Bonobono, a globally popular character licensed by Lotte World, will make an appearance at Sajik Stadium in Busan, in collaboration with the Lotte Giants baseball team. This event is planned to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original comic series and will take place from July 21 to July 26.
During this period, Sajik Stadium will transform into a unique space themed around Bonobono. A giant 10-meter Bonobono air balloon will be displayed in the stadium plaza, along with a photo zone for fans to take commemorative pictures. The Giants Shop, the official store of the team, will offer a range of limited-edition merchandise, including collaboration uniforms, hats, cheering tools, bags, tumblers, and keychain plushies that reflect the identities of both brands.
The highlight of the event will be 'Bonobono Day' on July 26, when all attendees will receive specially made collaboration baseball caps. Before the game, fans will have the opportunity to meet a Bonobono character dressed in a Lotte Giants uniform during a photo session. Additionally, Mikio Igarashi, the creator of Bonobono, will throw the ceremonial first pitch. The cheerleading squad will also wear collaboration uniforms during the event.
Throughout the game, interactive events will take place, such as 'Follow Me,' where fans can mimic character movements displayed on the scoreboard. Attendees will also have access to Bonobono-themed paper tickets, limited-edition photo cards, and a dedicated photo booth, providing exclusive experiences for those present at the stadium.
Moreover, a random toy shop featuring various keychains will be set up inside the Giants Shop during the event. Starting July 16, online emoticons featuring illustrations from the collaboration between Lotte Giants and Bonobono will also be released.
Lotte World has successfully led offline projects utilizing Bonobono's intellectual property (IP) in South Korea. A pop-up store held in 2024 at Lotte World Mall in Jamsil attracted around 60,000 visitors, while a second pop-up store at The Hyundai Seoul in 2025 drew an average of over 5,000 visitors per day, marking a successful venture.
A representative from Lotte World stated, "We aim to provide fans with a unique experience by combining a familiar character IP with the professional baseball industry. In the future, we will continue to explore collaborations across various fields based on our IP capabilities."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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