A growing number of younger people prefer cash to presents for their birthday and other occasions.
In Instagram and Facebook posts, people show off "cash cakes" or "cash bouquets" they got as gifts in a display that only a few years ago would have been considered the height of vulgarity.
The cakes and bouquets are not entirely made of paper bills, but they symbolize a preference.
Online communities for young Koreans are filled with inquiries about where to buy the confections.
One owner of a store in Ansan south of Seoul that makes cash cakes said, "I get an average of 30 orders a week, and people need to book two or three weeks in advance in May," which is the busiest month due to various commemorative days.
"People often get gifts that they have no need for, which is why cash gifts are so popular."
Some critics think the end of the world is nigh. Huh Kyung-ok at Sungshin Women's University said, "Cash gifts are a tradition at Korea during weddings and funerals, but in time of recession like this, the culture has taken over everyday life."
My opinion.
I totally agree with this opinion.
Gifts are given to satisfy the recipient, so most important thing is recipient's satisfaction.
And we can't catch recipient's needs exactly. As a result, we occasionally make a mistake of making a gift.
To reduce trial and error, i think it is good to give cash and give chance to choose gift directly.