KORSlime, wax, and squishies. They are all tactile toys meant to be squeezed and enjoyed. Surprisingly, they are even more popular among people in their 20s and 30s than among children.
Here is reporter Chae Heesun with the details.
Long lines stretch out at a famous shopping mall in Seoul.
[I guess this is the line.]
It is an event where people can experience and purchase various tactile toys such as slime, wax, and squishies, which are enjoyed by kneading and crushing them with hands.
Pre-registrations alone drew 60,000 applicants.
[Kim Jong-kwang / Ansan, Gyeonggi Province: I pre-registered and came from Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. Squishies come in various shapes and have unprecedented, brand-new textures....]
As people touch and feel all kinds of tactile toys one by one, picking out textures that match their preferences, their baskets quickly fill up.
[Ju Hong-ji / Gangbuk-gu, Seoul: The textures vary depending on the clay ratio, so I wanted to touch several different textures.]
[So Jae-hee / Seodaemun-gu, Seoul: I think there is a sort of dopamine release you get from crushing them.]
Changsin-dong Stationery Street in Seoul has recently become known among people in their 20s and 30s as a mecca for squishies, bringing renewed vitality to the once-slumped commercial district.
[Oh, that one is pretty too. That's a wax toy..]
While sales used to focus primarily on children's toys, adult consumers in their 20s, 30s, and older now account for a large portion.
[Chae Yong-jae / Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province: My wife is into it too, 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 very happy. That's 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 values increased by nearly 60-fold.
[Lim Myung-ho / Professor of Psychology at Dankook University: Engaging a lot in tactile sensory play has the effect of stabilizing emotional states in the brain. This kind of play is increasing notably among young people. There are many members of society who are quite exhausted and stressed out.]
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-wook)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
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