Reminiscent of the Demon 'Pazuzu'... Conspiracy Theories Spread in China
"Owning One Is Dangerous"?Even Burning Ceremony Videos Emerge
Recently, the Chinese character doll 'Labubu' has been enjoying explosive global popularity, but conspiracy theories claiming that Labubu is actually an 'ancient demon' are spreading rapidly.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 18th (local time) that "claims that Labubu's appearance resembles the Mesopotamian mythological demon 'Pazuzu' are quickly spreading on Chinese social networking services (SNS)."
Pazuzu is an evil spirit from ancient Mesopotamia that was believed to bring disastrous winds. It is characterized by a bizarre appearance, including a head resembling a lion or dog, a beak-like protruding mouth, and noticeably bulging eyes. Some internet users claim that the Labubu doll closely resembles these features. In particular, they argue that Labubu's signature sharp teeth, exaggerated smile, and black pupils are reminiscent of Pazuzu.
These claims are gradually evolving into conspiracy theories such as "Labubu dolls are possessed by evil spirits," "Owning one brings a curse," and "It is dangerous to keep one at home." In fact, one user posted a 'burning ceremony' video of a Labubu doll, which was shared hundreds of thousands of times on SNS. Videos of people intentionally damaging or cutting up Labubu dolls are also appearing one after another.
Labubu is produced by the Chinese company Pop Mart and designed by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung. It is known that Kasing Lung was inspired by ancient European elf legends.
The doll is sold in a random box format through Pop Mart. Since buyers do not know which doll they have purchased until they open the box, they must continue buying to obtain the one they want. This unique appearance and rarity have fueled a global collecting craze.
Recently, famous celebrities such as BLACKPINK's Lisa and Ros?, as well as pop star Rihanna, have appeared with Labubu dolls attached to luxury bags, giving the dolls a status comparable to luxury accessories. On June 18, the limited edition trading platform 'Kream' announced that Labubu's trading volume in June surged by 121% compared to the previous month and by 7,711% compared to the same period last year, establishing it as one of the most popular items on Kream.
With this soaring popularity, the resale market is also overheating. The 'Labubu The Monsters Highlight Series Self Keyring,' which has a release price of 21,000 won, was traded on Kream for 1,099,000 won on June 17. This represents an increase of about 5,133% compared to the original price. The 'Labubu x Pronounce Fantasy Wing Doll,' a collaboration with a fashion brand, also has a retail price of 128,000 won, but its resale price on Kream has exceeded 1,300,000 won.
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