“French Fry Gathering” - A New Consumer Culture for the MZ Generation

Lately, posts recruiting for “French fry gatherings” (감튀모임) have been popping up on a local community app called Danggeun (Carrot Market). These brief, simple meetups where participants talk freely about their daily life and then leave without any hindrance has become a popular trend in Korea.

 

It all started with a group chat post on the same app, where a person announced that they were looking for a peer to share french fries with. Surprisingly, this simple post triggered a widespread trend with the Gen Z and Millennial generation, continuously growing as more and more people commented.

 

Inside these chats people debated about the texture of the fries – whether they enjoyed them crispy or soggy, seasoned or plain, short or long. Others uploaded reviews and photos of previous french fry gatherings, providing a fun environment where people could talk about their favorite crispy bites.

 

 

And you may be wondering, how do these gatherings work? Well, the format of these meetups are simple. Strangers gather at a fast food branch, sit down, order a mountain of fries, swap stories, and then leave without stressing about maintaining a relationship. There were no burdens to come back, no need to reveal more than you wanted to, making it a light and enjoyable experience for everyone that wanted to socialize.

 

Despite being a temporary event, it provides a sense of both significance and connection. Even discussing something as simple as french fries and eating carbohydrates could induce dopamine and help people relieve their stress. Many people on Danggeun and other famous social media platforms noted that it was a positive and memorable experience. Would you try this?