Do stress balls really work? Why BLACKPINK’s Rosé and aespa’s Karina swear by them

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Small, soft and easy to overlook, stress balls have quietly become a go-to item for stress management — even among K-pop stars. But does squeezing a stress ball actually help relieve stress, or is it just a placebo fueled by celebrity buzz? BLACKPINK’s Rosé recently drew attention to the item in a video on the Vogue Korea YouTube channel, pulling a stress ball out of her bag and explaining why she never goes without it. “I always carry it, even to business meetings,” she said. “Whenever I feel anxious, it helps shift my attention elsewhere, so I make sure to have one with me.” She added that holding the stress ball helps her focus during high-stakes moments. “When I have an important meeting or need to make a big decision, this really helps me concentrate,” she said. “It’s so good for relieving stress and anxiety that I can’t do anything without it now.” Aespa’s Karina echoed the sentiment in a YouTube video for GQ Korea, where she showed off a stress ball she received as a gift. Smiling, she said she touches it when