Blackpink’s Lisa and Rosé are also deeply into ‘LaBubu’ characters… Reason for the temporary suspension of offline sales in Korea.

|

LABUBU Doll Craze, Offline Sales Halted Due to Safety Concerns

The popularity of the beloved Chinese character doll 'LABUBU' has led to the decision to suspend offline sales in the Republic of Korea due to safety concerns in stores.

LABUBU is a character doll launched by the Chinese toy company 'Pop Mart', characterized by its fluffy fur, perky rabbit-like ears, nine sharp teeth, and comical expressions, which have made it widely loved.

Image 1

The dolls are sold in a 'random box' format, adding to their rarity and collectibility, as purchasers cannot know which design is inside until they open the box.

Rise of Luxurious Accessories Chosen by Celebrities

LABUBU dolls have gained greater recognition as global celebrities, including BLACKPINK's Lisa and Rosé and pop star Rihanna, have been spotted accessorizing luxury handbags with them.

As a result, the dolls have achieved a status comparable to 'luxury accessories', with some rare models being traded for over ten times their original price.

Limited edition trading platform 'KREAM' announced on the 18th that LABUBU transactions surged by 121% compared to the previous month and an astounding 7711% compared to the same period last year.

Image 2

In particular, the 'LABUBU X Pronounce Fantasy Wing Doll', which was priced at 128,000 won, has been resold on the KREAM platform for prices exceeding 1.3 million won, proving its explosive popularity.

At the 2025 Spring Auction held in China, a limited edition LABUBU doll measuring 131 cm was auctioned for 1.08 million yuan (approximately 200 million won).

Decision to Halt Offline Sales Due to Safety Concerns

However, this inflated popularity has sparked 'open run' phenomena, leading to store congestion and safety issues.

In response, Pop Mart Korea recently issued an official statement saying, "Due to growing concerns over safety incidents at offline sales, we have decided to temporarily halt the offline sales of the entire LABUBU series, prioritizing customer safety."

Image 3

Pop Mart Korea added, "We will do our best to provide more satisfying services" and expressed gratitude for customers' understanding regarding the inconvenience.

There were no specific mentions regarding the continuation of online sales or the schedule for resuming offline sales, focusing the attention of LABUBU collectors.

Image sources: youtube 'vanity fair', instagram 'roses_are_rosie', pop mart japan

recent NEWS