![]() However, the article was published with a title that provocatively stated Pengsoo is a copycat. The body of the article was not particularly adversarial, although the reporter implied the possibility of imitation. The Daily Shincho reporter implied that Pengsoo and Kumamon are fundamentally alike in the sense that they are both created by government-related agencies for promotional purposes and are animal puppets with big eyes and other similar features. It is owned by Shinchosha, a media group famous for scandalous articles catering to the right wing, which might explain the controversial topic. The feud started with a piece written on July 9 by a Korean freelance writer for Daily Shincho, a Japanese weekly right-leaning news magazine. There was nothing, in particular, tying the two mascots together until recently. Similar to Pengsoo, Kumamon has been increasingly seen on social media, and it recently opened a YouTube channel. Compared to Pengsoo, Kumamon gained more prominence outside of its home country but has more competition inside Japan and as such never gained total market dominance in its home country. The bear was created in 2010 to promote tourism in Kumamoto prefecture in Japan after the province was connected with a new Shinkansen line. ![]() Although mostly unknown abroad, Pengsoo’s popularity in Korea is incredible the penguin has been used in the media campaigns of Korean conglomerates and even had an opportunity to meet some of the most recognizable K-pop stars and the foreign minister of South Korea.Įnjoying this article? Click here to subscribe for full access. In particular, Pengsoo is appreciated by millennials, who see in the mascot the same struggles they have to face on the ultra-competitive job market. The character came into stardom as an “anti-hero” and a generally relatable character, gaining popularity among children and adults alike. Pengsoo came to national attention in 2019, when it was created and produced by the Korea Educational Broadcasting System (EBS), the authors of another famous penguin mascot, Pororo. Get briefed on the story of the week, and developing stories to watch across the Asia-Pacific. As the two countries already suffer from a bitter and long-standing historical animosity, this feud can be seen as a puzzle piece of a bigger political and historical picture.īoth Pengsoo and Kumamon are friendly-looking mascots that have gained unexpected levels of fame and popularity in their home countries and abroad. This might help explain why a recent feud over the two mascots became public and emotional in the two countries. When they do, as in the case of Korean penguin Pengsoo and Japanese bear Kumamon, they become indispensable in promotion and financial profit. However, sometimes they gain a life of their own and become immensely popular. ![]() Most often, those mascots are only recognizable by the community involved in their creation. In both South Korea and Japan, mascots are ubiquitous and play a key role in marketing, entertainment, and community building for everything from the postal service to provincial city governments to corporations.
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