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The domestic collectibles market is growing rapidly, centered around trading card games (TCGs: small cards containing images sold for collection purposes) such as Pokémon and One Piece. While second-hand trading volumes for some cards have increased more than 100-fold within a year, an offline event allowing collectors from both Korea and abroad to buy and sell collectibles directly will be held in Seoul.
Global blockchain, AI (artificial intelligence), and content venture capital firm Hashed and its subsidiary ShardLab announced on the 14th that they will co-host Korea's first 'Collectible Con' with The Concept Labs, a subsidiary of Thailand's CP Group.
The Collectible Con is an event where collectors can view and trade various collectibles firsthand while exchanging ideas. Over 50 sellers will participate in this event, showcasing TCG cards including Pokémon, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, Disney Lorcana, as well as sports cards, designer toys, anime goods, and art pieces. Participants include domestic and international collectors, overseas brands, distributors, artists, and creators.
At the event venue, attendees can directly inspect and trade rare single cards, unopened vintage products, graded cards, and limited-edition items. Experience programs will also be available, including live pack openings, card authentication and verification services, and a trading space where collectors can exchange their collections firsthand.
Eight panel talks and lectures involving sellers, professional authentication companies, brands, and community representatives will also take place. Topics will cover the latest trends in the collectibles market, card authentication, storage, trading, and the future of related communities.
The reason Collectible Con selected Seoul as its second host city lies in the rapidly growing domestic collectibles market. The event, first held in Bangkok, Thailand last May, attracted approximately 4,000 visitors.
In the first quarter of this year, South Korea ranked third globally in eBay's trading card sales country rankings, rising seven positions from 10th place in 2024.
Domestic transaction volumes are also increasing significantly. According to the second-hand trading platform Danggeun, Pokémon card and One Piece card transaction volumes increased by 1,114% and 16,05%, respectively, compared to the same period last year from June to August. On the limited-edition trading platform KREAM, trading card transaction values rose approximately 208-fold from January to July this year compared to the same period last year.
Thamonrat Choochart, co-founder of The Concept Labs, stated, "While Korea's collectibles market is growing rapidly, collectors' activities have been primarily online, limiting opportunities for direct interaction. Through this event, we aim to provide collectors with the experience of meeting in person, examining various collectibles firsthand, and trading."
The Collectible Con will be held from December 2nd to 3rd at Stage X Seongsu Chabot in Seongsu-dong, Seoul.
[MoneyToday startup media platform Unicorn Factory]
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