Found with Janitor's Help One Week After Bounty Posted
'Doll Tribe' Attached Not Only to Pets but Also to Dolls
A story about a Chinese tourist who lost and then recovered a doll he cherished like family during a trip to Spain has become a hot topic among local netizens. On the 28th of last month (local time), the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on a Chinese tourist who affectionately called his sloth stuffed doll "Bbang" and treasured it dearly. This man not only set a birthday for the doll and celebrated it but also kept it by his bedside every night, treating the doll like family. While enjoying his trip to Spain carrying the doll, he had his doll stolen at a subway station in Barcelona on the 9th of last month.
After the theft incident, the man, plunged into despair, changed his travel plans and stayed in Barcelona, searching for the doll every day. He even offered a reward of 5,000 euros (approximately 7.4 million won) to get the doll back. [Photo by South China Morning Post (SCMP), Hong Kong]
After the theft, the man fell into despair, changed his remaining travel plans, stayed in Barcelona, and searched for the doll every day. He even offered a reward of 5,000 euros (about 7.4 million KRW) to get the doll back. His story became known on the Barcelona Reddit community. At first, most netizens dismissed the reward and the story as a scam. One netizen warned, "A high reward could lead to another crime," and urged, "Lower it to 500 euros (about 740,000 KRW)."
However, the man tearfully appealed, "Many people don't understand, but to me, 'Bbang' is more important than my job or degree," adding, "No matter what happens, I want to hold 'Bbang' again." He also revealed that it is on his bucket list to travel around the world with 'Bbang,' the sloth-shaped doll, to meet sloths everywhere. Netizens who were initially puzzled by his deep attachment soon responded with support and help after seeing his genuine feelings for the doll.
A Chinese woman living locally offered him free accommodation, and another Chinese student helped distribute flyers and provided drinks. Chinese people who recognized him on the street encouraged him not to give up on finding the doll. Then, on the evening of the 15th of last month, a week after losing the doll, the man received a tip-off call from a subway station cleaner in Spain. After ending the call, he hurried to the station and finally found the doll 'Bbang' abandoned in a gap between the ticket machine and the wall.
He hugged the janitor who gave decisive help in finding the doll and shed tears of joy. He said, "I have never received so much kindness in my life. Thank you very much," and added, "I will reward the janitor with 500 euros." [Photo by South China Morning Post (SCMP), Hong Kong]
He hugged the cleaner who gave decisive help in finding the doll and shed tears of joy. He said, "I have never received so much kindness in my life. Thank you so much," and promised, "I will reward the cleaner with 500 euros." Local netizens who saw this responded with comments such as, "I really envy people who can truly invest in loving and cherishing something like you," and "It painfully reminds me of the pure joy of childhood and a strong attachment that can last a lifetime."
The number of 'Doll Enthusiasts' gaining emotional satisfaction from buying and caring for dolls is rapidly increasing
There are surprisingly many people who, like the Chinese man in the previous case, have an attachment to dolls. There is even a new term called 'Doll Enthusiasts' for such people. Doll Enthusiasts gain emotional satisfaction from buying and caring for dolls. For them, dolls are not just toys but life companions with whom they share memories and emotions. Doll Enthusiasts make up a significant portion of the Kidult group (adults with the sensibilities and tastes of children), and many are in their 30s to 50s with purchasing power, making them major players in the distribution market. The YouTube channel 'ToyGuma' shows unboxing of dolls and has as many as 5.44 million subscribers. A video dressing the ball-jointed doll Sadol Haerang has been viewed over 82 million times.
The dolls adored by those attached to them range from Maron dolls like Barbie and Mimi, ball-jointed dolls like Rina Shushu, stuffed dolls including Pok?mon and Doraemon, to reborn dolls that look exactly like babies, totaling dozens of types. Among famous people attached to dolls is essayist Pi Cheondeuk. Pi cherished and cared for a doll left by his daughter when she went to study in the United States for over 50 years. Until his death in 2007 at the age of 98, he washed the doll’s face daily, combed its hair, and played classical music for it. Loving his daughter so much that he could not calm his heart, he found comfort by cherishing the baby-sized doll as if it were his daughter who had gone abroad.
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