LABUBU Doll Craze, Offline Sales Halted Due to Safety Concerns
The popularity of the beloved Chinese character "LABUBU" doll has intensified globally, leading to the decision to halt sales in offline stores in South Korea. This measure is taken out of concern for safety in stores.
LABUBU is a character doll released by the Chinese toy company "Pop Mart," characterized by its fluffy fur, rabbit-like perky ears, nine sharp teeth, and a humorous expression, which has garnered significant affection.
This doll is sold in a "random box" format, enhancing its rarity and collectible value, as buyers cannot know which design they will receive until they open the box.
Rise as a Luxury-Level Accessory Chosen by Celebrities
The LABUBU doll's recognition has grown even more after being adorned as an accessory on luxury handbags by global celebrities like BLACKPINK's Lisa and Rosé, as well as pop icon Rihanna.
As a result, it has gained a status comparable to "luxury accessories," and some rare models are even trading at prices exceeding ten times their original value.
The limited edition trading platform "Kream" reported on the 18th that LABUBU transactions in June soared by 121% compared to the previous month and an astonishing 7711% year-on-year.
In particular, the "LABUBU X Pronounce Fantasy Wing Doll," a collaboration with a fashion brand, is priced originally at 128,000 won but has been resold on the Kream platform for over 1.3 million won, demonstrating explosive popularity.
At the Yonglu 2025 Spring Auction held in China, a limited edition LABUBU doll measuring 131 cm was sold for 1.08 million yuan (approximately 20 million won), setting a record.
Decision to Halt Offline Sales Due to Safety Concerns
However, this overwhelming popularity has led to the "open run" phenomenon, causing store overcrowding and safety issues.
In response, Pop Mart Korea recently announced in an official statement, "Due to concerns about safety incidents in offline sales venues, we have decided to temporarily halt offline sales of all LABUBU series with the utmost consideration for customer safety."
Pop Mart Korea added, "We will do our best to provide more satisfactory service," and expressed deep apologies for any inconvenience caused.
However, there has been no specific mention regarding the continuation of online sales or the schedule for resuming offline sales, capturing the attention of LABUBU collectors.
Image sources: youtube 'vanity fair', instagram 'roses_are_rosie', pop mart japan
