Ugly but cute: Shinsegae Duty Free brings in 'Fuggler' characters

Shinsegae Duty Free announced Wednesday that it is introducing the global character brand Fuggler, marking the first time the brand has entered South Korea's duty-free industry.

True to its name -- short for "Funny Ugly Monster" -- Fuggler is known for its comically ugly expressions and human-like teeth. The brand began in 2010 when a British artist came up with the idea of attaching model teeth to stuffed toys.

Fuggler products have sold more than 8 million units worldwide. The lineup includes characters such as Rabbit Mix, Long Long Ear, Nugget, Macgoo Mix and Weirdo Mix. A brand pop-up store is also planned to open in Shanghai later this year.

Shinsegae Duty Free has simultaneously rolled out Fuggler at its Myeong-dong store and Incheon airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 outlets, with plans to launch the brand on its online mall this month. "We will continue to introduce differentiated character and lifestyle products going forward," a Shinsegae Duty Free representative said.