The Aurora Ping Castle House toy, inspired by the smash-hit Korean animated series “Catch! Teenieping” by SAMG Entertainment, has taken the nation by storm ahead of the holidays.
Originally retailing for just 50,000 won -- with discounts as low as 39,900 won on SAMG's online store -- resellers are now flipping the toy for over five times its price — fetching more than 200,000 won ($138.13).
Since its launch on Dec. 4, demand has been so overwhelming that retailers have imposed strict purchasing limits. Major chains like Emart and Lotte Mart limit buyers to one unit per customer, while SAMG has capped purchases at two.
The craze has even spawned strategy discussions among parents desperate to secure the toy.
One mother shared her success story online:
"I showed up at Emart at 9:20 a.m., grabbed a spot in line, and got a ticket when they started handing them out at 10. Then I had to come back at 5 p.m. to actually buy it."
Retailers are scrambling to meet demand. Homeplus announced it had secured an additional 1,200 units this week, to be sold starting Monday.
“Catch! Teenieping,” often dubbed the "Korean Pokemon," has been a hit since its debut on KBS2 in March 2020.
The series introduces new fan-favorite characters each season, earning it the infamous nickname "pasan ping" — a word meaning "bankruptcy ping," referencing the financial strain it can place on parents.
Also, the animation unveils "legend pings" every season, with the most recent selections being Aurora Ping and Prince Ping. They have driven the toy's popularity to new heights, particularly during the holiday season.
ssh@heraldcorp.com
