Business

Merchandise, emoticons, collaborations and the character economy30 stories

Gravity Releases 16 Ragnarok Moonlight Flower Stickers on LINE

The Ragnarok monster topped a character preference survey of users in Taiwan. The stickers are on sale in about 200 regions.

Nov 12, 2026

Feature

Opening Up the Artwork Sold the Mascots: Boogi and Kumamon

Busan opened its mascot Boogi to free use in 2021. Japan's Kumamon can be used without a fee when the purpose is promotion.

Nov 10, 2026

Boeun Jujube Festival Turns 20, Opens Shop for Mascots Bomi and Euni

Boeun County gave away free Bomi and Euni emoticons to mark the jujube festival's 20th anniversary. It also ran a merchandise shop at the festival grounds.

Archive · Oct 16, 2026

CU Friends and Peripera Launch 10 Beauty Products

The products are the industry's first beauty line built on a convenience store's own character IP. A pop-up has opened in Seongsu, and the company plans distribution in 13 overseas countries.

Archive · Sep 28, 2026

Feature

Agencies and Companies Turn to Contests for Mascot Merchandise and Names in 2026

Korea Expressway Corporation, Gwangjin District, KSPO and Mungyeong City held merchandise design contests. The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety and CJ CheilJedang sought names for their characters.

Archive · Aug 5, 2026

KT's Mint Raon Teams Up With Starship's Miniv for Collaboration Pop-Up

The collaboration goods were sold at a pop-up in Hongdae and at online and offline stores. The release came about a month after the two companies signed a character IP agreement in June.

Archive · Aug 5, 2026

Gijang County Opens 'Gijang Friends' Pop-Up Store at Lotte Mall East Busan

The pop-up at Lotte Mall East Busan was designed around a harbor departure theme. It offered a stamp tour and limited-edition merchandise.

Archive · Jul 24, 2026

Character Licensing Fair 2026 Draws About 40,900 Visitors

About 40,900 people visited 722 booths from 241 companies. Busan Metropolitan City's Boogi and Lotte Department Store's Kinder Universe also took part.

Archive · Jul 16, 2026

Brief

Chungjussi Shop Wins Grand Prize at Customer Love Brand Awards for Second Year

The shop sells 219 items, including goods featuring Chungju City's character Chungjussi. Its annual sales more than doubled in a year.

Archive · May 22, 2026

Brief

Korea Customs Service's Mata Joins Public Character Goods Pop-Up at Duty-Free Store

The 11-day pop-up ran at Lotte Duty Free World Tower. Mata appeared alongside Kumdori, Hamo, Joayong and others.

Archive · May 21, 2026

Nonsan's 'Berry Friends' Sell Out All 1,000 Festival Goods

Goods featuring the strawberry fairies Sweetbell, Kingsbell and Vitabell sold out at the festival. More than 2,000 more were sold through reservations.

Archive · Apr 11, 2026

Feature

From a Keyring Vote to Emoticons, February's Mascot Merchandise

From a vote on Eokdori keyrings to KDZ emoticons, a research institute, an international organization, universities and companies turned their mascots into merchandise.

Archive · Feb 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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