As technology has developed and income levels have risen, the ways that people enjoy fear have improved in many ways. In the past, people were able to experience fear only through films, comic books or novels, but now people can enjoy fear more realistically by creating their own horror event or creating an environment where people can experience horror.
  On a hot summer day, for people who want to stay cool indoors, there are many ways to experience fear that can be enjoyed alone at home. For example, there are horror games and VR games. Among the horror games, PC video games have been loved by people steadily. In recent years, based on the success of those games, people have been able to enjoy mobile horror games. Granny, a famous mobile horror game, is a good example. Also, there is a way to enjoy fear by using VR, or virtual reality. VR is a cutting-edge technology that allows people to experience a virtual environment which is set by using a computer program. People can experience fear more vividly through VR. In VR games, escaping and survival are commonly used in horror games. Furthermore, there are some games where people can experience different kinds of fear. For example, there is a game where people have to pick up a cake from high-rise buildings, and they can feel the fear of heights.
  There are also many places where people can enjoy fear with others. Escape rooms are a good example. People can choose the theme to suit their tastes because of the various available themes, and they have to escape in a limited time using given clues. Jeong Ji-hye (’18, School of Business Administration), who recently visited an escape room, said, “I like that activity because there are various themes to choose from. Also, I can feel thrilled because of the tense situations where I should solve the puzzles in time. However, I feel bad when the puzzles are too hard to solve, and it is too expensive to play it often. I feel uncomfortable when I watch the horror movies because there are a lot of surprising things, but the horror theme of the escape room does not have them. Therefore, I can enjoy it.”
  Amusement parks are another example of outdoor activities that can instill fear. Many amusement parks hold Halloween festivals, and people visit there and enjoy their fears. There is an amusement park in Seoul that holds a festival from September 1st to November 4th for Halloween. The main theme of the festival is zombies, and the amusement park is decorated in that theme so that people can feel immersed in the theme. It also conducts special performances during this period and provides special products to people. Also, visitors can paint their faces and dress like zombies or Dracula to participate and enjoy the Halloween festival more vividly. During the festival, people who dress up can enjoy Halloween by taking pictures or mingling with strangers.
  People no longer use horror books or movies to feel fear. Instead, there are many better ways to feel fear more vividly. Of course, it doesn’t mean that the popularity of horror movies of stories is decreasing. However, the new ways of enjoying fear allow people different experiences and memories. Therefore, if you prefer the horror genre, I recommend you to participate in these events.

By Jo Se-in l si38@cbnu.ac.kr
Illustraed by Park Han-na