Dubai-Style 'Dujonku' Cookie Craze Sparks Donation, Fraud and Safety Concerns in Korea
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
A sudden craze for Dubai-style sticky cookies called 'Dujonku' (두쫀쿠) in South Korea has led to social and commercial fallout. An online post criticizing a donor who gave expensive cookies to an orphanage ignited debate over whether such trendy treats are an appropriate charity item or wasteful compared with essentials. Shortages of key ingredients like kataifi (카다이프) and pistachios have prompted delivery scams offering unrealistically cheap next-day supplies, and some sellers have substituted somyeon (소면, thin wheat noodles) for kataifi without disclosure — prompting warnings that this could constitute fraud and violations of food labeling laws. Unlicensed home sellers and resale on secondhand apps have raised food-safety and legal concerns. The frenzy also spawned paid queueing gigs and led many unrelated eateries (from noodle shops to barbecue restaurants) to add Dujonku to menus, reflecting both the trend’s reach and the economic pressure on small businesses.
