A 'paid hug' service, where young women in China pay to receive embraces from attractive men, is gaining popularity.
According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 4th (local time), a service where individuals pay 50 yuan (about 9,500 won) to receive hugs from a man called 'Man Mum' is making headlines on Chinese social media (SNS).
'Man Mum' refers to muscular men who are built through fitness in China. Recently, it has evolved into a neologism for physically strong yet kind-hearted and considerate men.
They usually choose their partners based on various criteria such as manners, patience, physique, and appearance beforehand, and coordinate meeting schedules through messaging apps. Hugs predominantly take place in public locations like subway stations and shopping malls, with prices ranging from about 20 to 50 yuan (approximately 4,000 won to 9,500 won) for five minutes.
A man who has provided the service 34 times revealed he earned 1,758 yuan (about 340,000 won) and noted, 'I hope the hugs provide some comfort to those experiencing body image anxiety or workplace stress.'
A woman shared her experience, saying, 'After working overtime for three hours, I received a hug from a 'Man Mum'. He listened to me and patted my shoulder.'