In South Korea, the trend of 'harmlessness' is taking over as people experience digital fatigue and societal conflicts. Gacha shops, tiny dolls, and cute items are becoming popular among citizens seeking refuge in harmless entities. The term 'gacha' refers to capsule toys obtained from vending machines, nostalgic from children's play but now appealing to adults in their 20s and 30s. Additionally, characters from the children's animation "Catch! Teenieping" have become popular among adults, creating a meme culture by associating themselves with these characters like 'Savingping' or 'Workingovertimeping'. The Jellycat soft toys are also enjoying renewed popularity as lifestyle items shared on platforms like TikTok. This trend, fueled by digital weariness and a polarized society, indicates a yearning for non-threatening and comforting influences. South Koreans are gravitating towards cute, non-threatening creations as a way of coping with the complexities of modern life.
