🔥 G-DRAGON’s ZOA Merch: The PH Store Charges About 24% More Than Korea
📌 TL;DR
・ZO&FRIENDS is G-DRAGON’s own character IP: created with LINE FRIENDS (IPX). ZOA is modelled on his cat, Princess Zoa, and A&NE draws on the daisy — his signature motif.
・Good news first: the Philippine storefront is one of the best stocked in the region — 137 of the Korean store’s 143 items, and all five of our picks are available here.
・The catch is price: the same items are listed about 24% higher than on the Korean storefront. The medium plush is PHP 3,650 here against roughly PHP 2,948 at the Korean price.
・Both routes pay shipping: the official store sends every international order by DHL express from South Korea, charged per order by weight — so ordering locally doesn’t avoid a shipping bill, it just adds 24% to the goods first.
・The better route for a real haul: Buy for You orders at the Korean price, then forwards from our Korea warehouse at PHP 620 for the first pound + PHP 380 per additional pound (DDU, plus PHP 40/lb fuel surcharge), with parcels consolidated into one shipment.
If a grey-and-white cloud cat moving in slow motion has been filling your feed lately, that’s ZOA — the lead character of ZO&FRIENDS, the character IP G-DRAGON created with LINE FRIENDS (IPX). The project spent close to two years in development before its July 2025 launch, and the connection is personal: ZOA is modelled on G-DRAGON’s own cat, Princess Zoa, while A&NE draws on the daisy he has used as a signature for years. AKI, ZAKI and the rest round out a soft, fairy-tale world.
Here’s the useful part for us: unlike most markets in the region, the Philippine storefront carries nearly the whole range — 137 of 143 items. You’re not locked out. What you are paying is a consistent premium of around 24% against the Korean storefront, on item after item.
Below we lay out that price gap with real figures, pick 5 items, and explain when ordering locally makes more sense than going through Korea — and when it doesn’t.
Contents
→ The price gap, with real figures
→ 5 ZO&FRIENDS picks
→ What is ZO&FRIENDS, and how does G-DRAGON fit in?
→ FAQ
→ How to buy: the Buy for You walkthrough
The price gap, with real figures
Switch the official store between the Korean and Philippine regions and the same product carries two different prices. The gap is remarkably consistent:
| Item | Korean store (converted) | PH storefront | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZOA Signature Medium Plush | ₩68,000 (≈ PHP 2,948) | PHP 3,650 | +24% |
| ZOA Lucky Shop pyjama set | ₩108,000 (≈ PHP 4,683) | PHP 5,800 | +24% |
| Signature folding umbrella | ₩38,000 (≈ PHP 1,648) | PHP 2,050 | +24% |
The range itself is barely restricted here — 137 of the Korean store’s 143 ZO&FRIENDS items appear on the Philippine storefront, so only about 4% is genuinely Korea-only. That’s a much better position than most markets in the region. The question is simply what you pay.
Both routes pay shipping — that’s the part people miss
It’s easy to assume ordering from the Philippine storefront means “local delivery”. It doesn’t. The official store states that every international order ships by DHL express from South Korea, with the cost calculated per order by destination and product weight and shown only at checkout. So ordering on the PH storefront still means paying international shipping — on goods that already cost about 24% more.
Going through Buy for You flips both halves of that: you pay the Korean listed price, and the parcel comes back through our Korea warehouse on weight-based forwarding that consolidates — PHP 620 for the first pound plus PHP 380 per additional pound on Delivered Duty Unpaid, or PHP 620 + PHP 520 on Delivered Duty Paid where we cover duties and taxes, plus a PHP 40/lb fuel surcharge.
💡 Where the honest line sits: forwarding here starts at PHP 620 for the first pound, so a 24% saving on one small item won’t cover it. Buy for You makes sense when you’re buying several pieces at once — the 24% applies to every item while the first-pound charge is paid once — or when you want one of the 6 items the Philippine storefront doesn’t list. For a single low-value pickup, ordering locally is simpler and we’d rather say so.
5 ZO&FRIENDS picks
1. ZOA Signature Medium Plush
The face of the whole line, and the three-dimensional version of G-DRAGON’s cat. The Signature Edition is the everyday version, and the medium size sits well on a sofa, a bed or a desk — it’s the one that ends up in most photos. It’s also where the price gap bites hardest in peso terms: PHP 3,650 here against roughly PHP 2,948 at the Korean price, a difference of about PHP 700.
Korean store: ₩68,000 (≈ PHP 2,948) | PH storefront: PHP 3,650
2. ZOA LUCKY SHOP mint pyjama set
From the official LUCKY SHOP project line, built around the idea of “a little luck close to you” — the mint pyjama set is its standout piece. It’s the most expensive of the five, which makes it the one where the 24% gap costs the most: PHP 5,800 here against about PHP 4,683 at the Korean price, a difference of roughly PHP 1,100 on a single item.
This one has size options, so state the size when you submit the request and check the measurements on the product page first.
Korean store: ₩108,000 (≈ PHP 4,683) | PH storefront: PHP 5,800
3. Signature folding umbrella
The practical pick from the Signature Edition. The official line about the series is that it “adds a small, precious point to an ordinary day”, which suits a compact umbrella — with our rainy season you’ll keep one in your bag anyway, so making it a character you like costs very little extra. PHP 2,050 here against about PHP 1,648 at the Korean price.
Korean store: ₩38,000 (≈ PHP 1,648) | PH storefront: PHP 2,050
4. ZOA Signature figurine pen, blue
The lowest entry point here at ₩8,800 (about PHP 382 at the Korean price). A three-dimensional ZOA sits on the cap, so it doubles as a small desk ornament. This is exactly the item not to import on its own — the shipping would dwarf it. Tucked into a consolidated parcel alongside the bigger pieces, though, it barely moves the weight, which makes it ideal for topping up an order or as a small gift.
Korean store: ₩8,800 (≈ PHP 382) | Also on the PH storefront
5. ZO&FRIENDS Bluetooth microphone
Good for singing, streaming or gifting, and available on both storefronts. At ₩52,800 (about PHP 2,289 at the Korean price) it sits in the middle of the range — a sensible piece to add to a larger order rather than to import alone.
⚠️ Before buying electronics: standalone batteries and power banks are prohibited from all warehouses. Good news: products that contain batteries are allowed provided they don’t exceed 100 WH — it’s loose batteries that are the problem, not the device. Separately, televisions, TV cards and electric fans cannot be shipped to the Philippines at all. See the prohibited items page for the full rules.
Korean store: ₩52,800 (≈ PHP 2,289) | Also on the PH storefront
Note: prices, styles, availability and stock change without notice — the LINE FRIENDS SQUARE site is the source of truth. Images are copyright IPX (LINE FRIENDS). PHP figures converted at 1,000 KRW ≈ PHP 43.36 (August 2026) and are indicative only.
What is ZO&FRIENDS, and how does G-DRAGON fit in?
ZO&FRIENDS (조앤프렌즈) is a character IP co-created by IPX — LINE FRIENDS’ parent company — and G-DRAGON, announced in July 2025 after close to two years of development. He was involved at every stage, which is why the characters map so directly onto him:
- ZOA (조아) — the lead, a cloud cat that moves in slow motion, modelled on G-DRAGON’s own cat, Princess Zoa
- A&NE (앤) — drawn from the daisy, the motif he has used for years
- AKI and ZAKI — rounding out the world alongside ZOA and A&NE
The whole IP leans soft and fairy-tale, described officially as reflecting G-DRAGON’s emotional depth and creativity. That’s much of why the merch moves so fast — you’re not just buying a cute plush, but a character with a direct line to him.
The product range is broad: plushies, stationery, umbrellas, apparel, homeware and electronics, plus recurring project lines such as the LUCKY SHOP mentioned above. Those project items usually run in limited quantities for a limited window, and they’re the ones most likely to sit among the handful the Philippine storefront doesn’t list.
FAQ
Q1: The PH storefront has almost everything — why use Buy for You?
A: Price, mainly. The same items are listed about 24% higher on the Philippine storefront than on the Korean one, and that gap applies to every piece in your basket. Ordering locally also doesn’t avoid international shipping — the store sends every international order by DHL express from Korea regardless. Buy for You gets you the Korean price plus weight-based forwarding that consolidates. There are also 6 items the Philippine storefront doesn’t list at all.
Q2: Is it worth it for just one item?
A: Usually not, and we’d rather tell you straight. Forwarding starts at PHP 620 for the first pound, so on a single small piece the 24% saving won’t cover it. The maths turns in your favour when you buy several items in one order — the saving applies to every item while the first-pound charge is paid once — or when you want something the Philippine storefront doesn’t carry.
Q3: I don’t read Korean — can I still order?
A: Yes. Find the item on the site, copy the page URL, and send it to us with the colour, size and quantity — no Korean needed. If the options are only in Korean, screenshot them or tell us “the third option from the top” and we’ll order to your instruction.
Q4: What will it cost in total?
A: Total = the item price in won + Korean domestic shipping + the Buy for You service fee + forwarding from Korea to the Philippines. Forwarding is PHP 620 for the first pound + PHP 380 per additional pound on Delivered Duty Unpaid, where you settle duties and taxes with the courier, or PHP 620 + PHP 520 on Delivered Duty Paid, where we cover them on accurately declared items. A PHP 40/lb fuel surcharge applies, part-pounds round up, and bulky items may be charged on volumetric weight. Current rates are on the pricing page.
Q5: How do I find the items that aren’t listed here?
A: Set the region at the top of the official site to 대한민국 (Korea) and browse from there — that’s the full 143 items, against 137 on the Philippine storefront. Anything that loads under Korea but 404s under the Philippines is one of the six. Copy the page URL and send it to us.
How to buy: the Buy for You walkthrough
To buy at the Korean listed price, the most direct route is Buy for You — we place the order for you. Here’s how it works:
✅ Using Buy for You
Step 1: Switch to the Korean storefront and copy the link
- Go to LINE FRIENDS SQUARE and set the region at the top to 대한민국 (Korea) — that’s the full 143 items, at Korean prices
- Find what you want and copy the product page URL
- 💡 The site is in Korean; browser translation is fine for browsing, but send us the original URL, not a translated one
- 💡 Note the colour and size. If the options are Korean-only, screenshot them or say “the second from the top”
Step 2: Submit the request
- Go to the Buy for You page and enter the link, colour, size, quantity and any notes (e.g. “pink if sold out”)
- 📌 One website per order, up to 10 items
- You’ll then see an estimated item cost and service fee
Step 3: Confirm and pay
- Check the details and the fee, then pay
- Buy&Ship places the order on the Korean storefront using what you’ve given us
- 📌 You never deal with the Korean site, a Korean address, or a local payment method
Step 4: Arrival and check-in
- We track the order once it ships
- You’re notified when it reaches and is checked in at the Buy&Ship Korea warehouse
Step 5: Consolidate, pay shipping and receive
- At the sorting centre, ship it on its own or consolidate it with other parcels to save on shipping — this is where the maths works in your favour
- The system calculates total weight and the fee; confirm and pay
- Choose Delivered Duty Unpaid (you settle duties and taxes with the courier) or Delivered Duty Paid (we cover them on accurately declared items)
- Track it in the Buy&Ship app or on the website