Inside new Korean trend where adults meet up to play children's games

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A childhood playground game is making an unexpected comeback among South Korea’s young adults, but health experts warn that the winter version of this nostalgic trend may come with a higher risk of injury.

Online community platforms and open chat rooms have recently seen a surge in posts from people in their twenties and thirties seeking “police-and-thief meet-ups,” casual gatherings where participants play a tag-style running game from their childhood. Much like running clubs that meet for fitness, these groups gather at night to play for fun, exercise and social connection.

In the game, players split into two teams — “police,” who chase, and “thieves,” who evade capture. If police catch all the thieves, they win; if thieves successfully avoid capture within a set time, victory goes to them. The rules resemble older Korean folk games.

The revival of the game, which was most popular among children in the mid-2000s, has been fueled by neighborhood-based digital communities. Many young adults who grew up playing the game now seek local friendships or offline bonding in an era where social isolation has become more common.

KakaoTalk shows numerous active groups when users search the keyword “police and thief.” Captured from KakaoTalk.

Search results on neighborhood activity boards or open chat forums reveal dozens of posts recruiting participants, with some groups attracting between 300 and 500 members and closing sign-ups early. In certain Seoul districts, more than 2,000 people have joined a single group. Some gatherings include other traditional games such as “drop the handkerchief” or “red light, green light." The games are usually followed by casual sessions of eating, drinking and conversation.

Experts say the trend reflects multiple forces at work, including nostalgia for childhood, loneliness among young adults, the appeal of anonymous participation and a cultural desire to reinterpret the past into new social experiences. Some also see the gatherings as a rare combination of fun, movement and low-cost community building.

However, doctors caution that playing high-intensity running games outdoors in winter can increase the risk of muscle and joint injury because cold temperatures make the body more prone to stiffness.

The game’s quick turns and bursts of acceleration place repeated stress on the knees and lower body joints. These movements can increase friction along the iliotibial band — a long tendon running from the hip to the outer knee — leading to inflammation or strain. The risk of patellar injury or ligament tears may also rise when players sprint or stop abruptly on cold muscles.

“During winter, people exercising outdoors should be even more thorough with warm-up and cool-down routines,” said Kim Hak-jun, an orthopedic professor at Korea University Guro Hospital. “It is best to spend five to 10 minutes raising body temperature and loosening muscles before beginning activity,” he said.

According to Kim, light walking or gentle stretching for about five minutes after exercise helps relax tense muscles and prevent discomfort. He also recommends wearing hats and gloves to maintain body heat and layering thin, lightweight clothing to better adjust to temperature changes.

This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.