Pokemon Card Giveaway Canceled – Safety Concerns at Festa

A free Pokemon card giveaway at Pokemon Mega Festa 2026 in Seoul was abruptly canceled on May 1 after an estimated 40,000 fans gathered at Seoul Forest, creating safety concerns that forced organizers to halt on-site distribution. The event was part of a month-long celebration tied to the franchise’s 30th anniversary, held in the Seongsu-dong area alongside the Seoul International Garden Show.

What Happened and Why

Participants could earn a rare Korean-exclusive Magikarp promo card by completing a Pokemon GO Stamp Rally, which required collecting three stamps at designated spots around the venue. By noon, however, the crowd had swelled far beyond expectations, prompting the Seoul city government to request that the giveaway be shut down. Pokemon Korea released an emergency notice attributing the cancellation to “on-site safety considerations.”

How Eligible Fans Will Get the Card

Despite the cancellation, the company assured that fans who had already met the stamp rally conditions would still receive the Magikarp card. Pokemon Korea plans to collect names, addresses, and Trainer IDs through an online form, with further details to be posted on official social channels on May 4. The notice urged attendees to leave the area peacefully, confirming that all eligible participants would be accommodated.

Market Reaction and Broader Concerns

The massive turnout was likely fueled by a combination of a public holiday, the promo’s limited availability, and its high resale value—listings on the platform Kream showed the card priced at roughly 286,000 won (about $194). Social media footage showed extremely dense crowds, and Serebii webmaster Joe Merrick warned the incident could jeopardize fut
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