Attention all Pokemon Collectors! Spia (Bee Man) here with an official local report from South Korea to clear up the chaos regarding the Magikarp Promo event today. Here is the complete timeline of today’s madness:
The Hype & Chaos: Early May in Korea has major overlapping holidays. Combined with scalpers expecting a massive price spike (similar to the Ditto promo), the crowd size became dangerously insane. Pre-buy offers were hitting $75–$150 before the event even started.
The Government Shutdown: The crowd became completely uncontrollable. To prevent any tragic crowd crush accidents (which Korean society is extremely strict about), the Seoul City Government authorities actually stepped in and issued an official “Dispersal Order.” Pokemon Korea was forced to suspend the event immediately.
Did anyone actually get the card?: There is conflicting information right now. There is a rumor that a few copies were handed out an hour early. HOWEVER, the literal #1 person in line posted online that they received absolutely nothing and had to be physically rescued by the police from the crowd.
*Conclusion: If you see eBay listings right now, be VERY careful. Most of them are “phantom stock” from scalpers who assumed they would get the card today. DO NOT FOMO BUY right now.
THE NEWEST UPDATE: Pokemon Korea just released an emergency announcement! To prevent physical crowd buildup, they are switching to an “Online Registration System” using Trainer IDs.
So, please do not rush to buy on eBay just yet! Let the dust settle. I will keep you guys updated when the real cards actually and safely hit the market!
【Emergency Notice】
Metamong Playground
Notice on Temporary Suspension of Entry on 5/1 (Fri)
Entry is temporarily suspended for the safety of visitors.
We ask for your generous understanding.
Hello, this is Pokémon Korea.
The promotional card “Magikarp” that was scheduled to be given out today has been canceled due to on-site safety considerations.
It will be accepted later via an online form, and detailed information will be provided through Pokémon’s official SNS.
We plan to collect necessary information such as your name, address, Trainer ID, and address through the online form, so please check Pokémon’s official SNS on 5/4 (Mon) for the details.
Those of you who met the stamp rally conditions today
can all receive it, so please go home with peace of mind.
I am guessing any future events with exclusive promos are numbered if any. It makes more sense from crowd management perspective and security to just distribute these cards online. Or do something like the London Museum. Some of the crowd images from this event are insane.
The crowds were lucky it didn’t escalate into a repeat tragedy from 2022, which I believe is what prompted the Seoul city government to intervene quickly. TPC so far made the correct decision not to have cards involved in any 30th anniversary events in Japan, it’s just not safe
Obviously the right decision to cancel the event to prevent it from turning into a disaster. I honestly think the Pokémon Company should stop doing public events (or similar things) related to handing out Promo cards. Almost all of the last few ones turned out to be pretty bad (Van Gogh Pikachu, McDonalds Pikachu, …). At least for a while.
With the new distribution method, I will probably wait a few months to buy PSA 10 slabs in bulk from the market, similiar to what I have done for Metamong Ditto.
We deeply regret and sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and confusion caused during the “Pokémon Mega Festa” event held on May 1st in Seongsu-dong and Seoul Forest areas.
Our company prioritizes visitor safety as our foremost value, and we are closely collaborating with relevant institutions and departments to establish a more thorough safety management system and prepare follow-up improvement measures.
Accordingly, we plan to change the operation method of the “Pokémon GO” Stamp Rally and the prize distribution method.
Please refer to the relevant announcement for details on the changes, and we will strive to provide a more pleasant viewing experience at the “Pokémon Secret Forest” and “Metamon Playground” for greater customer satisfaction.
The promo card “Magikarp” will also be distributed at future planned Pokémon events.
We will do our utmost to ensure that more people can obtain the promo card “Magikarp.”
“Pokémon GO” Stamp Rally Prize Distribution Cancellation Notice
The cancellation of prize distribution for the “Pokémon GO” Stamp Rally is announced as follows.
《Stamp Rally Operation Period》
The Stamp Rally can only be enjoyed through the “Pokémon GO” app until the originally announced period of 5/1 to 5/31.
Offline prize distribution at the Mega Festa site will not take place.
《Prize Distribution Details》
(1) Cancellation of Sun Cap prize for 1 stamp acquired
Due to the partial closure of the Stamp Rally information booth, the Sun Cap prize is excluded from the Stamp Rally rewards.
(2) For participants on 5/1 (Fri) only, promo card “Magikarp” prize for 3 stamps acquired
All individuals who acquired 3 stamps on 5/1 (Fri) are eligible to receive the promo card.
Participation verification will be conducted through an online form, and due to ongoing thorough review of the detailed method, an additional announcement will be made in May.
(3) Cancellation of lottery prize event for 6 stamps acquired
The lottery prize event that could be entered upon acquiring 6 stamps has also been canceled.
has anyone seen anything further about the Karp hitting the market? There are still listings of “pre-orders” on ebay, but i haven’t seen any real copies about.
I haven’t found a form yet so i guess it doesn’t exist yet. Can people who took part after the 1st of May even get the card? i don’t think they send them to europe and i am not staying that long in korea…
Thank you for all the participation and interest in Pokémon Run 2026.
Thanks to your support, we will additionally hold the “Pokémon Run Online Challenge.”
Join together as Magikarp to run 1km and claim your rewards
※Promo card “Magikarp” will continue to be available at various events.
How to Participate and Eligibility
Run 1km in the RunDay app to complete the mission!
Additional prize draws for SNS proof of participation!
Challenge / Reward Period
Challenge Participation Period: June 8, 2026 (Mon) 9 AM ~ June 30, 2026 (Tue) 11:59 PM
Reward Claim Period: July 7, 2026 (Tue) ~ August 31, 2026 (Mon)
SNS Event Prize Claim Period: July 7, 2026 (Tue) ~ August 31, 2026 (Mon)
Offline participants of Pokémon RUN 2026 can also re-participate online. Rewards are only available to domestic residents who can verify their pass.
Rewards can be claimed only once through personal information verification, and ID verification may be requested upon claim. The gift may be cancelled in the event of fraudulent activity, such as false applications using multiple accounts or duplicate authentication. Prizes for the social media verification event will be sent via courier. [Google Translate]
yooooo this is a unique event, i think they should do more promo distros like this!! complete a challenge with an app, verify online, mail it to your home! it avoids overcrowding and ensures people aren’t trying to get 10 of the card to resell oooooh
Regarding participants who were at the Stamp Rally event on May 1, 2026,
We will guide you on the prize distribution method for participants in the “Pokémon GO” Stamp Rally on May 1, 2026, as shown in the image.
The promo card “Magikarp” can continue to be encountered through various Pokémon events and promotions.
●Eligible Recipients
Participants in the “Pokémon GO” Stamp Rally on Friday, May 1, 2026
●Distribution Conditions
Among participants in the “Pokémon GO” Stamp Rally on Friday, May 1, 2026,
those who have acquired 3 or more stamps
●Distributed Prize
Promo card “Magikarp”
●Online Application Period
From Wednesday, May 27, 2026, to Sunday, May 31, 2026, 23:59
※Applicants after May 31 will not be eligible for prize distribution.
[UPDATE] Korean Pokémon MEGA FESTA - ‘Magikarp’ Promo Distribution News! Hello Hive and Magikarp collectors! For those who remember the chaotic riot and cancellation at the Seongsu Pop-up store in Korea on May 1st, Pokémon Korea just released an official update regarding the ‘Magikarp promo card’ distribution 2 hours ago. Here are the key facts! Distribution Summary:
Eligibility: ONLY for those who were physically present on May 1st and collected “3 or more stamps” from the event.
Timeline: After taking online applications until May 31st, the cards will not actually be distributed until July ! (Local shop pickups start July 7th, and mail deliveries start July 20th).
Important Facts for Global Collectors:
Sadly, this compensation is strictly for local attendees (requires a Korean phone number and local delivery), so foreigners cannot apply for this specific drop.
HOWEVER, I have GREAT NEWS! The official notice explicitly states: “The Magikarp promo card will continue to be available through various future Pokémon events and promotions.”
This means even when the first batch hits the Korean market in late July, you do NOT need to give in to FOMO and pay outrageous scalper prices! More supply will definitely be printed and distributed at future events. I will keep my Bee Eyes open and buzz you guys again when these Magikarps finally start hitting the Korean market in July!
How to Participate and Eligibility
Challenge / Reward Period
[UPDATE] Korean Pokémon MEGA FESTA - ‘Magikarp’ Promo Distribution News! 
For those who remember the chaotic riot and cancellation at the Seongsu Pop-up store in Korea on May 1st, Pokémon Korea just released an official update regarding the ‘Magikarp promo card’ distribution 2 hours ago. Here are the key facts! 
Distribution Summary:
Important Facts for Global Collectors: