[비즈한국] Among young people exhausted by the hardships of life, "pet rocks" have become a trend. Performances where only pet rocks are admitted as the audience have been held, and videos of people giving their rocks names and bathing them have become viral sensations on social media.
Performance Art Exhibition Admitting Only Pet Rocks… Including a 'No-Show'
A pet rock refers to a stone that people keep for mental and emotional satisfaction when they are in a situation where they cannot easily care for animals or plants due to the busyness of modern society. In Korea, the trend of having pet rocks began to gain attention as a "stay-at-home" hobby starting from the COVID-19 era. Public interest surged particularly after celebrities revealed their own pet rock hobbies.
Foreign media are also paying attention to this pet rock culture. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) highlighted the Korean pet rock phenomenon, noting, "Koreans, who endure some of the longest working hours among industrialized nations, are raising stones in search of an unchanging sense of calm."
Recently, a performance art piece was even held where only pet rocks could attend. Performance artist YOSEB unveiled the experimental show 'STONES,' organized by Sowuju Company, on YouTube on the 15th. There was even a minor incident during the performance: a pet rock that was scheduled to attend committed a "no-show," leading its owner to convey an apology on its behalf. It was a happening performance that assigned a form of personality to an inanimate object.
Artist YOSEB explained that the performance visualizes the conflict between the human body and mental structure through the intervention of a rational structure that incorporates the characteristics of the audience and the concept of companionship.
Heo Yu-jeong, CEO of Sowuju Company who managed the performance, addressed the reasons for the attention pet rocks are receiving, stating, "Young people living in these tiring and difficult times see stones as a medium to reflect on themselves mentally and emotionally," adding, "I hope this performance provides a new perspective and inspiration to many people."
Pet Rock Video Hits 9.36 Million Views… The Joy of Customization
A video of someone bathing a pet rock also became a hot topic, garnering over 9.36 million views. It was a promotional video created by an employee of a landscaping stone company, and it gained fame after going viral on social media. The "pet rocks" that were put on sale following requests from viewers who saw the video sold out in just 40 seconds.
Unlike "Suseok" (viewing stones), which involve displaying stones with unique natural shapes as objects of contemplation and meditation, pet rocks rely on active interaction between the owner and the stone. For this reason, many prefer to take an ordinary stone and customize it into their own unique pet.
Pet rocks can be easily purchased online. While there are various sellers, the basic model consists of a round gray stone with eyes attached. They are affordable, costing around 10,000 won, making the barrier to entry low. There are also related products like paper houses and hats, allowing for elaborate decoration.
"Chess Piece," which began selling pet rocks during the pandemic, cited "customization" as the main reason for their popularity. A representative from Chess Piece explained, "The value of Suseok varies wildly because they are formed by nature itself," adding, "Pet rocks allow for personalization through items like rabbit headbands, colored hats, and inner tubes." They further added, "During the pandemic, we received 1,000 orders a month, and we currently receive about 300 to 400 orders."
Young people who actually keep pet rocks say that they feel comforted just by looking at the stone and find healing by sharing the stories of their daily lives with their pet rocks. Ms. Kim, who lives in Suyu and keeps a pet rock, explained, "Unlike pets, there is no need to feed them or clean up after them. The biggest advantage is that you don't have to experience 'pet loss' (the sense of bereavement over the death of a pet)," adding, "Talking about how I lived my day makes me reflect on myself, which helps me feel at ease."