VAMPIRE NOW Mascot Debuts as a 15m Giant Parade Balloon

On the final weekend of December, when year-end festivities were at their peak, a massive green object appeared in the skies above central Seoul. The VAMPIRE NOW mascot had been transformed into a giant 15-meter helium balloon, becoming the main highlight of the Year-End Countdown Parade.

With its cute face, bat wings, and a rebellious star tattoo under one eye, the mascot’s overwhelming appearance instantly captured the attention of the crowds flooding the streets.

Humans: “We thought it was some hip charm to ward off bad luck for the New Year.”
What was most interesting was how the humans reacted to this enormous balloon. Tens of thousands gathered in the square erupted with excitement, snapping photos with flashing phones as they tried to capture the mysterious green bat. A human college student, A (22), said, “I don’t know what brand this character is from, but the sharp fangs look like a goblin charm that wards off bad energy — it’s actually cool,” as she continued taking pictures. Soon, hashtags like #NewYearFairy #GreenBat #BadLuckBalloon flooded social media in real time.

Completely unaware that the figure represented vampires quietly living among them, humans eagerly consumed this ‘new character’ through their own interpretations.

Vampires: “We almost died thinking our identity had been exposed.”
Meanwhile, vampires hidden among the crowd seemed amused by the irony. Vampire K (115), who watched the parade while masking as a human, said, laughing, “When the balloon first appeared, I thought they were loudly advertising our existence — my heart dropped.” He added, “But then I saw a human couple taking cute selfies with it, and I relaxed. Seeing our symbol float proudly in the middle of the city — something we usually hide — gave me a strange sense of freedom and pride.”

A night of ironic coexistence... a misunderstanding that became peace
After the parade passed, a long line formed in front of the pop-up store as humans rushed to buy mascot keyrings and plushies. One culture critic remarked, “Humans don’t know the chilling essence of this character. To them, it’s simply a unique design — a perfect snapshot of modern capitalism where the symbol of vampires becomes just another piece of merchandise.”

Under the dazzling lights and the towering green balloon, humans and vampires mingled as they celebrated the coming New Year. Each group enjoyed the moment for completely different reasons — and perhaps this happy misunderstanding is the closest we’ve ever come to the idea of a truly safe celebration.