From Pokemon to T1, global fandoms open new market for Korean resellers

Korean sellers are discovering fresh prospects in the global collectibles trade, as buyers from abroad are eager to pay a higher price for rare, scarce items. eBay reported in a statement on Friday that the sales of Korean sellers within the Collectible Card Games Category surged by more than three times in the third quarter, compared to the previous year.

This growth was the most significant among all Korean sellers on the international e-commerce platform, spanning from July to September of the same year. The surge in popularity among platform users can be attributed to trading cards showcasing characters, artists or celebrity athletes, which captivated the users' interest in Korean resellers.

Among the most sought-after trading cards were those featuring characters from the widely-acclaimed animated series Pokemon and the renowned League of Legends esports team T1. The leading-selling item in this category was the 2026 KOREA MEGA FESTA Magikarp card, which also secured the ninth position in overall sales among Korean sellers on eBay.

The Riftbound X 2025 World Champion T1 Signature Edition Card managed to command a premium even during the pre-launch phase, indicating a global fanbase for the product itself and the team it represented, consisting of professional gamers.