Entertainment · K-Culture & Anime · 3 hrs ago
Young South Koreans flock to pop-ups for classic anime characters
Pop-up cafes and stores for classic anime characters are drawing young crowds in Seoul.
A Cardcaptor Sakura cafe opened in Seongsu on Nov.
11, and a Bleach pop-up opened the same day in Gwangjin.
More than 1,800 cafe seats were booked in the first hour, and 86% of customers who reserved were in their 20s or 30s.
At the Bleach store, some goods sold out, and purchases averaged 150 a day over its first two days.
The characters come from series that began in 1996 and 2001, long before many of today’s young visitors were old enough to follow them.
Experts say older animation’s rougher, more human feel may appeal in an AI era, while its proven popularity makes it a safer choice for consumers.
The pop-ups are operating now, with weekend sessions at the Cardcaptor Sakura cafe already mostly booked.
Pop-up events for classic anime characters are drawing young South Koreans, with strong demand for Cardcaptor Sakura and Bleach merchandise and experiences.
At a Cardcaptor Sakura cafe in Seoul, 86% of reservation customers were in their 20s and 30s.
The cafe sold 1,897 reservations in its first hour, and 18 of 24 weekend sessions were sold out as of Nov. 13.
A Bleach pop-up in Seoul averaged 150 purchases a day during its first two days, and some products quickly sold out.
Experts say nostalgia, the handmade feel of older animation and the appeal of proven stories may help explain the trend.
- Who
- Young South Korean consumers, particularly people in their 20s and 30s, are visiting the pop-ups.
- What
- Pop-ups and a cafe featuring classic anime characters including Cardcaptor Sakura and Bleach are attracting customers and selling merchandise.
- When
- The pop-ups opened on Nov. 11; the article was published on Nov. 14, 2026.
- Where
- Seoul, including Seongsu-dong and a shopping complex in Gwangjin-gu.
- Why
- Experts cite nostalgia, the human feel of older animation and confidence in content whose popularity has been proven.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Cardcaptor Sakura cafe opened in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong, and the Bleach pop-up opened in Gwangjin-gu.
The Cardcaptor Sakura cafe received 1,897 reservations.
The Bleach pop-up averaged 150 purchases a day, and some products sold out.
Eighteen of the cafe’s 24 weekend sessions were sold out, with weekend reservations at 82% of capacity.
- Cardcaptor Sakura reservations
- 1,897 seats booked in the first hour
- Cardcaptor Sakura customers
- 86% of reservation customers were in their 20s and 30s
- Weekend sessions
- 18 of 24 sold out as of Nov. 13
- Bleach pop-up purchases
- Average of 150 a day during its first two days
- Opening date
- Nov. 11
What people are saying
Each time new technology appears, a backlash emerges to reduce anxiety.
People in their 20s and 30s were the main customers, but many teenagers also visited.