Unfading Popularity of Pubao... Free Farewell Flags Sold for 200,000 Won on Secondhand Market

Everland Specially Produced and Distributed Items at Departure
Although Fubao Left for China, Merchandise Remains Popular

Giant panda 'Pubao' went viral as two types of 'Pubao flags' that were distributed for free to customers at Everland on the day Pubao left for China are being traded for up to 200,000 KRW on secondhand trading platforms. On the 24th, numerous posts titled "Looking for Pubao cheering flags" appeared on the secondhand trading platform 'Bungaejangter'.

These Pubao flags were distributed for free by Everland to customers who participated in the farewell event held at Everland on the 3rd before Pubao left for China. The flags feature Pubao as the background with phrases such as "Meeting you was a miracle. Thank you, Pubao," and "Let's meet again!" At the time, Everland specially produced and distributed the flags so that Pubao fans could wave them toward the vehicle carrying Pubao.

On the day giant panda 'Pubao' was sent to China, two types of 'Pubao flags' that were distributed for free to customers at Everland were found to be traded for up to 200,000 KRW on secondhand trading platforms.
Photo by 'Bungaejangter'

Recently, these flags have been traded at high prices on secondhand platforms, sparking controversy among netizens. Sellers listed the flags at prices ranging from 8,000 KRW to 200,000 KRW. Posts offering to buy both types of flags together are listed at an average price of about 50,000 KRW. Since the Pubao farewell event was held on a weekday, many Pubao fans who could not attend Everland at the time have shown high demand to at least have the flags, leading some people to attempt to sell the freely distributed flags at high prices.

A person identified as A, who posted that they would buy a flag for 200,000 KRW, said, "I live in a rural area and couldn't see Pubao off," and appealed, "Even just one is fine, please sell it to me." Another buyer, B, wrote, "I will use it when I go to see Pubao later," adding, "It doesn't have to be clean. It just shouldn't be torn."

In response, Everland explained, "We requested the platform to stop sales, but there was insufficient legal basis to directly regulate private transactions," and added, "To ensure that the sincerity of seeing Pubao off is not damaged, we decided to produce additional cheering flags and distribute them for free." Everland announced on its homepage that it plans to distribute Pubao flags for free to 2,000 people through a lottery until the 5th of next month.

Everland announced on its website that it will distribute PuBao flags for free to 2,000 people through a lottery until the 5th of next month.
[Photo by Everland website]

Even after Pubao returned to China, interest in Pubao remains high, and it is expected that Everland's merchandise business utilizing Pubao will continue to see positive momentum. So far, there are about 400 types of Pubao-related merchandise, with 3.3 million items sold. At the Pubao pop-up store operated at The Hyundai Seoul last November, about 20,000 people visited over two weeks, generating sales of nearly 1 billion KRW. Recently, a Pubao doll dressed as a zookeeper holding boots has been released and is on sale. This was produced reflecting Pubao's characteristic of liking the zookeeper's boots.