Recently, the story of singer Lee Young-ji, who was defrauded by counterfeit ‘LABUBU’ dolls, a character doll from China that has gained popularity worldwide, was reported by Taiwanese news, drawing attention online.
On the 10th, Lee Young-ji shared a video from Taiwanese broadcaster TVBS on her social media (SNS) with the caption, “I bought a fake ‘LABUBU’. This is real. It’s not Korean news.”
The video showed Lee Young-ji attempting to win a ‘LABUBU’ doll and getting scammed by counterfeits.
She expressed her anticipation, saying, “I can’t tell if it’s a fake or real, but I really want to have Secret,” and when she drew the desired doll, she exclaimed, “This is the real deal, right? I drew Secret, right?”
However, the doll was an illegally copied product. Lee Young-ji revealed her disappointment, saying, “My LABUBU is a fake. It was a fake LABUBU,” adding, “There’s no ring, no card. Don’t be deceived, buy the real thing. Don’t sell fakes.”
This Taiwanese news also highlighted the case of ILLIT member Won-hee, who recently complained about counterfeit LABUBU dolls, urging caution against counterfeit products.
Earlier, Won-hee lamented on fan communication platform Weverse in June, saying, “I was scammed. This can’t be real. It’s so absurd,” and stated, “I bought it as if I saw it in person. The box looked real, though.”
LABUBU, designed by art toy creator Lung Ka-hsing (53), a Hong Kong native residing in the Netherlands, features sharp teeth, a humorous expression, and fluffy fur. It is inspired by elves from Nordic forests. In 2019, Pop Mart acquired the intellectual property rights (IP) and began selling it primarily in China.
In particular, BLACKPINK’s Lisa showcased the LABUBU keyring on her social media (SNS), causing its recognition to rise significantly. The LABUBU, auctioned alongside the luxury bag Hermes Birkin, was traded for 203,428 yuan (approximately 38.45 million won).
It is reported that genuine LABUBU dolls include components such as a QR code, an authenticity card, and a keychain.