Along with increased public consciousness of melting sea ice, polar bears became strongly associated with climate change. That could have threatened Coca-Cola's use of the animal as a cute mascot.

Welcome to Dongsan Park Zoo, where the star attraction is a docile, Coca-Cola chugging polar bear, except it’s too good to be true. In South Korean comedy Secret Zoo, Kang Tae-soo (Ahn Jae-hong ...