Gangbuk-gu Characters 'Gangbaek, Haro, Hoya, Saessaki' Unveiled

Composed of Endangered Species from Bukhansan, Fox 'Gangbaek', Owl 'Haro', Leopard Cat 'Hoya', Snail 'Saessak'

Four representative characters symbolizing Gangbuk-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Soon-hee) have been created. The district has finalized the fox ‘Gangbaek’, the owl ‘Haro’, the leopard cat ‘Hoya’, and the snail ‘Saessak’ as its representative characters and has actively begun promoting them.

The Gangbuk-gu representative characters were created together with the residents. In June and July, online and offline resident voting was conducted on candidate works, and with high interest and response from Gangbuk residents, the final selection was made in August.

The stories of the characters are also interesting. The fox ‘Gangbaek’, the owl ‘Haro’, the leopard cat ‘Hoya’, and the snail ‘Saessak’ are all endangered species of Bukhansan Mountain. With the help of the mountain spirit, they gained mysterious powers and vitality to coexist with humans, carrying a mission to help people live happily while reminding them of the importance of nature.

Gangbaek, Haro, and Hoya each wear hats shaped like the three peaks of Bukhansan, which is the district’s CI (Corporate Identity), symbolizing Gangbuk-gu. Additionally, the snail Saessak carries a ‘buk’ (drum) on its shoulder, directly representing Gang‘buk’gu.

Looking more closely at each character’s story, first, the native fox ‘Gangbaek’ lives in the fox den at Baegundae, the highest peak of Bukhansan. Like his father who protected Bukhansan, Gangbaek guards the mountain with strength and spirit.

The owl ‘Haro’ protects the sky of Bukhansan. Although he dozes during the day, at night he emits energy from his eyes to save people and animals in danger.

‘Hoya’ is the leopard cat that rules Bukhansan. Often mistaken for a cat due to his cute appearance, Hoya is brave and strong like a tiger. The snail ‘Saessak’ lives deep in the forests of Bukhansan. Saessak is an ecological recycler who helps sprouts grow well.

The district plans to utilize the characters in various fields, such as producing goods and creating photo zones. They will also be continuously featured online and offline through SNS district news alerts, various events, festivals, and educational programs.

The Gangbuk-gu representative characters ‘Gangbaek, Haro, Hoya, Saessak’ can be seen on the district office website → About Our District → Symbol Materials Board. For further inquiries, contact the district office’s public relations department.

Lee Soon-hee, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, “We will actively share useful district news with residents using the representative characters symbolizing Gangbuk-gu and communicate actively both online and offline. Please give lots of love to the Gangbuk-gu representative characters ‘Gangbaek, Haro, Hoya, Saessak.’”