OLIVE YOUNG Expands IP Collaborations, Kicking Off 2026 With Korean Character mangomee

press release

OLIVE YOUNG Expands IP Collaborations, Kicking Off 2026 With Korean Character mangomee

2026.01.27

5min

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CJ OLIVE YOUNG is expanding its IP collaborations, launching a February campaign with mangomee, a popular Korean character created by artist Yurang. Bringing together 21 brands and 119 products, the campaign spans stores, online channels and a Hongdae pop-up, with merchandise, interactive activities and promotions for customers.

Cartoon characters play outside an Olive Young store beneath a pastel sky.

OLIVE YOUNG saw strong results from its character collaborations with Sanrio Characters and POP MART Korea last year, demonstrating the potential of IP-driven campaigns. In July, sales of brands participating in the Sanrio collaboration rose 60% year over year, while the accompanying pop-up store attracted 33,000 visitors over three weeks, setting a new record. The POP MART pop-up at OLIVE YOUNG N Seongsu in December also drew strong international interest, with international customers accounting for 70% of sales during its run.

Building on these results, OLIVE YOUNG plans to significantly expand collaborations with major IPs from Korea and abroad this year. By leveraging the appeal of established characters and their content, the company aims to create richer brand experiences for customers. OLIVE YOUNG will also take a more active role in developing collaboration frameworks, lowering barriers to participation for partner brands while maximizing marketing impact.

The first collaboration of the year features mangomee, created by Korean artist Yurang. Known for stories that candidly capture everyday emotions, the character has built a loyal fan base, with 700,000 followers across its official social media accounts.

The collaboration brings together 21 brands to launch 119 products, with collections designed to incorporate the character's distinctive world into customers' everyday lives. Character designs appear on a wide range of beauty products, including skincare and color cosmetics, accompanied by promotional gifts such as pouches and coin purses. The collection also includes lifestyle items with collectible appeal, such as plush keyrings and tumblers. Products will be available at OLIVE YOUNG stores nationwide and through its Korean online store and OLIVE YOUNG Global.

Limited-edition merchandise will also be available for customers. During the campaign, customers who spend KRW 70,000 or more at OLIVE YOUNG stores or online will be eligible to receive mangomee merchandise. On February 1 and 13, customers will receive one of two items on a first-come, first-served basis: a cushion blanket set shaped like the character's face and a storage pouch.

From February 1 to 22, TRENDPOT by OLIVE YOUNG Hongdae, a popular destination for global customers, will host a pop-up experience themed around mangomee's dreamy little world. Customers who complete all the interactive activities will receive character merchandise, including good-luck charms. Those who make purchases at the pop-up can also receive exclusive gifts, such as pouches and glass cup sets, depending on their spending amount.

A webtoon featuring the collaboration's storyline will also be released on the official Instagram accounts of artist Yurang and OLIVE YOUNG. In addition, a special online promotion will invite customers to create their own product designs using character stickers through an interactive event on OLIVE YOUNG's online store.

“Designed with a range of interactive elements across online and offline channels, this campaign aims to give customers a more immersive experience with OLIVE YOUNG,” an OLIVE YOUNG representative said. “We will continue to collaborate with a diverse range of IPs to offer new experiences to customers while further developing collaboration models that support the growth of our partner brands.”

CJ OLIVE YOUNG announced that it will expand collaborations featuring popular intellectual property (IP), including beloved characters, with its first collaboration of the year running throughout February and featuring mangomee, a popular Korean character. OLIVE YOUNG saw strong results from its character collaborations with Sanrio Characters and POP MART Korea last year, demonstrating the potential of IP-driven campaigns. In July, sales of brands participating in the Sanrio collaboration rose 60% year over year, while the accompanying pop-up store attracted 33,000 visitors over three weeks, setting a new record. The POP MART pop-up at OLIVE YOUNG N Seongsu in December also drew strong international interest, with international customers accounting for 70% of sales during its run. Building on these results, OLIVE YOUNG plans to significantly expand collaborations with major IPs from Korea and abroad this year. By leveraging the appeal of established characters and their content, the company aims to create richer brand experiences for customers. OLIVE YOUNG will also take a more active role in developing collaboration frameworks, lowering barriers to participation for partner brands while maximizing marketing impact. The first collaboration of the year features mangomee, created by Korean artist Yurang. Known for stories that candidly capture everyday emotions, the character has built a loyal fan base, with 700,000 followers across its official social media accounts. The collaboration brings together 21 brands to launch 119 products, with collections designed to incorporate the character's distinctive world into customers' everyday lives. Character designs appear on a wide range of beauty products, including skincare and color cosmetics, accompanied by promotional gifts such as pouches and coin purses. The collection also includes lifestyle items with collectible appeal, such as plush keyrings and tumblers. Products will be available at OLIVE YOUNG stores nationwide and through its Korean online store and OLIVE YOUNG Global. Limited-edition merchandise will also be available for customers. During the campaign, customers who spend KRW 70,000 or more at OLIVE YOUNG stores or online will be eligible to receive mangomee merchandise. On February 1 and 13, customers will receive one of two items on a first-come, first-served basis: a cushion blanket set shaped like the character's face and a storage pouch. From February 1 to 22, TRENDPOT by OLIVE YOUNG Hongdae, a popular destination for global customers, will host a pop-up experience themed around mangomee's dreamy little world. Customers who complete all the interactive activities will receive character merchandise, including good-luck charms. Those who make purchases at the pop-up can also receive exclusive gifts, such as pouches and glass cup sets, depending on their spending amount. A webtoon featuring the collaboration's storyline will also be released on the official Instagram accounts of artist Yurang and OLIVE YOUNG. In addition, a special online promotion will invite customers to create their own product designs using character stickers through an interactive event on OLIVE YOUNG's online store. “Designed with a range of interactive elements across online and offline channels, this campaign aims to give customers a more immersive experience with OLIVE YOUNG,” an OLIVE YOUNG representative said. “We will continue to collaborate with a diverse range of IPs to offer new experiences to customers while further developing collaboration models that support the growth of our partner brands.”