Have you heard of the rental friend service?
A few days ago, a post like this appeared in an online community.
Hiring for cherry blossom date part-time job – 20,000 KRW/hour, no physical contact, written work contract.
Many people were surprised by the post, saying, “How lonely must someone be to hire a friend as a part-time job?
But in fact, rental friend services have already existed in Japan for over 10 years.
Services that take on someone else’s role are now becoming a familiar part of our culture.
How did it start in Japan?
In Japan, various surrogate services like ‘rental boyfriend,’ ‘rental family,’ and ‘rental middle-aged man’ have developed.
- Have a meal together at a restaurant,
- Take a walk in the park,
- Even taking photos together like a couple.
However, all of these meetings are based on clear agreements.
Rules such as no physical contact and prevention of illegal activities are strictly enforced.
Rental friends were a service designed to ease emotional loneliness.
Why did people start ‘renting’ friends?
In the past, relationships formed naturally, but in modern society, they are becoming increasingly difficult.
Especially in Japan, after the economic collapse of the 1990s, individualism intensified rapidly, and the culture shifted to one where making efforts to build relationships became burdensome.
I don’t like adjusting to others, but I still feel lonely being alone.
This conflicting emotion is what gave rise to the rental friend service.
The rental friend service also has positive uses.
Of course, there are also concerns and skeptical views about the rental friend service.
Isn’t this just buying relationships with money?
Couldn’t it actually make the loneliness even worse?
But in reality, it’s being used like this:
- When you’re traveling alone and want someone to eat with
- When you want to meet your language exchange partner in person
- When you need a partner to go to an event or gathering with
Especially when you’re in a unfamiliar city or abroad and just need a light, casual meeting
The rental friend service can offer support without pressure.
Rapidly spreading in Korea and Southeast Asia as well
Now, the rental friend service is not just limited to Japan,
It is spreading to South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and across Southeast Asia.
- In South Korea, services that provide surrogate roles such as friends, coworkers, and even family members have also emerged,
- In Southeast Asia, a culture of “booking a friend so you won’t feel lonely while traveling” is taking root.
Especially after COVID-19, the demand for offline, in-person meetings has rapidly surged again,
Rental friend platforms are rapidly growing, powered by safe meetups and simple booking systems.
TIMEET – The No.1 Rental Friend Platform
TIMEET was born in response to this shift — the No.1 rental friend platform.
- Only users with 100% verified identity can register
- Hourly booking + secure review system
When you don’t want to eat alone, want to make foreign friends, or feel lonely while traveling alone.
At that moment, meet the friend you need — on TIMEET.
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