“One Card for 20 Billion Won?”… Theft and Fraud Surge Amid Pokémon Craze

Dong-A Ilbo reports on the dark side of the booming Pokémon card market, where escalating values have fueled a rise in theft and fraud. The article highlights incidents that illustrate the growing criminal element associated with these collectibles.

One striking example is a February theft at a Hong Kong card store during the Lunar New Year holiday. Thieves broke into the store, targeting sealed Pokémon card boxes and causing an estimated loss of approximately 15,000 Hong Kong dollars (about 2.83 million won). While rarer, more valuable cards were secured in a safe, the incident underscores the vulnerability of even sealed products.

The article notes that Pokémon cards are increasingly seen as investment assets globally. It cites the record-breaking sale of a 'Pikachu Illustrator' card held by YouTuber Logan Paul for approximately $16 million (about 23.7 billion won) as a prime example of the market's potential. The overall collectible card market is forecast to expand significantly, from an estimated $15.8 billion in 2024 to $23.5 billion by 2030.

This market growth is directly linked to a rise in related crimes. In Singapore alone, over 600 e-commerce fraud cases involving Pokémon cards have occurred since October 2025, with damages exceeding 1.1 million Singapore dollars (about 1.2 billion won). The resurgence in demand is attributed to younger generations who collected cards in their youth and are now returning to the hobby with greater financial capacity. Dong-A Ilbo frames this trend as a shift from a mere hobby to a high-stakes investment, inevitably attracting criminal elements and prompting discussions about regulation. The article mentions potential regulatory measures like age restrictions and mandatory probability disclosures, reflecting a growing concern over market overheating and associated risks.

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It has become a completely different market.