"It's a Memory" vs. "It's a Nuisance"... Baskin-Robbins 'Gender Reveal' Event Sparks Debate

'Gender Reveal' Events Spread Through Social Media
"Fun or Burden?" Online Users Divided

As the "Gender Reveal" culture, which involves revealing a baby's gender before birth, spreads in Korea, methods using ice cream have recently gained popularity. However, online users are divided, with some responding positively, calling it "a way to create small memories," while others criticize it as "an excessive demand that burdens store staff."

Baskin-Robbins ice creams "Shooting Star" and "Cherry Jubilee" used in the Gender Reveal event. Baskin-Robbins

The "Gender Reveal" culture, in which expectant parents unveil their baby's gender as a surprise, is rapidly spreading in Korea. In particular, an ice cream-based method is becoming a new consumer trend, gaining traction through word of mouth on social networking services (SNS).

Gender Revealed by Blue or Pink Ice Cream

Recently, there has been a series of posts on SNS and online communities about holding gender reveal events at Baskin-Robbins stores. Instead of checking the gender information received from the hospital themselves, parents hand it over to the store staff, then discover the result together with family while sharing ice cream.

If the baby is a boy, a blue-colored ice cream such as "Shooting Star" is placed in the center layer; if the baby is a girl, a pink-colored flavor like "Cherry Jubilee" is used. The outside is covered with other flavors so the gender cannot be identified from the outside. When the ice cream is scooped with a spoon, the color is revealed, disclosing the baby's gender.

While gender reveals are commonly held with cakes or balloons overseas, in Korea, the trend has evolved into an ice cream format. The event has been well received because it is relatively accessible and can be carried out immediately in store without special preparation. Some users have even commented that "it's a light and enjoyable event, so it doesn't feel burdensome."

Mixed Reactions: "Looks Fun" vs. "It's a Nuisance"

Store staff have expressed a variety of opinions about gender reveal requests. Some employees say, "I've done it a few times and it was more fun than I expected," but overall, it is considered a labor-intensive task that can be burdensome.

This is because, unlike standard packaging, gender reveal ice cream requires a special process of placing a specific color in the center and covering it to hide the color, which adds to preparation time. There are concerns that during busy periods or when there are many orders, this could interfere with serving other customers.

Some stores have started to limit or provide separate guidance for gender reveal requests to minimize confusion.

Online reactions to this event remain divided. Some praise it as "a creative and novel idea" and "a great way to make memories with family," while others criticize, "It's a nuisance to make demands not even in the manual," and "Is Baskin-Robbins an event planning company?"

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