world called New-Jeons Friends, in which they wear a new mask each year to match the 12 zodiac animals and the five traditional colors. The foundation's characters also include Oni, Goun, Jieum and Sinmyeong.

Sancheong County: Sanneomeo Friends pavilion at the Gyeongnam Tourism Fair

Sancheong County, South Gyeongsang Province, ran a pavilion for its tourism character group, the Sanneomeo Friends, at the Gyeongnam Tourism Fair in March 2024. Sancheong County also won an excellence award at the Gyeongnam Tourism Development Awards, which was reported on March 26, 2024.

Each of the four handled its mascots differently. Hapcheon County went through a choice by residents and tourists, and the Jeonbuk State Culture and Tourism Foundation had its staff make the characters. The Korean Red Cross brought its existing blood donation mascots together into one story world, and Sancheong County put its characters front and center at the tourism fair.