Pokémon card craze draws even seniors to store 'open runs'
“I waited five hours from 8 a.m. just to get inside. They said the wait had gotten shorter, so I didn’t have to stay up all night…” At a Pokémon card shop in Seoul’s Yongsan District on the afternoon of Oct. 23, college student Park, 19, smiled awkwardly as he showed off a newly purchased box of cards. On the screen of a waiting-list registration machine beside him, a notice read, “151 groups…
A Pokémon card craze has drawn even seniors to a Seoul store, where lengthy queues form each morning. College student Park, 19, waited five hours to enter the Yongsan District shop, noting that the wait had shortened. A notice on a registration machine displayed an estimated wait time of 181 minutes for 151 groups. Some customers found the long wait surprising and opted not to join the line.
Pokémon cards, originating from a Japanese manga and animation franchise, continue to maintain their popularity. At the Yongsan store in I’Park Mall's outdoor garden on the seventh floor, customers frequently gather outside, waiting for the doors to open. Despite the lack of exact numbers, multiple buyers typically set up mats and cover themselves with blankets while awaiting their turn.
One security guard reported that some individuals arrive as early as 9 p.m. the night before to secure a spot. Many endure the cold weather while waiting for the store to open.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Pokémon card craze draws even seniors to store 'open runs' koreatimes.co.kr
