Korean Expat Community for National Disasters

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Squishy toys — called mallangi in Korean — have been showing up everywhere lately. They kept appearing on social media and catching my eye in stores, so I finally bought one. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much.

The one I got is small and round. When you press it, it squishes down and slowly returns to its original shape. The material is soft and squishy — barely any effort needed to press it, but there's just enough resistance when you squeeze it. I think that's what makes it oddly satisfying to hold. It's not just soft — there's a slight pushback, and the way it bounces back after being compressed is strangely pleasing both to watch and to feel.

I keep finding it in my hand without really thinking about it. Sitting at my desk, watching something, waiting for something to load — it just ends up there. I'm not sure it does anything particularly useful, but it keeps my hands occupied without pulling focus away from whatever else I'm doing.

There are a lot of different types out there. Popular character designs, different colors, and various textures depending on how they feel to the touch. Prices vary depending on how popular the design is and the overall quality.

I'm not sure how long this trend will last, but I can see why it caught on. No setup, no concentration required — you just pick it up and it works. Whether it stays interesting long-term probably depends on the person. For me, at least so far, I reach for it far more often than I expected to. I keep picking it up without planning to.