Home / Arts and Entertainment / 40,000 Flood Seoul Park, Pokemon Event Shut Down
40,000 Flood Seoul Park, Pokemon Event Shut Down
3 May
Summary
- Nearly 40,000 people attended a Pokemon event in Seoul Forest.
- The event was part of Pokemon's 30th anniversary and Garden Show.
- A rare Magikarp promo card giveaway was cancelled for safety.
A Pokemon event in Seoul, South Korea, experienced a premature end on Friday, May 1st, as an estimated 40,000 people converged on Seoul Forest. The "Pokemon Mega Festa," organized as part of the franchise's 30th-anniversary celebrations and in conjunction with the Seoul International Garden Show, was ultimately canceled by Pokemon Korea.
The massive crowd gathered early in the morning, hoping to obtain a rare Magikarp promo card and a themed sun visor by collecting stamps. This surge in attendance was attributed to a combination of the Labour Day holiday, the allure of a collectible item, and resellers seeking profit. The sheer volume of attendees overwhelmed event staff, leading to safety concerns.
Pokemon Korea stated that the giveaway of the "Magikarp" promo card was canceled due to on-site safety concerns. They plan to accept registrations online at a later date for those who qualified for the Stamp Rally, with further details to be announced on official social media channels on Monday, May 4th.
Frustrated attendees expressed their disappointment on social media, criticizing the organizers for not adequately preparing for the anticipated crowd. Some suggested holding future events outside of Seoul to mitigate such issues. Reports also indicated that the canceled promo cards were being resold by scalpers for prices ranging from 25,000 to 33,000 yen.
