A public design contest introduces “Hongberry” and “Maru and Roro” as new regional brand mascots.
Hongseong-gun has unveiled the winning entries of the “Hongseong Specialty Character Contest,” part of a broader effort to strengthen recognition and create a friendly image for the region’s agricultural specialties. The selected characters represent local products, featuring “Hongberry,” a strawberry character, and “Maru and Roro,” garlic-themed characters.
The contest attracted a total of 525 submissions. Following internal screening, a public preference survey, and expert evaluation, two final winners were selected.
“Hongberry” portrays a young strawberry growing on a local farm and was praised for its strong usability and wide public appeal. “Maru and Roro” creatively express the visual characteristics of Hongsan garlic through storytelling, earning positive feedback for originality and overall character quality.
The selected characters will be applied across a range of promotional content, including merchandise, animation, and webtoon projects. They are expected to serve as accessible tools for promoting Hongseong-gun’s agricultural specialties and connecting with audiences across generations.
The characters will also be integrated into cultural and tourism initiatives led by the Hongseong Culture and Tourism Foundation, supporting broader regional branding and content development efforts.
Source: Hongseong-gun Office
© Korea.info