There is a popular joke on the internet: “both the worst and best part of living alone is the fact that mom is not at home.” Living alone means you have complete freedom to use the space however you see fit with no intervention from others. It also means that you must take care of everything on your own — from maintaining a liveable environment to feeding yourself.
After six years of living in dorms, I moved out and started living by myself in August. I did not expect my life to be too different, as I thought I had enough years of independent living experience. Turns out I couldn’t have been more wrong. Outside the comforting fences of the campus, life was pretty tough. First of all, finding a place to stay was a nightmare. Who knew it would be so expensive to have a roof over your head? It was almost impossible to find a place that met all my criteria: safety, affordability, and convenience. After I made a compromise and luckily came across a place I liked, writing lease agreements and submitting legal documents were another source of headache. Finally, I paid my rent and moved in with my worldly possessions.
In my new home, I dreamed of becoming a minimalist, but quickly realized I was already on the wrong path when I made a trip to IKEA. They had everything you ever wanted for your room and more. No wonder IKEA had a 30% sales increase in Korea the past year. Once the room became more like an actual human habitat after spending the last bit of my savings on sleek scandi furniture to assemble, I had to learn all the chores. When living with your parents, you don’t realize how much work goes into maintaining the house. I helped my mom with the dishes and laundry and felt good about myself. I was totally clueless. When you live alone, you can feel the entropy reigning supreme. You forget about chores, and the next minute you are left with piles of trash and a dirty kitchen. Also, bless Kaimaru for their mediocre tasting but cheap meals. Cooking takes effort and talent. After a few failed attempts at quick and easy recipes, I resolved to downgrade my palate rather than keep trying to upgrade my skills. Fried rice and pasta (with ready-made sauce of course) are always solid options, and almost anything is edible with sriracha sauce on it. After three months, I can say that I am comfortable and happy living alone. Having my private space and liberty outweighs the hassle, cost, and occasional loneliness.
Many others seem to feel similarly. The rise of single person households is a global trend that is markedly more evident in South Korea. In 2020, the number of single person households reached 9 million, making up 40% of the total number of households. Demographic researchers attribute the trend to falling marriage rates, climbing divorce rates, and rising tally for female seniors, whose average lifespan is longer than that of their husbands. Daejeon is the city with the highest proportion of single person households, as it hosts many universities and research institutions with a high number of unmarried students and professionals.
As the demand increases, there are streams of products tailored for single-person households. Many furniture and appliances these days are focused on “gaseong-bi”, which could be roughly translated as “bang for the buck”. For single-person households, most without a permanent home, cheap products they could use for the time being and get rid of for their next move are preferred to expensive, durable products. The food market is also quickly changing; there are now many ready-to-eat meals that are advancing far beyond instant noodles. Just a few minutes in the microwave, and you can supposedly taste “authentic” Thai green curry or German Schweinshaxe. There are even mini watermelons specially grown to be a single serving size. Cultural products are also responding to the needs of single-person households. MBC’s I Live Alone, which shows the everyday lives of celebrities living by themselves, is one of the most popular TV programs. On YouTube, you can find many videos of people living aesthetically — having acai bowls for breakfast and working in their home office by the window with perfect sunsets.
The traditional media often focus on the negative aspects of the rise of living in single person households, calling it the “demise of families”. However, I think there are many positive aspects to the rise of single person households, too. You get to appreciate the few moments with your family more when you are not carried away by everyday conflicts. You become more grateful to your parents, as you realize it is no easy task to take care of yourself, let alone another human being. It becomes easier to navigate through the challenging responsibilities of adulthood and to find your individuality when you are given the time and space to be by yourself.