新聞/文章  March 17, 2025

Handwriting Has Become the New Cool in South Korea

“The process of copying text by hand and reflecting on it offers a healing experience, stimulating emotions in the fast-paced society. (I think) the handwriting craze won’t be dying down anytime soon.”

“Text hip” refers to the idea that reading is fashionable. It became a major phenomenon in 2024, fuelled by the success of the Seoul International Book Fair and the Nobel Prize win. Now, critics say, it has evolved into “writing hip”.

“Handwriting is a very analog activity, and in today’s digital age, people seem to be seeking comfort through analog practices,” said cultural critic Ha Jae-geun.

The extremely slow act of handwriting has a meditative effect. The simple and repetitive nature of handwriting provides comfort and calm, helping to relieve stress and soothe the mind, as Mr Kwak mentioned.

“We’re seeing an analog boom, especially among people in their 20s and 30s,” said a Kyobo spokesperson. “Beyond just reading, there’s a growing trend of carefully handwriting passages, decorating them and sharing them on social media.”

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