LSN : Daily Signals : Stat: Rising dating costs reshape young South Koreans’ relationship behaviours

Lonely Planet returns to print with new travel zine

Lonely Planet Zine, Global

Lonely Planet zine, Global

Lonely Planet Zine, Global

Global – Lonely Planet is revisiting its print heritage with the launch of Artifact, a pocket-sized zine designed to explore the emotional meaning of travel beyond practical itineraries.

Developed by a small team in the brand’s editorial, design and photography departments, the publication draws inspiration from Lonely Planet’s original 1973 self-published guidebook Across Asia on the Cheap, with DIY photocopy aesthetics, stapled bindings and stripped-back graphics.

Featuring photography by Daniel Dorsa, Gabbie Bhaskar and Cole Wilson alongside illustrations by Kimberly Elliot, Artifact focuses on essays exploring why people travel – not just where they travel to.

The publication signals growing interest in tactile, slower media experiences as brands seek deeper emotional connections with audiences in an increasingly digital landscape. In the Optimised Odysseys macrotrend, we explored the rising demand for souljourns – emotionally resonant voyages rooted in nature, culture and authenticity.

Strategic opportunity

With screen fatigue on the rise, tactile formats and revived heritage aesthetics can help brands create more sensory, emotionally resonant experiences that feel authentic, collectible and culturally distinctive

Loftie targets bedtime phone habits with screen-blocking tools

US – Wellness technology company Loftie has launched Loftie+, a subscription platform designed to reduce screen dependency and improve sleep quality.

The mobile app combines nighttime app blocking, daytime focus tools and screen-time challenges to cut phone use. Automated sleep modes restrict selected apps during three phases – relax, sleep and rise – guiding users through wind-down to wake-up with minimal phone interference.

Subscribers also receive a wallet-sized NFC Loftie Card that activates focus mode with a tap. For those who own Loftie’s smart clocks or lamps, an optional Drift feature can broadcast a Bluetooth signal that automatically triggers app blocking when the user enters the bedroom.

People are increasingly seeking tools and services that help them negotiate the role of technology in their lives – a growing consumer behaviour trend explored in our new Communities report, The Tech-Resisters.

Loftie, US

Strategic opportunity

The bedroom is becoming an environment for disconnection. Brands that help people to design tech-free spaces or moments – through objects, rituals or friction – will own the next era of wellness

Stat: Rising dating costs reshape young South Koreans’ relationship behaviours

NOAV cosmetics, South Korea

South Korea – Young generations in South Korea are increasingly feeling the financial strain of dating, yet most remain unwilling to give up relationships despite rising costs.

According to a survey conducted by NRISE and dating app Wippy, around seven in 10 South Koreans in their 20s and 30s said dating posed a significant financial burden. Nearly half of respondents said the pressure had intensified in recent years.

The findings suggest economic realities are reshaping dating behaviours. While respondents considered £16-£27 ($20-$33, €18-€30) an appropriate amount to spend on a date, actual costs can reach £54 ($67, €62).

In response, dating at home, rather than going out, is becoming popular, and some respondents reported reducing the frequency of dates. Meanwhile, 38.6% of women and 29.5% of men said they had stopped dating or have abandoned relationships for financial reasons. Despite this, most respondents said emotional connection outweighed the expense, with shared payment models becoming increasingly common.

To learn more about how this generation is navigating money, relationships and identity, read our Gen Z in South Korea report.

Strategic opportunity

As the cost of dating rises, the home is becoming the primary space for intimacy and shared experience. Create cook-together meal kits, at-home cocktail tastings or cinema bundles for young couples who are looking for affordable date-night solutions