The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Major webtoon platforms' fight against piracy

  • 3

    Samsung unveils new Galaxy S23 smartphone

  • 5

    INTERVIEWA touch of authenticity in Korea's Mexican cuisine scene

  • 7

    Police to introduce new measures to better handle intoxicated people

  • 9

    Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee team up for coming-of-age film 'Soulmate'

  • 11

    Girl group NewJeans sweeps top 3 spots on Melon's monthly chart for Jan.

  • 13

    INTERVIEW'Extended deterrence is best option to ensure peace on Korean Peninsula'

  • 15

    Park Hyung-sik to play crown prince in tvN series 'Our Blooming Youth'

  • 17

    INTERVIEWUS-NK summit is unlikely in 2023: Korea Society

  • 19

    INTERVIEWIMF expects no recession for Korean economy

  • 2

    Seoul city council under fire for sexual conduct guidelines for teachers

  • 4

    ENHYPEN-inspired webtoon 'Dark Moon: The Blood Altar' surpasses 100 million views

  • 6

    Pyongyang threatens eye-for-eye response as US B-1B bombers join drills in South Korea

  • 8

    Teens feel peer pressure to buy luxury goods endorsed by K-pop stars

  • 10

    Korean iPhone users lose 'batterygate' lawsuit

  • 12

    Woman in mysterious child death case gets suspended prison term in retrial

  • 14

    Gov't announces measures to cope with shortage of surgeons

  • 16

    Korea to root out 'jeonse scam,' support victims

  • 18

    Seoul, US hold combined air drills, involving B-1B bomber, F-22, F-35 stealth fighters

  • 20

    Taxi passengers in Seoul taken aback by fare increase

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Sat, February 4, 2023 | 05:38
Trends
More young Koreans choose to leave the nest
Posted : 2021-11-16 15:33
Updated : 2021-11-17 14:10
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link

Young adults seek financial, personal independence

By Lee Hyo-jin

Park Yu-hui, 25, an office worker, lives alone in Jongno District in central Seoul. She moved out from her parents' house located in Incheon, a port city west of Seoul, to a 17-square-meter studio apartment in July as soon as she found a job.

As her workplace is located in Seongdong District of Seoul, saving time on the daily commute was one of the major reasons she moved out, but it was not the only one.

"Now that I have a full-time job with a stable income, I wanted to lead an independent life without receiving any financial support from my parents. I also wanted to spend my free time after work in peace in my own space," Park told The Korea Times.

Getting a bank loan to finance a 120 million won ($102,000) "jeonse" deposit (home rental based on large deposits) was not an easy decision, but Park says "it was worth it."

"On top of the freedom of having full control of my life, I feel very comfortable as I can decorate and make my home how I want, and invite friends over whenever I want. And having the whole place to myself, privacy is guaranteed without having to go into my own room."

Moving out from a parents' house is an important milestone in the transition to adulthood. In Korea, other than those who had to leave their parents' home in the provinces to resettle in metropolitan areas for studying or working, many young people used to choose to live with their parents until marriage.

The term "kangaroo tribe" ― describing a kangaroo that is late to leave its mother's pouch ― has been widely used to describe these unmarried men and women who chose to stay economically dependent on their parents until their late 30s.

But in recent years, more young adults have been opting to leave the nest before marriage, including those whose parents don't live so far away.

According to Statistics Korea, as of 2020, over 1.26 million people in their 20s were living alone, a 43 percent surge from about 887,000 in 2015. The upswing in the 20-something population living alone is notable considering that the increase rate of overall one-person households in all age groups stood at 27 percent during the same period.

Currently, single-person households in their 20s account for nearly 20 percent of the total one-person households nationwide.

"I moved out from my parents' house in 2019, and I think it was one of the best decisions I made that year," said an office worker surnamed Lee living in Songdo, Incheon. The 28-year-old used to live with her parents in Gangseo District in western Seoul.

Apartment buildings in Seoul are seen in this Aug. 22 photo. Yonhap

She says the 200 million won jeonse loan for the studio apartment, along with living expenses and utility bills, don't feel like a big burden compared with the freedom she can enjoy at her home.

"When I lived with my parents, in addition to the stress from work, I often felt stressed at home when I got into conflicts with them. Also, I sometimes felt that they interfered in my personal life," Lee said.

Kim So-hyun, a 27-year-old office worker in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, who is living with her parents, is currently looking for a jeonse apartment to move into, although her workplace is located only 20 minutes away from their home.

"Even though I live with my parents and a younger sister, I don't spend much time with them as I frequently hang out with my friends in the evenings and during weekends. We already have separate lives under one roof," she said.

Experts explain the rise in people in their 20s choosing to live alone reflects their willingness to be accepted as an independent individual not only in the workplace but also within their family.

"Unlike in the past when marriage was widely considered as a major step to be accepted as an independent member of the society, nowadays, getting a job and a stable income means they are ready to become an independent individual," said Koo Jeong-woo, a professor of sociology at Sungkyunkwan University.

Lee Byung-hoon, a sociology professor at Chung-Ang University, said, "For the young generation, saving daily commute times and using their spare time for themselves could be a more important value than maintaining a close relationship with their parents and fulfilling their role as a member of the family."

Real-estate experts point out that such a phenomenon should be taken into consideration in the government's housing policies, which are currently focused on households traditionally considered "typical" comprising of parents and unmarried children.

"Currently, unmarried people in their 20s are in a very difficult position in terms of obtaining their own house, or moving to a bigger house other than micro apartments," Seo Jin-hyung, head of the Korea Real Estate Society, told The Korea Times. "In addition to relatively low assets, they are virtually excluded from housing benefits provided by the government."

Seo believes that the authorities should devise supply plans based on the growing demand of one-person households, given that the recent rise in young people living alone is expected to continue.

"Micro-apartments and studio apartments should not be the only options as a long-term living environment for younger people," he said.


Emaillhj@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1Teens feel peer pressure to buy luxury goods endorsed by K-pop stars Teens feel peer pressure to buy luxury goods endorsed by K-pop stars
2Itaewon tragedy's bereaved families harassed by far-right protestersItaewon tragedy's bereaved families harassed by far-right protesters
3Plan to construct new memorial center for ex-president faces backlash Plan to construct new memorial center for ex-president faces backlash
4Too many emergency text alerts? Gov't to halt daily COVID-19 notifications Too many emergency text alerts? Gov't to halt daily COVID-19 notifications
5Able C&C sale attracts dozens of potential buyers Able C&C sale attracts dozens of potential buyers
6First lady expands presence in domestic politics First lady expands presence in domestic politics
7FSC OKs Apple Pay to be available in Korea FSC OKs Apple Pay to be available in Korea
8K bank decides to delay IPO plan K bank decides to delay IPO plan
9SEMICON Korea defies chip industry downturn SEMICON Korea defies chip industry downturn
10Gov't to provide $293 billion in trade financing to revitalize exports Gov't to provide $293 billion in trade financing to revitalize exports
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Major webtoon platforms' fight against piracy Major webtoon platforms' fight against piracy
2ENHYPEN-inspired webtoon 'Dark Moon: The Blood Altar' surpasses 100 million views ENHYPEN-inspired webtoon 'Dark Moon: The Blood Altar' surpasses 100 million views
3Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee team up for coming-of-age film 'Soulmate' Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee team up for coming-of-age film 'Soulmate'
4Park Hyung-sik to play crown prince in tvN series 'Our Blooming Youth' Park Hyung-sik to play crown prince in tvN series 'Our Blooming Youth'
5'Ant-Man 3' promises bigger, better action with same family dynamic: cast 'Ant-Man 3' promises bigger, better action with same family dynamic: cast
DARKROOM
  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

  • World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

    World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group