Post Reports – "Labubu: China’s Plushy, Soft Power Tool"

Published: September 1, 2025
Host: Elahe Izadi
Guest: Kelly Kasulis Cho, Reporter/Editor, The Washington Post (Seoul)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the global phenomenon of Labubu, a popular plush toy crafted by the Chinese company Pop Mart. Host Elahe Izadi and guest Kelly Kasulis Cho explore how Labubu became a status symbol, why it commands such fervor, its impact on global economics and culture, and how counterfeit versions (the "Lefufu") are shaking up everything from crime to China's international image. Ultimately, the story of Labubu becomes a lens into consumerism, soft power, and adult yearnings for joy amid uncertain times.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

What is a Labubu? (01:06–01:34)

• Description:

  • "A figurine of, like, an elf-gremlin monster type character with bunny ears and nine fangs and like a humanlike face with these big cartoon anime eyes." (Kelly Kasulis Cho, 01:06)
  • Size of a hand, also works as a keychain or bag accessory.

• Appeal:

  • Blind box process mimics gambling; you don't know which version you’ll get until you open it.
  • Limited edition “Secret Rares” can fetch $400–$500 in resale markets.

• Pop culture reach:

  • Seen in the hands of celebrities like Rihanna and Naomi Osaka.

The Labubu Boom: Origins and Spread (04:05–05:26)

• Origins:

  • Created by Hong Kong artist Ka Sing Lung, inspired by old European/Nordic folklore.
  • First appeared in comic strips and graphic novels, later partnered with Pop Mart to produce figures.

• Global Trend:

  • "It really rose to fame when Lisa, who’s the singer from the K-pop group Blackpink, kind of raved to the public about them. And then you started seeing Rihanna and Dua Lipa clipping them onto their bags, and it just soared from there." (Kelly, 04:18)

Economics, Scarcity, and Crime (05:26–06:44)

• Pricing & Scarcity:

  • US retail: $27–$30, but quickly sold out.
  • Resale: $50 to several hundred dollars, with stories of failed purchase attempts due to site crashes or fast sell-outs.

• Secondary Market & Crime:

  • "$30,000 worth of Labubus were recovered recently in the United States in just one sting." (Kelly, 05:52)
  • Pop Mart UK stopped sales temporarily due to physical altercations in line-ups.

What Fuels the Craze? (07:05–09:08)

• Exclusivity & Collectibility:

  • "It's just so difficult to obtain, especially a real one... there's some kind of financial flex, if you will. It's a status symbol in some ways." (Kelly, 07:27)
  • The gambling thrill—chasing the "Secret Rare," with odds about 1 in 72.

• Connection & Community:

  • Social media unboxing videos, bonding among friends and family, intergenerational appeal.
  • Feeds the dopamine hit similar to Beanie Babies and Pokémon.

• Adult Escapism:

  • Economic hardship makes such minor “splurges” feel justifiable and joyful.

Counterfeits: The Rise of the Lefufu (09:08–11:35)

• Prevalence & Sophistication:

  • Lefufu knockoffs are everywhere—hard to distinguish from authentic Labubus.
  • "Some of them look really, really close to the real thing. Some of them look really, really bad." (Kelly, 09:42)
  • Early Lefufu often had 10 teeth vs. the authentic nine, but this distinction has faded as fakes improve.

• Authentication Struggles:

  • The only sure method: scratch-off QR codes on the box or checking the plushie's leg tag—but after purchase.

• Scale:

  • Chinese customs have seized at least 49,000 fake units, but real numbers are assumed to be much higher.
  • There’s now even a subculture around collecting the ugliest Lefufu knockoffs.

China’s Crackdown & Soft Power Play (12:53–16:28)

• Enforcement:

  • Authorities raid street markets, seize Lefufus at customs, broadcast guidelines for discerning real vs. fake.
  • Unusual focus, as China is infamous for ignoring Western counterfeit goods.

• Why Now?—Soft Power & Branding:

  • The Labubu craze is seen as a Chinese success story abroad: "China... embraces opportunities when it arises to improve its reputation abroad, particularly in the West." (Kelly, 14:57)
  • Shift from “Made in China” as a pejorative to “Made by China” as a mark of innovative desirability.

• Host commentary on irony:

  • "There are plenty of American companies and other companies that, you know, their counterfeit and fake versions of their products are manufactured in China. And it seems like the government there just turns a blind eye to it and they have no recourse." (Elahe, 14:03)

Tariffs and Geopolitics (16:28–17:18)

• Impact of US Tariffs:

  • Pop Mart’s US site claims it will cover tariffs/customs for US buyers, but unclear if this will persist through new tariff hikes (potentially up to 145%).

• Consumer Behavior:

  • Demand remains high, even as prices climb.

Critiques and Environmental Concerns (17:18–18:52)

• Cycle of Hype & Speculation:

  • Parallels to Beanie Babies: volatile, bubble-like boom and inevitable crash.

• Waste:

  • Kelly: "A year from now, we're going to have landfills full of Labubus, right? I mean, these things are made of plastic. The packaging is not great for the environment, and people usually don't just buy one, they buy many of them." (18:01)

• Cultural Critique:

  • Seen by some as “cringe” or excessive, especially amid economic belt-tightening.

Deeper Meaning & Lasting Impressions (18:52–20:32)

• Labubu as Adult Comfort Object:

  • "For me, Labubus have kind of revealed an adult craving for childlike joy. You know, it's expensive, it's gratuitous, it's a little ridiculous. But at the same time, if it makes you happy for a day, then it makes you happy." (Kelly, 19:09)
  • Provides a sense of community and a fun story to share (“like saying that you scratched a scratch ticket and you got 700 bucks yesterday”).

• Host’s Changed Perception:

  • "After learning about all this, I'm still not going to buy one. But I get it. Why you and others would. Whereas before I was like, I'm not going to buy one and I don't understand why anyone would. So it makes a lot of sense." (Elahe, 20:17)

• Final Note of Irony:

  • Kelly: "They're actually quite ugly. So I get it." (20:32)

Public Safety Alert (20:46–21:55)

• After the interview, Elahe reports that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned Labubu knockoffs (Lefufu) are a choking hazard—easily break apart, dangerous to children.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kelly’s Confession:

  • "I'm a little embarrassed though, if I'm going to be honest. I unboxed one on camera for The Washington Post ... and after that I became like a little addicted." (00:30)

• On Collecting and Status:

  • "There's some kind of financial flex, if you will. It's a stick status symbol in some ways." (07:27)

• On Blind Box Appeal:

  • "There's almost this kind of gambling casino-like effect to it ... you keep buying them, you keep filling out your collection, trying to get every color, hoping that you're lucky today." (08:05)

• Reflection on Adult Joy:

  • "For me, Labubus have kind of revealed an adult craving for childlike joy." (19:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 01:06–01:34 | What is a Labubu? | | 04:05–05:26 | Origins of Labubu and global spread | | 05:26–06:44 | Pricing, scarcity, and crime | | 07:05–09:08 | Culture of collecting and why Labubu is so appealing | | 09:08–11:35 | Counterfeits: Lefufu and the authentication problem | | 12:53–16:28 | China's response and soft power strategy | | 16:28–17:18 | Tariffs and global economic impact | | 17:18–18:52 | Critique of consumerism and environmental concerns | | 18:52–20:32 | Deeper meaning and host/guest reflections | | 20:46–21:55 | Public safety warning on Lefufu knockoffs |

Summary Takeaways

• Labubu is China’s answer to Beanie Babies: a bizarre, endearing collectible pitched to adults more than children, whose success reveals globalization, the power of scarcity, and the new face of Chinese soft power.
• Its explosive popularity is driven as much by exclusivity and communal fun as by the actual toy.
• The wave of counterfeits (Lefufu) and China’s response demonstrate shifting priorities in the Chinese government’s approach to intellectual property, especially when national image is at stake.
• The episode puts Labubu in context as both a quirky fad and a case study in the fast-evolving world of global consumerism—complete with all its environmental, cultural, and economic contradictions.

For listeners: Whether you’re bewildered by these plush monsters or contemplating your next “blind box” purchase, this episode covers Labubu from every angle—and leaves you questioning what we really crave in collectibles amid uncertainty.