Busan’s Public Outreach Character Boogi Becomes Grand Prize Winner at Korea Character Awards 2025
- Contents
-
Busan’s Public Outreach Character Boogi Becomes Grand Prize Winner at Korea Character Awards 2025
□ On November 25, 2025, Busan Metropolitan City’s public outreach character, Boogi, received the Grand Prize at the 2025 Korea Character Awards, earning acclaim as the country’s top mascot.
○ Hosted by Digital Chosun and sponsored by Chosun Ilbo, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, the Presidential Council on Intellectual Property, and the Korea Creative Content Agency, the awards evaluated entries on ▲ creativity, ▲ popularity, ▲ commercial potential, ▲ overseas expansion, and further factors. Boogi achieved outstanding scores across all categories.
□ Inspired by the seagull, Busan’s symbol, Boogi embodies the city’s history and identity. Over the years, it has taken part in a broad array of activities alongside citizens, expressing their energy, humor, and warmth.
○ Boogi was particularly praised for its appeal and interactivity, effectively showcasing ▲ local issues, ▲ civic messages, and ▲ regional industries in an engaging and accessible manner.
□ Through diverse online and offline partnerships and programming, Boogi has also cemented its status as one of the city’s brand assets.
○ Examples boosting its marketability and reach include: ▲ the nationwide release of Jagalchi Boogi in collaboration with Lotte Shopping and Nongshim, ▲ a fan meeting in Taipei, Taiwan, and ▲ the production of short films and citizen-involved content on BoogiTube.
□ Busan became the first municipality in 2021 to allow free use of its character’s intellectual property free of charge, supporting small and medium-sized businesses.
○ In 2023, it introduced a paid distribution system by joining the Witzshop IP trading platform.
○ This year, Boogi Town in the Naver Smart Store was launched to consolidate sales channels for entities leveraging Boogi’s IP. Currently, 16 companies offer more than 200 items.
□ Spokesperson Won Young-il said, “This honor reflects how Boogi has grown beyond a simple icon and now acts as a meaningful communication bridge in citizens’ daily lives.” He added, “We will remain committed to driving citizen-oriented programs and working with various organizations to make Boogi a key element of Busan.”
Guide to the Boogi Public Outreach Character (Korean)
How to Apply to Utilize Boogi (Korean)
BoogiTube (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@boogi_in_busan (Korean)
Boogi Shop: https://smartstore.naver.com/boogitown (Korean)
