{
  "id": 12065452,
  "title": "Young Chinese hire 'life stand-ins' to cook and care for elderly parents amid booming trend",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/young-chinese-hire-life-stand-ins-to-cook-and-care-for-elderly-12065452",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-05T03:52:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20261005/young-chinese-hire-life-stand-ins-to-cook-and-care-for-elderly-parents-amid-booming-trend"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In China, a growing trend known as the \"stand-in economy\" is emerging, where young individuals are turning to paid life stand-ins to handle various tasks that often prove challenging or time-consuming. These tasks range from cooking and attending medical appointments to engaging in familial conflicts and navigating awkward social situations. The growing demand for such services has led to the establishment of a thriving market for personalized errand services.\n\nThe phenomenon was first widely reported by mainland media in 2024, and since then, it has gained significant traction among busy Chinese consumers who are willing to pay for the convenience of delegating daily responsibilities. RedNote, a platform operated by SCMP, reported that posts about paid handicraft and assembly assistance have garnered over 120 million views.\n\nThis trend is particularly appealing to those who lack the necessary time, patience, or expertise to manage these activities independently. For instance, some users opt to hire professional builders to assemble intricate Lego sets that they are unable to complete on their own. Similarly, customers can arrange for a life stand-in to either visit their home or mail the necessary items.",
  "summary": "From cooking and attending hospital visits to doing the actual quarrelling, paid \"life stand-ins\" are stepping in to manage these tasks, along with errands and awkward moments that many young Chinese would rather avoid. This trend, known as the \"stand-in economy,\" is gaining traction among time-strapped consumers who are willing to pay for convenience when daily responsibilities exceed their…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Young Chinese hire ‘life stand-ins’ to cook and care for elderly parents amid booming trend",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/young-chinese-hire-life-stand-ins-to-cook-and-care-for-elderly",
        "published": "2026-10-04T02:20:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Young Chinese hire 'life stand-ins' to cook and care for elderly parents amid booming trend",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/young-chinese-hire-life-stand-ins-to-cook-and-care-for-elderly",
        "published": "2026-10-05T03:37:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}