"I’ll Play with My ‘Squishy Toy’ on the Plane"... Kids’ Tactile Toys Can Spell Trouble When Taken to the U.S.

[Financial News] Squishy toys, popular among children, are increasingly being barred from carry-on luggage at U.S. airport security checkpoints because they are classified as liquids.
In Korea, “squishy” refers broadly to soft toys made from materials such as polyurethane foam. The category includes products such as Sslangyi, a combination of slime and a squishy toy, and Wax Pop Ball. Because they slowly return to their original shape after being squeezed and kneaded by hand, these toys are popular across age groups as stress-relief items.
According to Yahoo Life on the 14th local time, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) applies the same 3.4-ounce (approximately 100 ml) limit for liquids to toys containing gel or liquid. Gel-like substances are reportedly subject to the same standard because they can flow.
In June, an American identified as Person A packed a large, butter-shaped squishy toy to play with on a flight before traveling to Puerto Rico with a 9-year-old daughter. Person A checked in advance whether the liquid inside was within the permitted limit, but the daughter’s bag was pulled aside at Charleston International Airport.
A TSA officer at the scene reportedly explained that the contents of the squishy toy were classified as liquid and could not be brought into the cabin. The family had to leave the airport, pack the toy in a box and ship it home before completing the boarding process.
A writer identified as Person B was also stopped during a security check that same month at Melbourne Orlando International Airport in Florida while carrying squishy toys worth approximately 240,000 won. Faced with the choice of discarding the toys or checking the bag, Person B opted to check them after paying an additional $75 (approximately 100,000 won).
Last August, the TSA issued separate guidance on toys containing gel. If the gel or liquid inside a toy is estimated to be 3.4 ounces or less, the toy may be carried into the cabin in a transparent, resealable one-quart bag together with other liquids and gels. Items exceeding that limit must be placed in checked baggage.
However, the final decision on whether an item can be brought on board appears to rest with the officer at the scene. Some products list only their total weight on the packaging, making it difficult to determine the actual amount of gel or liquid inside.
Not all squishy toys are stopped. A TikTok user identified as Person C recently carried six squishy toys as gifts for a niece or nephew and passed through security. After the bag was inspected, Person C reportedly retrieved the toys without further problems.
The outlet reported that as squishy toys rapidly gain popularity, particularly among Generation Alpha, similar disputes at airport security checkpoints are likely to continue.
[email protected] Seong Min-seo Reporter