Gladys Yeo is a freelance music and culture journalist who has written for outlets like 

. Although she specialises in all things K-pop, her own music taste spans across genres, with some of her favourites being R&B and 2000’s pop-punk. Between work and university, where she double majors in PR & Advertising and Asian Studies, she is constantly tapping away on her laptop. On the rare occasion she isn’t chasing deadlines, you might find her geeking out over East Asian history, skincare, fashion, and Pokémon, or digging into a good psychological fiction novel.

In today’s hyper-connected globe, the meaning of national identity is no longer rigid, and we’re seeing a dissolution of cultural borders as we travel through our devices. This shift in mentality is happening against a turbulent geopolitical backdrop as countries prioritise regional allies.

Border Reorder

Speed and convenience have become the consumer norm. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, when people worldwide were introduced to instant access to goods and services via apps and digital platforms, the supply and demand considerably grew and splintered. The 'I need it now' culture shows no signs of slowing down, yet the complexity around it is becoming more apparent.

Hyper-fast digital services appeal because they fulfil a ballooning desire for instant gratification – contemporary convenience hinges on easy-to-use interfaces that help consumers seamlessly meet their needs. However, the mechanics of consumerism are complex. People are becoming aware of global supply chains, especially in the wake of wars and escalating global conflict. As many brands are cracking down on immediacy (introducing higher delivery fees or offering it as a premium), people are turning to local and smaller-scale shopping for more mindful, slower, grounded spending.

The cost of living crisis makes people reconsider which of their needs are truly immediate, but it's not the only reason some crave a slowdown. The hyper-fast society enables our desires to be fulfilled instantly but might be too fast for our mental health. While convenience used to be a cool thing to have, now it has become essential to function in the current attention economy. People are tormented by a lack of patience and chronic dependency on stimulation from platforms like TikTok – yet the rewards of convenience easily outweigh the concerns.

Compulsive Convenience

Sara Delgado is a freelance writer and editor specialising in fashion and entertainment content with experience across digital, print and social media. After majoring in translation and interpreting, she graduated with honours from London College of Fashion’s journalism school in early 2017. She went on to become the online editor of 

 for over three years, where she oversaw all digital content and celebrity interviews. She currently works remotely as an editor-at-large for 

’s style section. Her words have also appeared in 

South Korea

Republic of Korea

Resale and online marketplaces

Apparel and department stores

Seoulbitz

Fast Company

Interview with Sara Delgado conducted by the author

The Korea Economic Daily

Nikkei Asia

Korea JoongAng Daily

Inside Retail Asia

Pulse News Korea

Business Wire

Yahoo Entertainment

Rolling Stone

Deadline

Lifestyle Asia

Korea Joongang Daily

Vogue Business

Martin Roll

Intellect Discover

CNBC

The Korea Times

South China Morning Post

The Korea Herald

Frameweb

SNKRDUNK

The Korea Economy Daily

Business News Daily

Hallyu shows no signs of slowing down, with South Korean lifestyle and fashion trends influencing K-culture enthusiasts across the globe. Through its personalised online platform and experiential pop-up stores, fashion retail brand MUSINSA invites shoppers to be part of the K-fashion world.

Cultivate

Experiences and Sensations

MUSINSA: from the wardrobes of K-pop stars to the world