Keycap keyrings have been taking off in South Korea since the beginning of the year. Now, there is a new twist on the trend: a Buddhist edition.
Called the “Gongdeok keyring,” the product has been selling quickly at Buddhist temples in Seoul, including Bongeunsa and Jogyesa.
Press the button, and it makes the familiar clicking sound of a keyboard key, followed by the sound of the “moktak,” a wooden percussion instrument used by Buddhist monks. The keyrings usually feature designs based on the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.
The product also has a playful premise that has helped drive its popularity: Every press adds to your “gongdeok,” or Buddhist merit. Each keyring costs 10,000 won ($7).
Yoon Su-yeon, 32, said she recently visited Bongeunsa and bought one despite not being Buddhist.
“The design is cute, and the sound it makes is really soothing. Also, I am considering changing jobs, so I hope it will bring me some good fortune,” she said.
Ahn Han-sol, 26, said she bought one out of curiosity.
“I saw them on social media and wanted to know what the hype was all about,” she said.
According to local news reports, Jogyesa initially stocked about 500 Gongdeok keyrings on Sept. 17. They sold out within a day, and subsequent restocks have also sold out quickly. Most customers have been in their 20s and 30s.
Bongeunsa saw a similar rush. The temple reportedly restocked about 6,000 Gongdeok keyrings on Sept. 23, but sold out the same day.
The trend comes as Buddhism has increasingly found a place in popular culture among younger Koreans. About 250,000 people attended the Seoul International Buddhist Expo in April, with people in their 20s and 30s accounting for 73 percent of visitors.
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