Hero image: Pokémon GO official event page — ©Scopely Explore ©Pokémon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK.
If your feed has suddenly filled up with a pastel-orange Pikachu in a tiny 한복 (hanbok), you’re not imagining it. Pokémon Korea just announced its next 팝업스토어 (papeop seutoeo), pop-up store, and it’s one of the more visually striking ones yet.
What it actually is
The event is called “피카츄의 가을나들이” — Pikachu’s Autumn 나들이 (nadeuri), part of Pokémon Korea’s larger “Mega Festa 2026.” The concept: Hanbok Pikachu wanders through a world styled after 민화 (minhwa), traditional Korean folk painting — pine trees, a lotus pond, a full moon — where, per the official announcement, the line between reality and the painting itself starts to blur. Other Pokémon show up in the scene too, each doing their own version of enjoying autumn.
It’s a strong pick for the season: minhwa motifs are exactly the kind of imagery you’d see in a real folk painting, so the pop-up doubles as a (very cute) intro to traditional Korean art style, not just a merch drop.
Video: Pokémon Korea — © Pokémon Korea / @pokemon_korea_official.
When and where
- Dates: September 18 – October 11, 2026
- Location: Hiker Ground, 40 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 청계천로 40) — tap for the Naver Map listing
- Hours / activities: not yet announced — Pokémon Korea’s post says details are “to be revealed later,” so check closer to opening if you’re planning a visit
Hiker Ground sits right along the Cheonggyecheon stream in central Seoul, an easy add-on if you’re already spending a day around Jongno or Euljiro.
There’s a Pokémon GO event running alongside it
The pop-up isn’t standalone — Pokémon GO is running a matching in-game event, and per the official event page, it’s split into two overlapping pieces:
Regional event (“가을 소풍”), Sep 18 – Oct 11 — limited to Seoul’s Jongno/Jung-gu area and Incheon Airport’s Hiker Station:
- Orange Hanbok Pikachu appears in 1★ raids at 15 designated gyms in the zone (capped at once per gym per day, and remote raid passes don’t work here)
- Free timed research around local PokéStops rewards 2,026 XP, a Hanbok Pikachu encounter, a Premium Battle Pass, and an event sticker — all with a boosted shiny (color-variant) chance
- Field research from event-area PokéStops can reward a Hanbok Pikachu encounter, an encounter with another event-themed Pokémon, and Stardust (one task per PokéStop per day)
- Bonuses: 2-hour Lure Modules and event-themed pollen effects on the map
- A separate in-person Pokémon GO event is listed as “to be announced” — worth watching for, since it’d mean an official Niantic activation on top of the Pokémon Korea pop-up itself
Nationwide event (“피카츄의 한국 나들이”), Sep 24–26 only — playable anywhere in Korea:
- Same Hanbok Pikachu 1★ raids, no location or participation limits
- Free timed research rewards 4,500 XP, a Premium Battle Pass, 5,500 Stardust, and a Hanbok Pikachu encounter
- Bonuses: 2× Candy for sending Pokémon to the Professor, 2× Stardust from raids, and a fireworks effect on the map
One quirk worth flagging if you’re playing along: both timed research tracks share the same claim deadline, Oct 11, 20:00 KST — even though the nationwide event itself only runs Sep 24–26, you have until the regional event’s end date to actually turn in the quest and collect the reward.
If you’re a player as well as a visitor, it’s worth timing your trip to the pop-up around the regional event window so both experiences line up.
Good to know before you go
Pop-ups like this are a whole subculture in Seoul — brands treat them as short-lived events rather than stores, and locals track them closely enough that accounts like 핫플 (hatpeul) trackers exist specifically to flag the next one before it opens. Expect lines, expect limited merch, and expect details (hours, ticketing, whether it’s reservation-only) to firm up closer to the opening date rather than all at once.
We’ll update this post once Pokémon Korea shares the specifics — for now, pencil in September 18 and keep an eye on their official channels.