Train Model Blocks Sell 30,000 This Year...Dedicated Display Case to Hit Stores

[Financial News] Train model blocks sold around 30,000 units in January–September alone this year, cementing their place as a flagship railway merchandise item. A dedicated case for storing and displaying assembled blocks will hit stores on the 26th.
According to Korail Distribution & Logistics on the 23rd, around 30,000 of the 33 types of model blocks sold at Korea Train Mates, a railway merchandise specialty store, were purchased from January through September. The blocks, modeled after trains and other subjects, were first released in 2024, and cumulative sales have since reached around 90,000.
The best-selling product this year was KTX-Sancheon, followed by KTX-Eum, the Line 1 electric train, New Mugunghwa, and KTX-Cheongryong. After the original KTX-Cheongryong model proved popular, it received a makeover in early October. The blue was made more vivid, the brick count was set at 696, and new components, such as a ticket-vending-machine block, were added. KTX-Cheongryong is a distributed-power high-speed train that began service in May 2024. It was designed to reach a top speed of 320 km/h and has 515 seats per trainset.
The new ‘Acrylic Display Case’ is made of clear acrylic. It can hold around 27 types of blocks, from discontinued products to those currently on sale. It can accommodate train models such as ITX-Maum and a steam locomotive, as well as the Rail & City series, which features trains alongside local landmarks in places such as Gyeongju and Busan. The cases can be stacked up to five high and have handles that make them easy to carry. They measure 550 × 166 × 145 mm and cost 27,500 won. Sales begin on the 26th at Korea Train Mates stores at Seoul and Busan stations.
Lee Seung-yeon, head of the Goods Biz TF at Korail Distribution & Logistics, said, “As more customers look for train model blocks, we thought they might also be interested in how to store and display them after assembling them.” Lee added, “We plan to introduce railway merchandise that can be used in more ways in conjunction with our existing products.”

[email protected] Jeong Gyeong-su Reporter