Have you heard of the recent trend of pet rock culture in South Korea? This trend involves decorating a rock and spending your daily life with it. Even foreign media are paying attention to this Korean pet rock trend. Online, the number of businesses selling pet rocks is increasing to meet the demand for this trend. Why are these pet rocks gaining popularity in modern society?
Originating from the U.S.
Pet rocks started in the United States in 1975 and became a sensational trend. According to a BBC report, Gary Dahl created a pet rock and described it as the perfect pet, drawing attention. He came up with the idea of keeping a rock as a pet while discussing the difficulties of raising pets with friends. This idea led to the creation of pet rocks when he commercialized them. Pet rocks required no feeding or cleaning and could be left alone without worry, making them wildly popular for several months.
Celebrity influence
The trend mainly took off in South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic and has spread widely among the 20-30 age group under pet rock or pet stone. The surge in popularity of pet rocks is in part due to the influence of celebrities. Famous idol group members started to gain attention by revealing their pet rocks, and this led to an increase in fans purchasing pet rocks, which boosted the sales of businesses selling pet rocks.
Why keep rocks?
Keeping pet rocks for healing and as a confidant in society’s harshness has become popular. Experts believe the pet rock trend reflects the difficulty of forming deep relationships like those with family or friends. Unlike pets or plants, which require continuous care and responsibility, pet rocks offer portability, practicality, and convenience, making them popular.
Mainly using egg stones
Searching for pet rocks online reveals many shops selling adoption kits for around $5 to $10. The rocks sold are similar in shape, with egg-shaped, smooth gardening egg stones that are trendy among the younger generation, who like cute and pretty things.
How do you keep pet rocks?
Keeping a pet rock requires little effort. Choose a rock of your preferred shape and color, keep it nearby, and touch it as needed. When you feel the rock’s surface, take deep breaths and gently stroke it to experience inner peace.
Different from suiseki culture
While similar to the suiseki culture of collecting natural ornamental stones, pet rocks differ in that they are sought for psychological comfort rather than visual enjoyment. Pet rock guides advise owners to share their daily lives, express support, and confide in the rock.
Helpful in psychological therapy
Pet rocks are effective in providing a sense of psychological stability. Interacting with a pet rock can stimulate the secretion of endorphins, a hormone that makes you feel good, which can help reduce personal stress and anxiety levels and increase happiness. There have been cases where depression has improved significantly after adopting a pet rock.
Reflects a desire for comfort
The pet rock trend reflects the psychological desire for comfort, especially with the increase in single-person households and non-married individuals. Unlike living beings, rocks do not cause trouble or require much care, allowing people to project emotions they cannot share with others onto the rocks. Owners of pet rocks, although not living creatures, commonly mention receiving as much comfort as they would from a pet by having them around.
Similar Trend with Plant Cultivation
Even before the term pet plants emerged, people lived close to plants, gaining energy from them. It was more for interior decoration in the past, but nowadays, many people love plants as much as pets. Supporting this trend, plant cultivators are also popular, significantly as household appliances for those who have difficulty securing indoor space or cultivating plants, and their cumulative sales are steadily increasing.
Fan-made dolls are also popular
Fan-made dolls that resemble their favorite idols are also popular. In the case of fan-made dolls, they create dolls in the shape of animals that resemble their favorite celebrities or caricatures of their appearances. A characteristic feature is that they are made in a size suitable for carrying in hand. Fans go to concerts, travel, visit restaurants with these dolls, take pictures together, and post them on social media.
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