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

It is the random capsule toy shop, commonly known as a "gachashop."

Over the past year, pubs and bars have seen a sharp decline.

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

According to the National Tax Service, the number of toy stores nationwide reached approximately 3,900 as of the end of June, marking a 20% increase compared to a year ago.

In contrast, pub bars and simple taverns decreased by about 9% over the same period.

Particularly among those in their 20s and 30s, a culture of enjoying character merchandise draws—costing between 2,000 won and 7,000 won—is spreading.

Experts analyze that this is driven by an increase in "small luxuries," where people seek entertainment at a low cost rather than spending large sums of money.