Fans of Fubao, Advertising Broadcasts in Subway and Airport
Thousands of Fans Gather to Watch Fubao's Final Moments
As the giant panda Pubao departed for China, fans who had watched over Pubao's birth and growth could not hide their sadness as they watched the vehicle leaving Everland. On the day of Pubao's departure, some fans waited at the main gate from 4 a.m., and despite the rainy and gloomy weather, thousands of fans gathered to see Pubao's last moments.
Furthermore, at 10:40 a.m., when Pubao boarded a special vibration-free vehicle and left Panda World, fans waved flags they had prepared in advance to bid farewell. Despite the recent loss of his mother, 'Grandfather Pubao,' zookeeper Kang Cheol-won, who decided to accompany Pubao on his journey to China, sent a letter to Pubao saying, "From the moment you were born, you have brought hope and happiness to many people. I will stay by your side until you arrive at your new home. I believe you will do well wherever you are. You will always be my eternal baby panda, whether it is 10 years or 100 years from now. I love you, Pubao."
After reading the letter, he told fans, "I will take good care of him and come back," and asked them "Please do not forget Pubao." Fans saddened by the farewell to Pubao posted an advertisement at Hongdae Entrance Station in February with the phrase, "Happiness that came like a gift, my eternal first love baby panda Pubao, I love you," and since last month, they have been broadcasting fan-made advertisement videos in the underground tunnel of Terminal 1 at Incheon Airport.
Pubao received an honorary citizenship certificate from Yongin Special City this February due to his unprecedented fandom and explosive popularity among animals. However, there are also negative views toward the love fans have for Pubao. In particular, some netizens expressed dissatisfaction by commenting on articles and news related to Pubao. Comments included, "No matter how much you like Pubao, enough is enough. It's getting annoying now," "The zookeeper might shed tears because of the affection from raising him, but I don't understand why the rest of the public is crying," "In China, he is just one among many pandas, this is excessive," "It's a fuss over just one zoo animal," and "The panda is a symbol of China. I don't understand why there is such a commotion in Korea."
Puba fans are seeing off Puba, who is on a special vehicle, at the Rose Garden in Everland, Yongin, on the 3rd. [Photo by Joint Press Corps]
Additionally, an online community posted a message saying, "Can you find Pubao among the many pandas? If you can find him, then crying is justified." The photo test combining the faces of other pandas as well as Pubao's parents, Aibao and Lubao, seems intended to emphasize that "Pubao is also just one of many Chinese pandas."
Meanwhile, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Pubao's quarantine facility, stating, "All supplies and facilities are in place, and various teams such as the breeding and protection team, security team, and comprehensive cooperation team have been organized to take care of Pubao's food and shelter during the quarantine period." They added, "Each team has established professional emergency plans to ensure that Pubao can spend the quarantine period healthily and safely." The Shenshuping base of the Sichuan Wolong China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center, where Pubao arrived, is one of four bases operated by the center, housing about 90 pandas living in vast forests. At an altitude of 1,700 meters, it is considered the best environment for pandas to live and is praised for being the most nature-friendly due to its distance from urban areas.
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