Local

Mascots of local governments, public bodies, schools and festivals70 stories

2024 Local Government and Public Character Festival: The Award-Winning Characters

The Government Employees Pension Service's Mideumi won both the grand prize and the popularity award. Jikji and Hwaljassi and Baekhodori each took a top excellence award.

Archive · Nov 25, 2024

Nowon Cultural Center's Sanbi Takes the Stage as Star of an Original Puppet Show

Sanbi, the mascot of the Nowon Cultural Center's guided walking tours, is the main character of an original puppet show. The center also ran a sock puppet workshop.

Archive · Nov 25, 2024

Pocheon Unveils New Mascot Pouri, a Name Blending Pocheon and Uri

The name combines Pocheon and uri, Korean for "we" or "our." The city's existing characters, Oseong and Haneum, were also reworked.

Archive · Nov 11, 2024

Jinju City Introduces Ayo, a Leopard Cat Friend for Mascot Hamo

Ayo is based on the leopard cats that lived at Jinyang Lake. Jinju City and the Jinju Culture and Tourism Foundation developed the character in September 2024 as a friend for Hamo.

Archive · Sep 19, 2024

Seoul Metro Opens Ttota Pop-Up for Seoul Subway's 50th Anniversary

Seoul Metro ran a 10-day Ttota pop-up at Hyundai Department Store D-Cube City. It offered about 20 kinds of merchandise.

Archive · Jul 26, 2024

Uidori and Rangi Statues Unveiled in Uijeongbu City Hall Lobby

Uijeongbu marked the second anniversary of its 8th popularly elected administration by placing character statues on the ground floor of City Hall. The installation is linked to a social media photo challenge.

Archive · Jul 3, 2024

K-MEDIhub Unveils Researcher Mascots Medi and Hub

The Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation has unveiled its official mascots, Medi and Hub. It also announced plans for the pair to appear at events including KOAMEX.

Archive · Jun 25, 2024

Taebaek's Taeboomi Places Third in Gangwon Character Popularity Contest

Mascots representing 15 cities and counties in Gangwon State competed in a short-form video vote. Sokcho's Jjani and Raeyo took first place.

Archive · Jun 17, 2024

Nam District's Jangsaengi Appears at Ulsan Department Store as 2.2-Meter Figure

Nam District, Ulsan set up a promotional booth and a 2.2-meter Jangsaengi figure at Lotte Department Store's Ulsan branch. In September, ahead of the whale festival, it gave out 16 Jangsaengi emoticons.

Archive · May 1, 2024

Rural Development Administration Replaces Mascots With Second-Generation Isaki and Saessaki

The agency said goodbye to the first-generation characters it had used since 2008. In July, 1.8-meter Isaki and Saessaki figures went into its public relations hall.

Archive · Apr 2024

Feature

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

Hapcheon County unveiled Byeolkung and the Korean Red Cross launched its Blood Friends. The Jeonbuk State Culture and Tourism Foundation introduced JuBi and JayBi, and Sancheong County promoted its Sanneomeo Friends.

Archive · Mar 2024

Brief

Seoul Symbol Haechi Gets Pink Makeover, First Redesign in 15 Years

Haechi has changed from yellow to pink. Four Soul Friends characters and an 8-meter art balloon at DDP were unveiled alongside it.

Archive · Feb 1, 2024

Buyeo County Unveils Geumdongi Friends Modeled on Gilt-Bronze Incense Burner

Buyeo County has created three new characters based on the Gilt-bronze Incense Burner of Baekje after a preference survey of 1,000 residents. It is also giving away free emoticons featuring them.

Archive · Jan 22, 2024

Bukhansan Forest Character Photo Zone Opens in Gangbuk District Office Lobby

A Gangbaek mascot costume hosted the unveiling ceremony. Gangbaek is a native fox character from Bukhansan, created in August.

Archive · Dec 5, 2023

Feature

Research and Public Institutions That Got New Mascots in 2023

Several institutions, including the Korea Institute of Nuclear Nonproliferation and Control (Tumyeongi) and the Ministry of Personnel Management (Gwidami), introduced new mascots in 2023. Many built their work into the character.

Archive · Dec 2023

National Fire Agency Introduces 119 Rescue Dog Character Ilgu

The National Fire Agency has introduced a 119 rescue dog character that the public chose and named. It is giving away 40 free emoticons on KakaoTalk and Naver.

Archive · Nov 30, 2023

Senior Culture Program Culture Youth Unveils Characters Sini and Eoni

Sini is a rabbit and Eoni is a flower stalk. Put together, their names make "senior," a word for older adults.

Archive · Oct 24, 2023

Busan Port Authority Unveils Costume of Orca Character Haebeomi

The Busan Port Authority (BPA) has made its orca-inspired characters Haebeomi and Ppuppu into wearable costumes. It plans to use them for on-site marketing at Haeundae Beach and Busan Citizens Park.

Archive · Oct 6, 2023

Gwangyang's Maedori Named City Promotional Ambassador

Maedori, a plum character created in 2010, received an official title 13 years later. It also reached the finals of the Our Neighborhood Character Awards.

Archive · Sep 19, 2023

Paju Installs 3-Meter Statues of Gyeonggi Sports Festival Mascot Parang

Paju City has put up statues of the mascot Parang a year ahead of the event. They stand at Geumchon Rotary and the Imjingak roundabout.

Archive · Sep 15, 2023