Photos: these unusual pets are trendy in South Korea

Let's travel back to 1970 to understand the origin of this story. Specifically, to Los Gatos, California, where a group of people were talking in a bar about the behaviors of their pets. One of them, Gary Dahl, commented that his pet was perfect.

After a long drink, this visionary explained that his pet did not shed hair, did not make noise, did not demand attention, and did not require walks. The reason? "My pet is a rock," he said, according to The New York Times in an article published on the day of his death in March 2015.

Photo: Meritt Thomas / Unsplash

Whether this story was true or not, Gary Dahl's idea was so good that he decided to commercialize it. Before long, the visionary bartender was a prolific businessman who had become a millionaire selling stones: the so-called 'Pet Rock'.

Well, half a century later, Gary Dahl's idea, in an unexpected space/time butterfly effect, has shaken South Korea. It is now all the rage to have rocks as pets, companions, and friends. Thousands of people are said to participate in the hype.

It is worth putting certain elements of this new trend into context. For example, South Korean workers are among those who work the longest hours. According to 'Visual Capitalist', they worked an average of 52 hours a week in 2023. That leaves very little time for walking the dog or cleaning the cat's litter box.

This volume of work generates tremendous levels of stress, as 'Statista' reported in a 2022 survey. 62% of the interviewed workers confirmed having experienced anxiety at their jobs during the two weeks before the survey.

Photo: Charles Deluvio / Unsplash

Obviously, with endless work days and high stress, some people don't have time to take care of a pet, even though they could really benefit from one. The solution? Pet Rock.

Photo: Pet Rock / Amazon

And that's how a conversation in a California bar in the 1970s has had repercussions in South Korea today.

Photo: @kr_pasabuy / X

As Gary Dahl already said, a rock does not require the attention some domestic animals do. That's why the appearance of rocks in the homes of South Korean workers has skyrocketed. They say that it is important and comforting to know that something is waiting for them when they get home: A friend to listen, without any interruption or judgment, to how their day has gone.

In a comprehensive and interesting article, The Wall Street Journal has interviewed several South Korean rock owners who confirm the importance that a simple stone has taken on in their daily lives.

Photo: KBS News

"If you think of your rock as a pet, it makes everything a little less lonely and fun," says Lee So-jhee, a 30-year-old office worker who lives alone and has had a rock at home for a year. It was a gift from her friends.

Photo: Pet Rock / Amazon

It is important to stress that these people know perfectly well that the rocks are not living things. They are aware that they are inanimate objects that will not respond to them. However, at the same time, their presence prevents that feeling of loneliness and boredom that many people have when they get home, especially when they live alone.

"I sometimes complain to my rock about how hard my day at work has been," says Lee So-jhee. "I know he can't understand me, but it's like talking to your dog - it relaxes you in a way."

Photo: Chanelwoozi / X

There are people who, if it weren't for the rock, wouldn't talk to anyone outside of their work environment. The rock provides a sense of serenity. It's a simple, inexpensive object - which is exactly what makes it so popular at the sales level. It's affordable.

Photo: RIIZEfess / X

From the simple, grey, rounded rock, which sells for around 10 dollars, to the option of buying glasses, hats, or clothes, many different rocks are available. Some of them are more expensive than others. It depends on the consumer's taste.

Photo: Pet Rock / Amazon

With regard to copyright issues and business interests, it's hard to believe that an entrepreneur like Dwayne Johnson, nicknamed 'The Rock', hasn't entered this market yet. It's a business that suits him like a glove.