Young Koreans are turning to dopamine sites such as fake food delivery apps and online smoke break simulators to ease stress and loneliness. A 25-year-old office worker named Kim said he browses menus without ordering to resist late-night cravings.
Kim said the sites allow him to browse without pressure since orders cannot be placed. Another site mimics a smoke break by showing real-time users online and letting anonymous visitors post messages like requests to go home.
Professor Kim Heon-sik of Jungwon University linked the trend to an online culture of constant stimulation. He compared it to mukbang videos, noting that young people seek indirect satisfaction amid future uncertainty and burnout.
Users report visiting the sites during exams or solo study sessions to feel less alone. The platforms provide a low-pressure sense of shared presence without real-world costs or risks.
