BLACKPINK Fuel Craze Over Labubu: 1 Million Won Resale, 200 Thousand People in Queue

What exactly is the “Labubu” art toy that’s got 200,000 people waiting in line, resale prices nearing 1 million Korean won (approx 726 USD), and even celebrities queuing up to get one?
The fuzzy, rabbit-eared character with nine sharp teeth and a mischievous grin, named “Labubu”, has become the hottest accessory of the summer. Originally created by Hong Kong illustrator Lung Ka Sing, the Labubu character was designed to capture the complex emotions of children. Produced by Chinese toy giant Pop Mart, the collectible keyrings are sold as blind-box items, fueling global obsession among collectors and fashion lovers alike.

Recently, global stars like BLACKPINK’s Lisa and Rosé, as well as pop icon Rihanna, were spotted carrying Labubu keyrings attached to their luxury handbags. Lisa even posted, “Labubu is so cute”, on her social media, which led to a jaw-dropping 517% surge in search volume and a sudden spike in resale prices across second-hand markets.



While the retail price is 21,000 won (approx. 15 USD), limited-edition versions have skyrocketed in value—one selling for 1,099,000 won (approx. 800 USD). Official channels like Pop Mart Korea’s website have reported complete sell-outs. On July 9, Kakao’s “Gift Shop” platform held three rounds of limited sales (10AM, 1PM, and 4PM), drawing more than 200,000 people to the online queue. Each buyer was limited to just two pieces of the “Labubu: The Monster Highlight Series”, priced at 24,000 won each.


Pop Mart even introduced a 131cm tall Labubu figure, which was auctioned off for an astonishing 180 million won (approx. 130,000 USD). The character’s popularity reached such heights that a Chinese bank once offered Labubu keyrings as a gift for new account holders, but had to shut down the promotion after criticism from government authorities over “irrational marketing.”