In 2026, we must prove to AI that we are human.
The first era in which experience took precedence over material things

Humanity has never been asked to prove itself human. Now, with AI and bots permeating our daily lives, proving ourselves as "truly human" has become a new requirement for survival.
It is a demand and desire that humanity has never experienced before.
This demand is not limited to technical and social concepts, but also affects food, clothing, shelter and lifestyle.


Meanwhile, luxury is being redefined.
The center of gravity has shifted from ownership to experience.
What we show off, flaunt, and boast about to others is no longer 'expensive items' but 'expensive and special experiences,' and as experiential consumption becomes more widespread, experiential luxury will become greater and more important.


Life Trends 2026 is the fourteenth book in the Life Trends series.
Previously, book titles included the year and the first trend issue introduced in the text as a subtitle, but this book includes two trend issues.
Humanity and experience are two powerful and important trends that make it impossible to choose just one. While they may seem completely different, they are actually closely connected.
And these two will have the biggest impact on your lifestyle in 2026.

It is a demand and desire that I have never experienced before.
We are now living in an age where humans must prove whether or not they are human.
With the advancement of technology, AI, robotics, automation, virtual space, metaverse, and digital twins are being applied across industries, society, and our work and lives.
The unique domain that only humans can do is becoming increasingly narrow, and we are faced with a situation where machines can pretend to be humans and deceive us.
This is not a problem limited to a specific group, but a reality we all face.

--- p.25, from “Chapter 1: Human Proof and Humanity Business”

On May 22, 2023, at 8:42 a.m., a photo was posted on Twitter (now X) showing black smoke rising from around a rectangular building resembling the Pentagon, with the caption "Breaking: Explosion near the Pentagon."
Provocative posts reminiscent of the 9/11 terrorist attacks began to spread across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms.
In the process, fake accounts reminiscent of media outlets, such as Bloomberg Feed, which impersonated Bloomberg News, joined in, as well as accounts that posted war, conspiracy theories, and far-right content.
Bot accounts were also used to spread fake news.
The post was quickly picked up by other, more widely followed accounts, and crucially, it gained credibility when the Russian broadcaster RT's Twitter account, which has over 3 million followers, cited it.
We didn't even realize it was fake news until the Pentagon fire department and the Department of Defense confirmed there was no explosion and that the photo was a composite. Even though it was an AI-generated image, people were fooled.
--- p.34, from “Chapter 1: Human Proof and Humanity Business”

As AI-generated videos become increasingly prevalent on YouTube, YouTube is changing its monetization requirements.
Only original content featuring real human voices can be monetized.
In an age where it's difficult to discern what's real and what's truly human-generated based on video alone or audio alone, there are even bills being proposed to mandate labeling of AI-generated content.
This is not just a story about our country, but a global trend.

--- p.48, from “Chapter 1: Human Proof and Humanity Business”

In the past, travel experience was limited, and tourism alone was enough to show off and satisfy desires.
But now, tourism that only leaves behind photos is no longer enough to show off.
In the era of experiential consumption, people spend money on experiences and compare themselves to others based on their experiences.
Foreigners visiting Korea now want experiences rather than just sightseeing, and they are willing to spend money on those experiences.
The paradigm of travel has shifted from tourism to experience, and even within those experiences, experiential luxury is being highlighted.
Ultimately, travel products also need a reset.

--- p.88-89, from “Chapter 2 New Consumption Style, Experiential Luxury”

Aman Resorts is known overseas as a 'private and quiet' resort favored by celebrities, the rich, and the famous, but many people in Korea are not familiar with it.
However, after the number of celebrities, including Blackpink's Jennie, taking photos at Aman Resort has increased significantly, Korea's Generation Z is also adding Aman Resort to their bucket list.
As expected, desire begins 'after you know'.
No matter how famous it is, it doesn't become a desire or a trend until you know about it.
--- p.97, from “Chapter 2 New Consumption Style, Experiential Luxury”

Would this kind of acceptance have been possible if Protestantism had been used as a source of humor? Wouldn't it have been criticized for trivializing religion? One reason for the increased favorability toward Buddhism among those in their 20s and 30s is precisely this kind of embracing attitude.
In an age where religions that insist on their own righteousness and reject others are viewed with dislike, the attitude of embracing everyone as right has become an important cultural code.
Inclusion means breaking away from authoritarianism.

--- p.122, from “Chapter 3: Buddhism with Reason”

Now is the era of de-authoritarianism.
It is an era of inclusion.
This is the age of individualism.
And it is the age of experience.
All of this affects religion, values, and philosophy.
It is clear that Buddhist hip-hop has the potential to expand beyond religion and become a trend that influences culture, consumption, and lifestyle.
--- p.133, from “Chapter 3: Buddhism with Reason”

Buying cosmetics at Daiso, wearing Musinsa Standard clothes, and coveting luxury bags from Hermes are not three different consumption patterns, but rather actions of one person doing them simultaneously.
Following the polarization in income and assets, polarization in consumption is also deepening.
Bipolar consumption has become a universal desire, and whatever you sell, you have no choice but to choose between being very expensive or very cheap and offering good value for money.

--- p.153, from “Chapter 4 No Middle Tier, There is no middle”

While the interior design work up until now was done while maintaining the existing structure, now there are more attempts to make the windows larger for the view.
We also work to change the view that was obstructed by the window frame into a full-length window.
Even the iron safety railings are replaced with glass so as not to obstruct the view.
Replacing windows is not easy and costs a lot of money, but as demand surges, the interior design industry is actively responding.
Photos of large windows that create a cafe-like living room are also popular as authentication shots on social media.

--- p.160, from “Chapter 5: People with View Disease”

In Seoul, river views were preferred over mountain views.
Because mountains are so common, many people were insensitive to their charm, and because the image of a hillside village as an underdeveloped area was mainly associated with hillside villages, there was a strong tendency to prefer apartments on flat land.
However, as we became more economically prosperous and quality of life became more important, we began to have a new appreciation for mountains and forests.
It remains to be seen whether Mountain View homes can emerge as a new desire in Korea.
In fact, most of the homes in Seoul's traditional wealthy neighborhoods are mountain view homes.
The desire goes around and around and goes back to the classics.
The focus is shifting from Gangnam and Gangbyeon to traditional wealthy neighborhoods, and the trend is to once again focus on Baesan Imsu.
--- p.170-171, from “Chapter 5: People with View Disease”

Geoffrey Hinton, a professor at the University of Toronto and a pioneer in AI deep learning, is also the winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics.
In June 2025, he appeared on the YouTube channel "The Diary of a CEO" (11.3 million subscribers) and predicted that repetitive office work would be replaced by AI. He recommended technical jobs like plumbing and electrician instead of office jobs, arguing that it would take a long time for AI to be as good as humans at manual tasks.

--- p.181-182, from “Chapter 6 Blue-collar Romance and Workwear”

Respecting and securing diversity is not about justification, but rather about greater practical benefits.
Countless studies have already been published in the management consulting industry, such as McKinsey and BCG, as well as in the investment banking industry and academia, showing that companies with diverse management teams outperform those without in both performance and stock price. This is also why global asset management companies demand that the companies they invest in secure diverse management teams.

--- p.205, from “Chapter 7 Neurodiversity, Perhaps a Land of Amazing Opportunity”

The fish trend is on a different level from 'nature-friendly' or 'eco-life'.
The fish trend is not about the environment, but about human desire.
They want psychological and emotional stability and a return to primal and fundamental satisfaction.
The boundary between humans and nature becomes more flexible, and the harmonious connection between the inside and the outside is strengthened.
This is true sustainability.
Aish Pleasure is an attitude towards life.
This attitude extends to all areas, including food, clothing, shelter, space, consumption, art, pleasure, and hobbies.
From the approach of being eco-friendly even if it is inconvenient for the sake of the Earth, it has become an approach of enjoying fish pleasure for our happiness, stability, and comfort.
--- p.224-225, from “Chapter 8: Enjoying Earth”

But why are humans, whose sense of smell is inferior to that of animals, particularly sensitive to the smells of soil, rain (water), and fruit? Since humanity originated in Africa, where water was scarce, it's believed we are sensitive to water. Since fruit gathering was a crucial food source at the time, it's also believed we are sensitive to the scents produced by fruits and plants.
For this reason, humans feel psychologically stable and comfortable when they smell the smells closest to nature, such as the smell of earth, rain, grass, and fruit.
Even in fragrance, the sense of smell is instinctive.

--- p.228, from “Chapter 8: Enjoying Earth”

There are many objects that people find cute, such as cats, animals, and children, but there are also many consumer goods that emphasize cuteness, such as toys, key rings, and goods.
What we need to pay attention to is that there are so many people who consume cuteness, and it has become such an important market that it is called the Cute Economy.

--- p.235, from “Chapter 9: Cuteness Economy”

The fact that reality isn't fun is also why we need cuteness.
We are so tired of social anxiety and uncertainty.
For adults who live with stress, tension, and fatigue, buying cuteness with money is a very reasonable option.
Especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global geopolitical conflicts and outbreaks of war, and the AI-driven restructuring, the desire to find solace in cute toys and goods has grown even stronger.
--- p.247, from “Chapter 9: Cuteness Economy”

The differences between men and women are revealed in the reasons why they are not currently dating.
51.2 percent of women cited 'no interest or feeling no need' as the reason, while 23.1 percent of men cited it.
27.5 percent of women cited 'not being able to meet a romantic partner' as the reason, while 44.5 percent of men cited it.
10.2 percent of women and 23.5 percent of men cited 'wanting to avoid financial burden' as the reason.

--- p.255, from “Chapter 10: A Society That Doesn’t Love”

A government that advocates pragmatism has come into power.
The year 2026 marks the second year in office of a president who is known for being pragmatic in his words and actions.
2025 is the first year in which the president will be in power for a full year, if not halfway through.
It will be a year to observe how pragmatism creates change in Korean society, where inertia and formality have existed.
Meanwhile, in the presidential election, the 20-somethings who gave the current president the fewest votes are actually the most practical generation.
We must also pay attention to what changes will occur in these people, their desires, consumption, and attitudes.

--- p.271, from “Chapter 11: The Age of the Pragmatists”