Donghae City’s ‘Haebyeol and Friends’ Merchandise Gains Popularity, Boosting the Local Economy
Donghae City to Launch New Products at Year-End
Expanding Product Lineup with New Releases
Merchandise featuring 'Haebyeol and Friends,' the representative tourism characters of Donghae City in Gangwon Province, has become highly popular, establishing itself as a new source of vitality for local tourism.
Since its debut in July, a variety of character merchandise has been showcased in dedicated sales areas at the Mangsan Tourist Information Center and Chuam Tourist Information Center, attracting many visitors.
Currently, a total of 32 products are sold at these centers, including existing 'Haebyeol and Friends' items such as keyrings, plush dolls, magnets, and pens, as well as new products for 2025 like smart tok holders, bottle openers, snow globes, ready bags, and soju glass sets. Among these, the keyring, pen, and plush doll series have recorded the highest sales rates.
'Haebyeol and Friends' is beloved by a wide range of generations, from children to Millennials & Gen Z, thanks to its cute and friendly image. Each character is designed based on a major tourist attraction in Donghae City. Tourists can recall the joy of their trip and memories of Donghae City through these characters, and this emotional appeal plays a significant role in boosting both purchase satisfaction and the desire to revisit.
Additionally, the city operates merchandise sales booths at various local festivals, and the character products are emerging as a new model for generating tourism revenue and revitalizing the local economy.
In particular, the city plans to launch new merchandise such as fabric perfumes at the end of the year, aiming to attract an even wider range of consumers.
Hot Picks Today
As Samsung Falters, Chinese DRAM Surges: CXMT Returns to Profit in Just One Year
- "Most Americans Didn't Want This"... Americans Lose 60 Trillion Won to Soaring Fuel Costs
- Man in His 30s Dies After Assaulting Father and Falling from Yongin Apartment
- Samsung Union Member Sparks Controversy With Telegram Post: "Let's Push KOSPI Down to 5,000"
- "Why Make Things Like This?" Foreign Media Highlights Bizarre Phenomenon Spreading in Korea
Lee Jinhwa, Director of Tourism, stated, "'Haebyeol and Friends' merchandise is not just a simple souvenir; it is growing into a medium that encourages tourists to remember and revisit Donghae City. We will continue to launch new products that reflect visitors' preferences and needs, while enhancing brand value and boosting the local economy."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
