Italian Beloved Character "Pimpa" Enters Korean Market After 50 Years

Announcement of Comprehensive Domestic IP Business Including Exhibitions and Performances

Pimpa image. Provided by The K Amusement International Co., Ltd.

The classic character Pimpa, beloved in Italy for 50 years, is making a full-scale entry into the Korean market.

The K Amusement International Co., Ltd. announced on November 7 that it has secured exclusive rights to operate Pimpa-related intellectual property (IP) in Korea for the next 15 years through a contract with the original Italian creator, QUIPOS S.r.l.

The contract was signed at the headquarters of QUIPOS, located at 24 Via Ariberto in Milan, where Pimpa was first created in 1975. This location remains the center for planning, production, and license management of Pimpa, making the agreement especially meaningful as it was concluded at the character's birthplace.

Pimpa is a white puppy character with red polka dots, first introduced in 1975 by cartoonist Francesco Tullio Altan. For over 40 years, the Italian national broadcaster RAI has produced and aired a TV series based on Pimpa, and more than 100 picture books and activity books have been published, with cumulative sales reaching tens of millions of copies.

Across Europe, Pimpa is widely used in kindergartens, public libraries, and hospitals as educational and therapeutic content. The Meyer Pediatric Hospital in Florence has officially adopted Pimpa as its psychological healing character. During the pandemic, Pimpa was distributed as educational content for children's disease prevention in kindergartens and public institutions nationwide in cooperation with the Italian government, earning the nickname "the hero of children in the COVID era."

Coletta Goria Ravoni, Chief Rights Holder at QUIPOS S.r.l., stated, "Pimpa is not just commercial content, but a source of comfort and love across generations. I hope it will be cherished in Korea for a long time as well."

The K Amusement International Co., Ltd. plans to develop a wide range of projects based on the Pimpa IP, including children's interactive exhibitions and performances, books, animation, licensed merchandise, content for educational institutions and hospitals, collaborations on public campaigns, family theme parks, and cultural events. The company also announced its vision to expand Pimpa into an "all-generation brand" that appeals not only to children but also to their parents, leveraging the character's symbolism and emotional connection.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.