POP MART Halts Offline Sales of LABUBU in South Korea Amid Safety Concerns

Seoul, June 14, 2025 — Chinese designer toy giant POP MART has announced the temporary suspension of all offline sales of its wildly popular LABUBU plush toys and keychains in South Korea, following chaotic scenes outside its Seoul retail locations.

The decision came after massive crowds and overnight queues formed outside POP MART stores, particularly in the Myeongdong district, where fans camped out with tents and sleeping bags in hopes of securing limited-edition LABUBU merchandise. The frenzy escalated into verbal altercations and physical pushing, prompting police intervention to maintain public order.

According to POP MART Korea’s official statement, the suspension was made “in light of potential safety incidents at offline sales locations” and to prioritize customer well-being. The company emphasized its commitment to resuming sales “with improved service and safety measures in place”.

LABUBU, a character created by artist Kasing Lung, has become a global sensation, with recent auctions in China fetching prices upwards of ¥1 million. Its cult status has driven demand to feverish levels, especially in Asia, where fans often line up for hours—or days—for new releases.

The incident has sparked broader conversations about crowd control, product scarcity, and the ethics of hype-driven marketing in the designer toy industry. POP MART has not yet announced when offline sales will resume, but online channels remain active.