"Sold Out? Frenzy Ensues" Secondhand Trading Surges 473%... 100,000 Won Stickers Snapped Up

Pokémon Secondhand Trading Booming Among Middle-aged Consumers

Bungaejangter Data Shows Sharp Increase in Transactions by Those in Their 40s and 50s

Pokémon Popularity Bridges Generations, Fuels Vibrant Secondhand Market

The Pokémon craze, now celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is spreading even to the secondhand trading market. In particular, transactions have surged significantly among people in their 40s and 50s, a trend attributed to an increasing number of parents engaging in secondhand trading for their children.

Demand for Pokémon merchandise is increasing, leading to active secondhand trading. Screenshot from Bungaejangter

According to the secondhand trading platform Bungaejangter on June 17, the transaction volume related to Pokémon on the platform from January to May this year showed a triple-digit growth rate among users in their 40s and 50s, regardless of gender.

For male buyers, those in their 40s saw a 137.7% increase compared to the same period last year, while those in their 50s experienced a dramatic 427.0% surge. Female buyers in their 40s posted a 161.3% rise, and those in their 50s grew by 216.5%. Notably, female buyers in their 60s increased by 473.2% year-on-year.

Industry experts point to the simultaneous rise in demand for discontinued Pokémon merchandise as well as new items as the main reason behind the sharp uptick in secondhand trading.

Pokémon goods that are no longer sold at retail can now be found almost exclusively on the secondhand market. Additionally, there appears to be a psychological motivation among parents who grew up watching Pokémon: as they share their tastes with their children, they also wish to fulfill their own collecting desires.

As Millennials & Gen Z, who grew up watching Pokémon, have become the core consumer group, related consumption is now rapidly expanding across various age brackets.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay

Card and Goods Collecting Craze... Collaboration Marketing in Full Swing

Pokémon cards featuring a variety of characters from the popular Japanese animation are among the most sought-after items among collectors worldwide. Some rare cards and limited-edition merchandise are traded at prices far exceeding their original retail price, becoming representative collectible items on the secondhand market.

In addition to cards, there is high demand for figures, plush toys, stationery, and other related merchandise, leading to consistent trading activity in the secondhand market.

Thanks to Pokémon's cross-generational popularity, various industries have released new products this year that include Pokémon-themed promotional gifts. Samlip launched the 'Pokémon Bread' with collectible stickers, while TONYMOLY offered random Pokémon keycap keyrings or photo card holders as gifts with cosmetic purchases.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.