Held at COEX from August 7 to 10
The only global toy fair in Korea, 'Toycon Seoul 2025,' will be held simultaneously with 'Urban Break 2025,' which has evolved into a global artist festival, at COEX in Seoul from August 7 to 10.
'Toycon Seoul' is an independent brand planned by Urban Break (Urban Complex), serving as a global platform centered on art toys and highly collectible IPs. It will be introduced in Korea through collaborations with world-renowned designer toy fairs such as 'Designer Con' in the United States and the 'Taipei Toy Festival' in Taiwan.
This year's 'Toycon Seoul 2025' will feature a large number of leading brands in the global art toy market. The most notable brand is POP MART, which has sparked a worldwide collecting craze. POP MART will operate a dedicated VP ZONE featuring its flagship character, PINO JELLY. TUD TOY, based in Dubai and known for its signature series 'The Ugly Duck,' which has attracted attention from global collectors, will also be present. T-Arts Korea, the Korean branch of the Japanese traditional mini car brand Tomica, familiar to both kids and adult collectors, will also participate. In addition, brands such as HEYONE, StoLift, Meego, Wasabi Bear, Carrot Street, and Trend Hub Creative Arts will set up booths.
Through cooperation with the 'Taipei Toy Festival/Monster Taipei (TAIPEI TOY FESTIVAL/MONSTER TAIPEI),' the largest art toy fair and brand alliance in Taiwan with a history of over 20 years, the event will showcase the creative IPs and trends of Taiwanese artists in Korea. Starting with this year’s event, the exchange of art toys between Korea and Taiwan will be further strengthened.
A market zone called 'TOY VILLAGE' will also be operated, where art toy fans can directly communicate with artists and purchase exclusive works. Major participating artists and brands include SWEEBK, Chano, Kim Wichan, IRA, Box Box, LAZY MEEN, TRNGTV, and pydrim. Overseas artists such as KC from Hong Kong, Space Rabbit from the United States, and Abiebi and Owangeboy & Gwen from Indonesia will also participate. Teams like down1oad, HITDOG, and 4WD are set to present their expanded artistic worlds on site.
Additionally, a curator-led special exhibition, 'Art Toy Special Exhibition,' will be held concurrently. This special exhibition consists of five sections and covers a wide spectrum from renowned domestic and international artists to emerging creators. Highlights include the 'Coolrain Special Exhibition,' focusing on new works by Coolrain, a first-generation Korean art toy artist, and the 'Emerging Artist (feat. Coolrain)' exhibition, which introduces 30 up-and-coming artists from Korea and abroad, directed by Coolrain himself. The 'Indonesia Designer Toys Society,' representing the Indonesian art toy community, will feature a total of 12 artists. The 'Global Figure Showcase,' featuring eight artists from Japan and Thailand, is also noteworthy.
Especially at this year's 'Toycon Seoul 2025,' a special program titled 'TOYFUL LIFE with rareraw' will be introduced in collaboration with design furniture brand rareraw. This program, which breaks the boundaries between lifestyle and art toys, proposes new ways to collect, exhibit, and play with art toys in everyday spaces by combining rareraw's signature modular furniture with art toys from global artists. Visitors will be able to experience firsthand how design furniture, art toys, and lifestyle content can coexist in real living spaces.
A representative of 'Toycon Seoul 2025' stated, "Beyond a simple exhibition, we aim to create the definitive art toy culture where creators, brands, collectors, fans, companies, and institutions come together, establishing a new model for the IP market as a global K-content hub."
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