▲ Keyboard key keychains
Around 10:00 p.m. on June 14, a dispute broke out between passengers on a Seoul Subway Line 9 train due to noise from a so-called "keyboard key keychain."
A passenger, identified as A, who was on the train at the time, looked up after hearing repetitive sounds resembling keyboard typing. They discovered a woman repeatedly pressing a piano-shaped keychain.
Recently, keychains made from keyboard key caps have gained popularity among young people.
The trend is driven by the tactile sensation of pressing the keys, which some say helps relieve stress.
However, the noise generated by these keychains can be a nuisance to others in public spaces like subways.
A reported that when they asked the passenger to stop, they were met with inappropriate language and verbal abuse.
The situation eventually escalated into an argument, which ended only after the woman got off the train.
Online, reports of conflicts arising from keyboard key keychain noise in public spaces are consistently appearing.
Experts analyze this as a phenomenon stemming from a growing tendency to prioritize personal satisfaction over consideration for others.
Kwak Keum-joo, a professor emeritus of psychology at Seoul National University, noted that individualistic tendencies—where people think primarily of themselves—are strengthening. She emphasized the need for a social atmosphere that values consideration for others over the pursuit of minor personal gratification.
Concerns have also been raised regarding a lack of education at home and in schools.
Lim Woon-taek, a professor of sociology at Keimyung University, explained that as the number of children growing up in single-child households increases, there is less intervention regarding inappropriate behavior. He stressed the importance of teaching children to consider others just as much as they are taught to value themselves, and to ensure they are educated to observe basic public etiquette.
(Photo: YouTube capture, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.