"Another Bar for the Second Round?" Times Have Changed… Where 2030s Are Flocking

These days, when someone asks at a company dinner, "Where should we go for the second round?", a new option beyond bars has emerged among the younger generation.

It is none other than random capsule toy shops, known as "gachapon shops."

Over the past year, pubs and bars have decreased significantly.

On the other hand, toy stores such as capsule toy shops and figure shops have increased substantially.

According to the National Tax Service, as of the end of June, the number of toy stores nationwide stood at around 3,900, marking a 20 percent increase compared to a year ago.

Conversely, over the same period, pubs and simple bars decreased by about 9 percent.

In particular, a culture of enjoying character goods gachapon for 2,000 won to 7,000 won is spreading among people in their 20s and 30s.

This is analyzed to be the result of an increase in "small luxuries" where people seek entertainment at a low cost rather than spending large amounts of money.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.