SOLO LIVING SURGES IN S. KOREA

1인 세대 1천만 시대, 고령화 비혼주의 확산 1인 세대 정책은?

Welcome to Wednesday's edition of Issues and Insiders.
I'm Min Sunhee.
A growing number of Koreans are seeking to live solo and today we explore this trend.
I have Professor Choi Hyunsun at Myongji University live on the line.
Professor Choi welcome.
I also have Kwon Soa with us.
Soa it's good to have you here.

1) Soa, let's begin with details about the latest data on one-person households in Korea as recently shared by Seoul's Interior Ministry.

2) Professor Choi, what are your thoughts regarding the reasons behind the rise in the number of people living alone here in Korea?

3) Also, Soa, I hear Korea is not the only country that has been noting a greater presence of solo dwellers in recent years.
Do tell us more.

4) Professor Choi, based on what Soa has just shared, it seems that people in developed countries are more likely to live alone than their counterparts in less developed countries.
How do you explain this trend?

5) Soa, let's now touch upon the repercussions of the rise in one-person households.
What does research tell us about the broader implications of living alone?

6) Professor Choi, what policy priorities do you propose to better accommodate the rise in single-person households here in Korea?

7) And Soa, what more can you share about Seoul's efforts to address the needs of solo dwellers?

8) Meanwhile Professor Choi, keeping in mind the rise in the number of young adults choosing to live alone amid Korea's shrinking population, do you suppose the government should seek policies to encourage marriage?
I mean, should marriage become a national priority for Korea?

9) Professor Choi, some 50 years from now, Korea's current population of 51 million is projected to plunge to 36 million with those aged 65 and above accounting for roughly half of the people.
Can we fight this reality or is it destined to happen regardless of our counter-efforts?

10) Soa, we have some time left.
That being said, do share with some of the foreign media coverage about the spike in solo living and lifestyle here in Korea.

All right.

#Single_person #Single_person_households #Live_solo #Unmarriage #Seniors #사회 #비혼 #고령화 #1인_가구 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스

2024-04-17, 14:30 (KST)

[letrantrung]

All wealth of the society is moving more quickly to the top rich individuals / families.
This is causing the rest of the society to stop re-producing.

[Oldeagle]

Living solo is great. I've been doing it most of my life and wouldn't change it for anything. Quiet, peaceful and don't have to deal with anyones drama or problems.

[vioutru]

tiny apartments, no money for marriage and kids, poor working conditions, overworked people and students, this is a picture of a poor nation

[bikokch]

Single household doesn’t mean single. I have some Korean friends decided not to get married but still have a relationship. They just don’t live tgt.

[ramsari]

No one can force anyone to have a family, especially that more people gives importance to their carreer, travel, social. Media

[PhilCherry]

To me the rise in single person households is no mystery given the data presented in this story. There is an aging population. More of the older married people are losing their spouses and entering widowhood. Thus the rise in the 60+ demographic. Given the age distribution of the entire population and the declines in both marriage and birth rates, the number of single person households will accelerate at a rapid pace over the next 30 years.

[ebeyslough]

Many would rather not deal with the burden of a spouse or the family who is not supportive. More of a hassle than it’s worth. Being single is great for many. Saves money.

[nickb]

i wonder how many actually SEEK to live alone

[patriciacrowley]

It's better being lonely than with the wrong person. Everything is expensive nowadays, even if the government would support you if you had children. It depends on how good you've a lifestyle on your own and you feel good by yourself. If you have a supportive partner and both decide to be together, you'd share equal payments and shares together.

[kageisuke]

Single person household are growing for a variety of reasons. It's too expensive to marry, much less have children. The expectations parents put on their children when they live at home is too much. What person who is 25+ wants their parents giving them a curfew? This is especially true for women, who have even more rules put on them. Having your own space is just more peaceful, not to mention if you ever get in a relationship you don't have to tip toe around your parents or spend on hotel if they want to stay the night.

[redchen]

Living solo is a lifestyle increasingly celebrated on shows like "I Live Alone." The featured celebrities showcase the undeniable perks of independence. Imagine having complete control over your space – blasting music late at night, indulging in messy hobbies, or keeping a meticulously clean environment, all on your own terms!

This autonomy extends beyond your living space. You can structure your entire day around your passions, be it diving deep into a creative project or finally mastering that new recipe. Social interaction doesn't have to suffer either! The show cleverly demonstrates how fulfilling friendships and social activities can thrive alongside a solo living arrangement.

While "I Live Alone" features celebrities with a luxurious lifestyle, the core message resonates: living alone fosters self-reliance, personal growth, and the freedom to prioritize your passions. It's a lifestyle choice gaining traction, and its popularity suggests a growing cultural acceptance of the many advantages of flying solo.

[DuendeVerde]

Living alone in major cities of developed countries is not a sign that people have more options, quite the opposite. People choose to live alone because it's completely impossible to sustain a family with the ever-increasing cost of living.
In South Korea, for example, if you want a good job with a decent salary, you have to go to Seoul. But everyone wants to go there for the same reason. The result: Everything becomes very expensive. Rent for a tiny apartment, barely enough for one person, is exorbitant. Now imagine having to rent an apartment for a family of three or more? Impossible if you don't have a lot of money.
Developed countries are contradictory. They are wealthy, developed nations, but opportunities are only in the capital; the rest of the country is rural, with no opportunities for young people. People have a high level of professional qualifications, but if you want a job, you have to go to the capital. Yet, even with a good job and a decent salary in the capital, it's not enough to afford a decent apartment; you end up living in a tiny cubicle barely big enough for a bed, which is completely unhealthy.
But they are still considered developed countries. Controversial and ironic, I would say.

[kyliechen]

Some people prefer solitude (me included). Living alone allows one to enjoy peace and serenity in high-stress modern society. You can simply cut off all the noise and be yourself. I enjoyed that.

[pikachuthunderbolt]

The problem lies here
Seoul is south korea and south korea is seoul

[waterwitch]

The economy is bad everywhere, so S. Korea is just reaching the level of everybody else.

[kimlambert]

1) Good to be here with you or 2) Thank you for having me. 🙂

[blackgrandpa]

Its not a Korean problem its a first world problem its to expensive to raise a family and find jobs that pay a living wage thank God I already have 4 grandchildren all under 10

[Wonwonssi]

It's interesting how they seem not to address the reason for the fact that a large portion of the single households are from elderlies, not from youngsters who probably just want freedom and independence that comes with living solo.

[SavanaT]

Society needs to relax their demands for expecting parents to provide EVERYTHING for their children, ie. best schools, best education, best clothes, best everything... then parents can relax and have kids w/o feeling so pressured to be the greatest parents in the world.... 🙏

[kentam]

Demographic shift. Extended family is the thing of the past. Nuclear family is slowly eroding. Solo living is ascending slowly but surely due to change societal circumstances.