Among Korean teens and twenty-somethings, a quiet but powerful trend is growing: the love for harmless content and ordinary happiness. Instead of loud, shocking, or competitive posts, young people are gravitating toward gentle videos of puppies, simple drawings, small desserts, cozy rooms, miniatures, reading, and slow daily routines. Another popular idea is enjoying “a very ordinary day” — finding joy in coffee, walking home, or watching the sunset.
This shift reflects emotional fatigue with constant pressure and comparison. Korean youth are redefining success as feeling calm, safe, and content. In a fast, demanding society, choosing softness and simplicity has become a meaningful form of self-care.
One popular example is short-form videos showing a person quietly organizing their desk, making instant ramen, feeding a pet, or walking through their neighborhood with soft background music. Nothing dramatic happens — and that’s the point. Comments often say things like, “This makes me feel calm,” or “I want a life like this.” Even cafes and pop-up stores now design spaces around this gentle mood, using pastel colors, plush toys, and simple handwritten signs. For many Korean young people, these small, peaceful moments feel more meaningful than flashy displays of success.
Vocabulary
- 무해력 (muhae-ryeok) – harmless charm, harmless energy
- 아보하 (abo-ha) – very ordinary day
- 힐링 (hil-ling) – healing, relaxing
- 소확행 (sohwak-haeng) – small but certain happiness
- 일상 (il-sang) – daily life
- 감성 (gam-seong) – emotional vibe, sensibility
- 귀엽다 (gwi-yeop-da) – to be cute
- 편안하다 (pyeon-an-hada) – to feel comfortable
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