"Lunar New Year Fortunes? Who Still Goes to Fortune-Tellers' Shops These Days?"... Millennials & Gen Z Now Check Them Here

Easy Personalized Readings via Apps
Caution Needed in Handling Personal Data

In the past, it was natural to visit a fortune-teller's shop to welcome the New Year. However, in recent years, mobile and artificial intelligence (AI)-based fortune-telling services have spread rapidly. Among people in their 20s and 30s in particular, a trend has taken hold of checking their saju and fortunes through smartphone apps rather than visiting in person.

Unsebaksa Tarot GPT, a tarot fortune-telling service that ranked No. 1 in the "Lifestyle" category of the GPT Store. Chat GPT screen

According to Yonhap News on the 16th, a job seeker in her 20s, identified as Ms. A, said, "Before important interviews or exams, I alternate between checking a saju app and AI. It becomes more than simple fun and serves as a tool to clear my mind." An office worker in his 30s, also identified as Mr. A, said, "When I feel lost about my career path or relationships, asking AI about my fortune helps me set a direction for my choices along with advice," adding, "I sometimes enter the fortunes of my family members or relatives as well and talk about them together."

The representative saju and fortune-telling app Jumpshin has surpassed 17 million cumulative downloads, and Posteller has recorded 7.5 million subscribers. Once users enter their date and time of birth, they can instantly check saju readings, tarot, compatibility, and New Year fortunes, which makes accessibility and convenience major advantages.

This kind of digital transformation is also affecting the offline fortune-telling industry. One industry worker said, "Before AI emerged, there were many customers, but as the use of online fortune-telling has spread, the number of visitors has decreased by about half," analyzing that "the younger generation, who are familiar with electronic devices and AI, tend to prefer convenient services."

Statistics also back up this change. According to data from Mobile Index, Posteller's monthly active users stood at about 628,000 as of December last year, up 28.2% from a year earlier. Jumpshin also grew 16.6% over the same period. In the GPT Store, the tarot fortune-telling service "Unsebaksa Tarot GPT" ranked first in the Lifestyle category, showing that AI-based fortune-telling is spreading rapidly.

The reasons Millennials & Gen Z prefer AI saju include easy access and the convenience of instant results. As long as they have a smartphone, they can check their fortunes anytime, anywhere for free, and they can even ask personalized questions, offering a different experience from visiting a traditional fortune-telling house. In addition, the guarantee of anonymity is a major attraction, as it allows users to ask AI about worries that are hard to share with people around them without feeling burdened.

However, experts warn against blindly trusting AI saju. They point out that the "Barnum effect" operates in AI saju, making people feel that descriptions which could apply to anyone are customized for them. They also stress that users must be careful about providing sensitive personal information when using saju services. Information such as the exact time and date of birth is needed for accurate readings, but if it is unclear who manages the data and how, individuals' rights could be violated.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.