Korean Characters: Pororo, Kakao Friends and Where to Buy
Walk through any Seoul subway station, and you will spot a lion without a mane, a cheerful blue penguin or a pink peach on a phone case. These are Korean characters, and in Korea they are much more than kids' toys. They sell coffee, banks, snacks and even airline tickets.
What Koreans mean by 캐릭터
The Korean word 캐릭터 (kaerikteo, "character") covers any designed mascot or cartoon figure, whether it comes from a TV show, a messaging app or a brand. Koreans use it for a plush toy, a sticker pack or a bank's mascot alike. Most adults here own at least one character item, and nobody finds that odd.
Two things make the scene special. Many famous characters began outside toy companies, such as animation studios and chat apps. And character goods are treated as everyday lifestyle items: stationery, pouches, phone grips, pajamas and snacks.
Pororo: the penguin every Korean child knows
뽀로로 (Pororo, "poh-roh-roh") is a small penguin who wears aviator goggles and a blue hat. The animated series about him started airing in Korea in the early 2000s. Generations of toddlers have grown up with him, so he has the same "everyone knows him" status that other countries give their classic children's mascots.
He lives on a snowy island with friends. Crong (크롱, a little green dinosaur), Loopy (루피, a shy pink beaver), Eddy (에디, a fox) and Poby (포비, a polar bear) are the ones you will see most on lunchboxes and toys. Loopy has become popular with teens and adults too, mostly through memes and sticker packs.
Pororo goods are aimed at young children: toys, picture books, kids' clothing and even children's vitamins. Parents trust him because the show is gentle and teaches sharing and friendship.
Kakao Friends: from chat stickers to a shopping empire
카카오프렌즈 (Kakao Friends, "ka-ka-oh peu-ren-jeu") began as emoticons in KakaoTalk, the messaging app that most Koreans use every day. The characters were designed to be sent in chats, which is why their faces are simple and expressive.
The best known is Ryan (라이언), a lion with no mane, plain and a little grumpy-looking. Apeach (어피치) is a mischievous peach, and Muzi (무지) and Con (콘) are other regulars in the group. Ryan and Apeach are the big sellers.
Unlike Pororo, Kakao Friends mostly targets teenagers and adults. The goods include plush toys, tumblers, tech accessories, cushions and bags. The shops are set up like small boutiques rather than toy aisles.
Other Korean characters worth knowing
- Line Friends: Brown the bear and Cony the rabbit come from the messenger Line. They are very popular in Korea and across Asia. The group BTS also worked with Line Friends on the BT21 characters, which the members helped design.
- Pinkfong (핑크퐁): This is the Korean children's media brand behind the global hit "Baby Shark". Its fox mascot and shark appear on lots of toddler products.
- Dooly (둘리): The Little Dinosaur Dooly started as a comic in the early 1980s. Many Korean parents grew up with him, so he carries nostalgia for adults.
- Larva (라바): A silent slapstick animation about two worms, Red and Yellow. No dialogue means it works for viewers anywhere.
- Tayo (타요): A little blue bus from a children's series. Kids love him, and real city buses in Korea have carried his design.
- Mashimaro (마시마로): A white, round rabbit-like character from the early internet era, known for his deadpan look.
Who loves Korean characters
Characters in Korea are not split neatly by age. Preschoolers love Pororo, Tayo and Pinkfong. Teens and people in their 20s and 30s buy Kakao Friends, Line Friends and BT21 goods. Many fans of K-pop collect character merchandise too.
Adults buy them because they are cute, useful and a small mood boost. A desk with a Ryan mouse pad or a Loopy pouch is completely normal in a Korean office.
Where to buy Korean character goods
If you are visiting Korea, official brand stores are the easiest starting point. Kakao Friends and Line Friends have flagship stores in busy shopping areas such as Gangnam and Hongdae, and they offer exclusive items you cannot get elsewhere. Pororo goods are easy to find in toy stores and at children's theme attractions.
For cheaper everyday items, check stationery chains and big discount shops like Daiso, as well as large department stores. Convenience stores sometimes sell snacks and drinks in collaboration packaging with popular characters.
From abroad, the brands' official online shops are the safest option, but check whether they ship to your country. Korean online marketplaces and international marketplaces also sell the goods. Be careful with prices that look too good, since fakes exist. Compare the stitching, tags and photos with the official product page.
Korean characters vs Japanese characters
People often compare Korean characters with Japanese ones like those from Sanrio. Japan's character culture is older and broader worldwide. Korean characters tend to grow from apps, TV shows and K-pop partnerships, so they feel tied to daily digital life.
Design-wise, many Korean characters are simple and slightly funny rather than polished-cute. Ryan's blank face is a good example. Both countries love stationery-shop culture, so the shopping experience feels similar.
Korean characters in Overwatch, Marvel and anime
Some searchers mean fictional characters who happen to be Korean. In Overwatch, D.Va (Hana Song) is a Korean former pro gamer who pilots a mech. In Marvel comics, Amadeus Cho is a Korean American genius who has appeared as a hero. Anime has fewer Korean leads, and when they appear they are usually side characters. Korean webtoon-based animation is a growing area to watch.
Korean characters for beginners: Hangul letters, pronunciation and copy-paste
"Korean characters" also means the letters of the Korean alphabet, 한글 (Hangul, "han-geul"). King Sejong's court created it in the 1400s, and it is designed to be learned quickly. The basic set has 14 consonants and 10 vowels, which combine into syllable blocks. You can select and copy the letters in the chart below to paste into notes or a translation tool.
| Consonant | Sound | Vowel | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㄱ | g / k | ㅏ | a |
| ㄴ | n | ㅓ | eo (like "uh") |
| ㄷ | d / t | ㅗ | o |
| ㄹ | r / l | ㅜ | u (like "oo") |
| ㅁ | m | ㅡ | eu |
| ㅂ | b / p | ㅣ | i (like "ee") |
| ㅅ | s | ㅑ | ya |
| ㅇ | silent at the start, "ng" at the end | ㅕ | yeo |
| ㅈ | j | ㅛ | yo |
| ㅊ | ch | ㅠ | yu |
| ㅋ | k (stronger) | ||
| ㅌ | t (stronger) | ||
| ㅍ | p (stronger) | ||
| ㅎ | h | ||
A syllable block puts a consonant and a vowel together. For example, ㅂ + ㅗ = 보 (bo), and the first letter of 뽀로로 is the tense version of ㅂ. That is the fun link back to Pororo: his name is a good first reading exercise. Say "poh-roh-roh" and you have it.
For "Korean characters to English", a translation app with a camera feature works for signs and menus. For learning, try reading character names from the shop signs first. The shapes will stick faster when you attach them to something cute.
FAQ
What are the most famous Korean characters?
Pororo is the best-known children's character, and Kakao Friends (Ryan and Apeach especially) leads among teens and adults. Line Friends, Pinkfong, Dooly, Larva and Tayo are also widely recognised.
Are Kakao Friends only for kids?
No. They started in a chat app and their goods are aimed at teens and adults, including office accessories and lifestyle items. Pororo is the one more focused on small children.
How many letters are in the Korean alphabet?
The basic Hangul alphabet has 24 letters: 14 consonants and 10 vowels. Extra doubled consonants and combined vowels bring the number of symbols higher, but you can start with the basic set in the chart above.
Part of our weekly series — see K-Culture This Week (Oct 21–27, 2026) for the rest of the week's Korean culture news.
Last updated: October 28, 2026
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