"590,000 Won Is Too Expensive"... The 'This Doll' Sold for 1,150,000 Won in China [Curiosity Lab]

100% Handmade Using Wool Leather
7 Artisans Undergo 50 Processes Over Three Days
Sold for $829 in China

A PuBao doll representing PuBao at 6 months old [Photo by Panda Factory]

Pubao is the first panda born through natural reproduction in South Korea in July 2020. After living for three and a half years at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, he left Korea on April 3rd under the "Giant Panda Protection Research Agreement." Many domestic fans still cannot forget Pubao and continue to follow him through various fan cafes and communities.

Shortly after Pubao went to China, there were controversies about neglect, poor treatment, and abuse, and petitions to bring him back to Korea as well as advertisements urging urgent improvements in Pubao's care even appeared in The New York Times (NYT). However, considering that pandas are a national treasure of China, and that they are also sent to other countries on a lease basis, they are not sent just anywhere. It is highly unlikely that China would mistreat or neglect a panda born in Korea and brought to China. For those who regret not being able to see Pubao in person, Everland imported and sold a doll. The price of 590,000 won sparked controversy. The 3.3 kg doll, said to be "handmade" by a Chinese company, perfectly replicates Pubao's appearance at six months old. However, the Chinese company Panda Factory sells it for $829 (1,150,000 won).

Animal caretaker Kang Cheol-won holding Fu Bao 1.0 (at 3 months old) version [Photo by Panda Factory]

A Pubao doll priced over 1 million won. How was it made? According to the explanation from the Chinese company Panda Factory, preparations for Pubao's research and development (R&D) began in mid-2023. Since Pubao was born in Korea, no one at Panda Factory had ever seen Pubao's infancy. Ultimately, they tried to restore all the features of Pubao's infancy as accurately as possible by referencing a large amount of video and image materials.

First, they created a three-month-old Pubao (Pubao 1.0). Pubao 1.0 attempted to blend the characteristics of his childhood with those of adult Pubao. Fans' feedback was generally unsatisfactory. After gathering everyone's opinions again, they passed them on to the design and handmade departments for further adjustments. The feedback was also shared with zookeeper Kang Cheol-won, who provided insights on Pubao's appearance and posture as he grew. In November 2023, the first prototype of the three-month-old Pubao was released. The most frequent feedback concerned Pubao's yellowish-brown fur. Subsequently, they held multiple discussions and negotiations with the sheepskin suppliers. Eventually, the Pubao 2.0 version used newly developed sheepskin material.

A Pu Bao doll representing Pu Bao at 6 months old [Photo by Panda Factory]

After solving the yellowish-brown fur issue, they faced a new challenge. The real Pubao's face gradually changes from white around the mouth to yellowish-brown around the neck. The sheepskin material was dyed in whole pieces, making it impossible to achieve this subtle and natural gradient. Ultimately, to achieve the gradient effect, they decided to use multiple pieces of sheepskin. The final version of Pubao was made by mixing three types of sheepskin wool, transitioning gradually from light to dark colors on the face.

The sitting posture and neck issues were also difficult. The panda doll's skull was heavy, and even after adding weight to balance it, it did not look natural. They made about 20 to 30 adjustments to weight distribution and further modifications to the body shape. After about 40 to 50 adjustments, they found a balance that could express Pubao in the most truthful, natural, and comfortable state. The gradual change of brown fur around the mouth and nose was also a challenge. The front half of the head was made of silicone to give a more realistic feel. For the nails, the original hard plastic nails were replaced with soft silicone material.

The selling price of the Fubao doll, which represents Fubao at 6 months old, in China
[Photo by Panda Factory]

Customer reviews are generally positive. One buyer said, "It's so cute and well made. The best panda doll I've ever seen." Another buyer said, "It's heavier and bigger than other stuffed animals. It really is worth the price," and there was also a review stating, "It's so realistic that it feels like holding a real panda."