When Pokémon Go Players Meet Magikarp at Cheonggyecheon Lantern Festival
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
Seoul’s annual Seoul Lantern Festival featured around 100 illuminated Magikarp (잉어킹) lanterns along a 70-meter stretch of Cheonggyecheon, drawing big crowds. The display highlighted Magikarp’s humble status in the Pokémon series—weak in battle but symbolic for eventually evolving into Gyarados—using varied expressions, moving fins, and a waterfall motif that references the legendary carp-to-dragon story (등용문). Visitors could search for a single golden Magikarp among the red ones, echoing the rarity of finding a differently colored Pokémon in the game. A playful official song “I LOVE Magikarp” loops through the area, humorously describing Magikarp as very weak yet ultimately lovable. The installation invited people to pause, take photos, make wishes, and reflect on the festival’s gentle message: it’s okay to be weak now; perseverance matters. The exhibit resonated as a comforting counterpoint to a culture that often values only visible success.
