Search Volume for "Healing" Soars 486-Fold... "Hotspots" Bustling

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Slang-i, wak-pu, and malrang-i. These are all tactile toys that you enjoy by touching them. They are actually more popular among people in their 20s and 30s than among children.

Reporter Chae Heesun has the details.

[Reporter]

A long line has formed at a well-known shopping mall in Seoul.

[I guess this is the line.]

This is an event where people can experience and purchase various tactile toys called slang-i, wak-pu, and malrang-i, which you enjoy by kneading and crushing them with your hands.

Pre-reservations alone drew 60,000 applicants.

[Kim Jong-gwang / Ansan, Gyeonggi Province: I made a pre-reservation and came from Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. "Malrang-i" comes in various shapes and has a completely new tactile feel that didn't exist before...] tako

As people touch and feel various tactile toys one by one and pick the textures that suit their tastes, their baskets fill up in no time.

[Ju Hong-ji / Gangbuk-gu, Seoul: The tactile feelings are all different depending on the clay ratio, so I wanted to touch various textures.]

[So Jae-hee / Seodaemun-gu, Seoul: I think there is a bit of dopamine that comes from crushing them.]

Changsin-dong Stationery Street in Seoul has recently become known as a hotspot for malrang-i among people in their 20s and 30s, breathing new life into the once-stagnant commercial district.

[Oh, that looks pretty too. That is "wak-pu"...]

While sales used to center on children's toys in the past, adult consumers in their 20s, 30s, and older make up a large portion recently.

[Chae Yong-jae / Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province: My wife is doing it with me, and you can easily relieve stress by touching them.]

[Song Jung-hoon / Stationery Store Owner: There are 120 stores distributed here, and all the merchants are having a tough time yet feeling very happy. That is because overall sales have increased significantly and the market has received a lot of promotion.]

In fact, according to an online shopping platform, search volume for tactile toys surged up to 486-fold over the past six months, and transaction amounts increased by nearly 60-fold.

[Lim Myung-ho / Professor of Psychology, Dankook University: Engaging a lot in tactile sensory play has the effect of stabilizing emotional brain activity. Such play is increasing particularly among young people. There are many members of society who are quite exhausted and stressed.]

Experts project that tactile consumption, which offers fun and tension relief to modern individuals driven by anxiety and fatigue, will continue in various forms.

(Video Editing: Kim Jong-min, Design: Jeon Yu-geun, VJ: Jeong Han-wuk)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.