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
  • World Expo 2030
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 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
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
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
  • World Expo 2030
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 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
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
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

    N. Korea holds politburo meeting to discuss Kim-Putin summit: KCNA

  • 3

    Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight

  • 5

    BTS member Suga begins mandatory military service

  • 7

    Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors

  • 9

    Gender equality minister nominee in hot seat over remarks on abortion

  • 11

    Yoon says arms deal between N. Korea, Russia would be 'direct provocation' against S. Korea

  • 13

    US striving to stop NK's potential weapons support to Russia 'wherever we can': Blinken

  • 15

    Honey-dipped cookie to represent 'K-desserts' at global food expo in Germany

  • 17

    Top court upholds life sentence for woman over drowning husband for insurance money

  • 19

    From friend to foe: NK athletes of 2018 joint Korean teams return as rivals to S. Korea

  • 2

    30 people purchased 8,000 homes: data

  • 4

    BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse'

  • 6

    National Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chief

  • 8

    Seoul invites ambassadors to introduce new halal foods in Korea

  • 10

    Rights experts from 17 countries demand release of North Korean escapees in China

  • 12

    Aespa's VR concert to hit theaters Oct. 25

  • 14

    S. Korea condemns Russia, seeks to mend ties with China

  • 16

    COVID-19 deaths hit record high in Korea for 2022

  • 18

    KG Mobility seeks breakthrough in Europe

  • 20

    National Assembly passes arrest motion against opposition leader

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
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sat, September 23, 2023 | 00:55
Society
Teenagers showing off about apartments on social media amid surging house prices
Posted : 2021-07-01 16:54
Updated : 2021-07-01 16:54
Yoon Ja-young
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
The Hannam The Hill apartments in Yongsan District, Seoul / Korea Times file
The Hannam The Hill apartments in Yongsan District, Seoul / Korea Times file

By Yoon Ja-young

A new trend among Korean teenagers on social media is to introduce themselves as residents of fancy apartments ― even when that is not true. Experts say it reflects a deep-rooted sense of social hierarchy, highlighted by surging property prices over the past few years.

According to the Hankook Ilbo, sister paper of The Korea Times, many teenagers are putting names of luxurious apartments such as "Hannam The Hill" on their profile page of their social media accounts. For example "Hana Hong at Hannam The Hill."

When searching for affluent apartment complexes, such as Nine One Hannam and Trimage, results show the trend clearly. Hannam The Hill is known as one of the most expensive apartment complexes in the country, with a 243.201 square meter unit having sold for 8 billion won ($7.06 million) in February. It was also reported recently that BTS members RM and Jimin each bought Nine One Hannam apartments.

When contacted by the Hankook Ilbo, however, most of the teenagers with such profiles said that they actually don't live in the places they posted. They said that they are doing it just for fun. Some said that they don't know of any cases in which people who introduced themselves as residents of a particular apartment complex actually are.

Some of them said that they wrote the names of luxurious apartment complexes to give themselves motivation. It is like high school students using pictures of top universities as background images on their smartphones, they explain.

The phenomenon, however, reflects how teenagers enmeshed in Korea's perniciously hierarchical social system.

"In the past, some teenagers despised their peers living in public rental apartments and used derogative terms about them. Now, the more prominent trend among them is having the positive view on so-called 'flexing,' even admiring it," Hankook Ilbo cited popular culture critic Jung Duk-hyun as saying. Originating from hip-hop culture, "flexing" is a term used among young people to refer to showing off about materialistic or money-based things, such as expensive cars, luxury goods, or in this case, coveted apartment complexes.

"No matter how hard one tries, it is difficult to become residents of those apartments. The trend is grounded in both a sense of humor and self-mockery," the critic noted.


Emailyjy@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
Top 10 Stories
1Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlightScientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight
2Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors
3Opposition party in turmoil as leader could be arrested on TuesdayOpposition party in turmoil as leader could be arrested on Tuesday
4Saudi Arabia celebrates 93rd National DaySaudi Arabia celebrates 93rd National Day
5Korea boosts subsidies to rev up falling EV sales Korea boosts subsidies to rev up falling EV sales
6Foreign employees rewarded for contribution to Korea's shipbuilding industry Foreign employees rewarded for contribution to Korea's shipbuilding industry
7Lawmakers want to grill business tycoons over decision to rejoin FKI Lawmakers want to grill business tycoons over decision to rejoin FKI
8'Songpyeon' for low-income families 'Songpyeon' for low-income families
9Gov't reviews changing description of Fukushima wastewater Gov't reviews changing description of Fukushima wastewater
10Big insurers up for sale, but financial conglomerates appear disinterestedBig insurers up for sale, but financial conglomerates appear disinterested
Top 5 Entertainment News
1BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo
2[INTERVIEW] Virtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels INTERVIEWVirtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels
3Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape
4[INTERVIEW] 'Cobweb' director questions meaning of cinema INTERVIEW'Cobweb' director questions meaning of cinema
5[INTERVIEW] Seoul's increased art market momentum brings Sotheby's back to Korea INTERVIEWSeoul's increased art market momentum brings Sotheby's back to Korea
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • 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

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