South Koreans are choosing cats to mirror their solo lifestyles
Once feared as shapeshifting goblins, cats are now the preferred companions for urban Koreans navigating a culture of extreme work hours and solitary high-rise living.
For centuries, Korean folklore painted the cat as a sinister creature linked to 'gwisin' or vengeful spirits. This deep-seated cultural taboo was so effective that as recently as 2010, fewer than five percent of households owned a feline. Today, that figure has tripled to fifteen percent as a new generation of urban professionals finds that the cat's aloof autonomy mirrors their own. In cities defined by high-density apartments, a cat is a practical luxury, requiring roughly one-tenth the space and exercise of a dog while comfortably navigating the confines of a studio flat.