KoreanLee So-hee lives alone in Seoul but recently had a new joy of taking care of a small stone given to her by a friend.
The 30-year-old female office worker treats the stone like a pet. "Chatting and buying personal items for the stone can make you less lonely and a little happier," Lee said.
Keeping rocks as pets is a strange trend that has appeared in the US since the 1970s but has only recently appeared in Korea. Workers in this country have quite long work weeks and are pressured to find unusual ways to relax and heal their souls. Some people lying in coffins organize their own funerals, meditate in prison or participate in competitions for sitting the longest. “Raising rocks” instead of animals is the newest way to relax.
Lee, who works in a pharmaceutical company, calls his rock "little girl" and always uses a soft towel as a blanket to cover them.
“Sometimes I also confide in it (the stone) about what is happening at work. Of course the stone is inanimate, but I feel as comfortable as talking to a puppy," Lee said.
Lee So-hee named the rock she is "raising" 'Hongduggae', and she often covers it with a blanket and takes care of the "pet" every day. Image: LEE SO-HEE
Ko Hyun-seo, 28 years old, from Gimje city named his stone "Is Real". In addition to providing "accommodation", Ko also specially made his rock a straw farmer's hat.
“Every time I get home, the first thing I do is check that my rock is okay,” the 28-year-old said.
Decades ago, Gary Ross Dahl, an American businessman and advertising executive, created the trend of keeping rocks as pets. By the end of 1975, more than one million pet stones had been sold in the United States and became popular gifts, attracting media attention. But a year later this phenomenon gradually disappeared.
In 2015, Gary Ross Dahl passed away. His stone is displayed at the National Toy Museum in Strong, New York and has been called "the strangest and most puzzling toy ever created".
Michelle Parnetr-Dwyer, the museum's curator, said Dahl would have been happy to see his ideas catch on in a country half a mile away.
Two stones were prepared by the owner as a "sleeping place" and made into a hat. Image: JIYOUNG SOHN/WSJ
Kim Jin-guk, a professor at the Institute of Korean Studies at Korea University, believes that for centuries East Asian countries, including Korea, have valued decorative stones because they symbolize stability. fixed, eternal, creating joy and a sense of security for the owner.
The stones chosen by young people today are round and smooth, sold for 7,5-11 USD, not including decorative accessories such as glasses, hats, scarves. Business people in Korea said the domestic pet stone market is very popular. A company specializing in selling pet stones revealed that it can receive 150-200 orders per month.
Lee So-hee regularly dresses her pet pet warmly every time she takes her out for a walk. Image: LEE SO-HEE
Koo Ah-young, a 33-year-old office worker in Seoul, feels exhausted at work. Not wanting her friends, family or pets to suffer negative energy, she bought a small rock and named it "bang-bang-i". Every day, Koo brings the stone to work, for a walk or to the gym so she can share everything in life.
"Sharing my feelings with "bang-bang-i" makes me feel like I'm being listened to and gradually balance my emotions," the 33-year-old woman said.
Minh Phương (Follow WSJ)
