Regarding the news of the business trip to Chengdu, China, “Are you bringing Fu Bao?”… A word left by Hong Jun-pyo:

Daegu Mayor Hong Jun-pyo responded to a question about the giant panda ‘Fubao’ returned to China, saying, “I don’t know the intentions of those who are obsessed with Fubao.”

On the 23rd, on the online communication platform ‘Youth’s Dream’, a supporter said, “It is said that Fu Bao lives in Chengdu, China.” “Are they bringing Fu Bao with them?” “Are you going to meet Fu Bao too?” he asked Mayor Hong.

This supporter appears to have asked this question with Mayor Hong’s China business trip schedule in mind. According to Daegu City on this day, Mayor Hong will visit Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, a sister city, for 5 nights and 6 days from the 24th to the 29th. Daegu City and Chengdu City have continued their relationship through a sister city relationship in 2015.

In response to this question, Mayor Hong said, “I don’t know the true intentions of those who are obsessed with Fubao. He answered, “It’s just a panda that went to its hometown after being at Yongin Natural Farm (Everland’s old name).”

Fu Bao, who was born to pandas Le Bao and Ai Bao at Everland in Yongin on July 20, 2020, returned to China on the 3rd, 1354 days after birth. He is currently in quarantine at the Player Ping base in Wolong, Sichuan Province.

Fu Bao, which was greatly loved in Korea, is still very popular. Fans who were sad and in tears when Fu Bao left Korea have been watching the scene of Fu Bao arriving at Chengdu Airport as well as the footage of him living in quarantine on social media.

Due to the popularity of Fubao, interest in traveling to Chengdu, China has increased. According to travel platform Trip.com, from the 6th to the 5th of last month, the reservation rate for Chengdu-related travel products such as flights and hotels through Trip.com increased by 28% compared to the previous month.

On the 8th, a civil complaint was filed with the Seoul Metropolitan Government requesting that Fubao be rented for a fee and brought to Seoul Grand Park. In response, Seoul Grand Park said, “When we think about it from Fubao’s perspective once more, we hope that Fubao adapts well to the environment in China where he will live and lives happily,” and actually expressed his intention to refuse.

As Fubao’s ‘syndromic’ popularity continued, some people complained of fatigue due to it. Online, they poured out reactions such as “How long will we have to listen to stories about Chinese bears in our country?” and “I admit that they are cute, but I don’t understand why we have to cry loudly and hear about the latest news in China just because they are leaving.”