Trendy Koreans are losing their minds over Pokemon Bread. Various Pokemon-themed desserts recently began being sold at convenience stores throughout Korea. Along with each pastry, a sticker card is included. These sticker cards have become collector’s items and are sometimes being sold for over ten times the price of the original pokemon bread. Even though it’s been over a month, trend setters are still trying to catch them all!
How Big is Pokemon in Korea
Everyone in Korea knows about Pokemon, but to be honest I hadn’t noticed much interest in it before the Pokemon Bread trend. In fact, I think most people had a negative impression of Pokemon fans due to Korea-Japan relations.
In the United States and Canada, you can spot people wearing Pokemon merch everywhere. It is not uncommon to come across collectors and Pikachu enthusiasts. And, most hobby shops even host Pokemon card game tournaments.
I used to buy pokemon cards here in Korea, and send them over to my brother who regularly participated in tournaments. It was not difficult to find even foreign language and rare cards for about one-quarter of the retail price abroad. Even while regularly buying Pokemon cards, not once had I come across a Korean Pokemon enthusiast during my six years living here.
And so, I was more than a little surprised when Pokemon bread kept making its way onto my Instagram feed. But, since the trend caught on more and more Pokemon themed items can be found. One of the most popular girl groups, Itzy is even an official Pokemon partner now.
Pokemon Bread on Social Media
Personally, I think the popularity of Pokemon Bread had a lot to do with timing and the growth of one platform in particular – Carrot Market.
As the pandemic is setting down in Korea, people are less afraid to venture out and meet strangers. At the same time, many people have reevaluated their lives, are setting new goals, and moving to new neighborhoods. The perfect platform to buy stuff to help with new beginnings? Carrot Market!
Carrot Market is a Korean reselling platform that connects you to people in your neighborhood for trades. You can find all sorts of furniture, designer goods, and now – Pokemon Bread stickers! Without a doubt, the Pokemon Bread trend was initially fueled by Carrot Market. Later, made its way onto more mainstream platforms like Instagram and YouTube.
Now, on Instagram, you can find entire accounts dedicated to trading Pokemon Bread and showing off collections. Many popular Korean YouTubers have also hopped on the trend, filming unboxings and their struggles to find the trendy snack.
Where to Find Your Own Pokemon Bread
Pokemon Bread is sold at convenience stores. However, the chances of being able to find your own are slim.
So many people came to my local store looking for Pokemon Bread that they actually posted the time they’d be put out on the door. They put them out at 9PM. However, by 9:03 they were completely sold out despite limiting the number each customer can buy.
Their next delivery day, I showed up at 8:50. The line was so long that I gave up.
You can find Pokemon Bread on Carrot Market. But, you will have to pay at least triple the retail price. Plus, if you do buy your own on Carrot Market, make sure you read the description! Some people are only selling the bread.
Conclusion
Although I do think its odd that free stickers that come with bread are more valuable than the actual trading cards, I love seeing this trend in Korea! I love Pokemon so I hope even more themed snacks will come out in the future.
What would you do if you managed to get your hands on Pokemon Bread? Would you eat it and save the sticker for yourself? Or, would you sell it on Carrot Market? Let me know in the comments below!
Category: Trend Food
Beautiful in Seoul 
Leave a comment