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South Korea’s lonely, stressed Gen Z find comfort in apps that do nothing

At 2am, Kim, a 25-year-old office worker, opens a site designed to look like a food delivery app, though he has no plan to order….

By Samantha Johnson / May 27, 2026

At 2am, Kim, a 25-year-old office worker, opens a site designed to look like a food delivery app, though he has no plan to order. He chooses menu items, drops them into a cart and simulates the experience of placing an order.

“It somehow feels like I actually ordered something,” he said.

Kim said the habit helps him resist late-night cravings.

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“There are many times when I crave food late at night but hold back to save money. It feels like a real delivery app, so I somehow keep looking at it,” Kim said, referring to a site whose name is a spoof of a food delivery app.

“I don’t end up ordering anything, but it feels like it relieves a little stress,” Kim said.

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So-called dopamine sites – online spaces that offer quick stimulation – have recently spread among young people in South Korea. The fake food delivery site is one example, recreating the experience of using a delivery app without the transaction. Users can browse menus, select items and place them in a cart without sending an order.

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