Posted on Online Community
"I Want to Get a Loan and Rent a Newly Built Apartment"
A woman in her 30s, who is about to get married, posted a story expressing her worries because her prospective in-laws are insisting that she start her newlywed life in a rental apartment.
On the 18th, an online community called 'Nate Pann' featured a post titled "My boyfriend's parents keep telling me to move into a rental apartment." The author, A, wrote, "My boyfriend and I have been dating for three years, and since we are both in our early to mid-thirties, I thought it was time to prepare for marriage, so I recently met my boyfriend's parents first. I told them about the money we had saved: 70 million won from my boyfriend and 100 million won from me."
She continued, "Before getting a job, my boyfriend won a spot in a private rental apartment lottery and has been living there since. As some may know, rental apartments require contract renewals every 3 to 5 years. His next renewal is scheduled for next fall," she explained. A said, "Since we both have some money saved, we want to combine our funds then, take out a loan, and move to a better apartment."
A shared an episode that happened during a meal with her boyfriend's parents. She said, "The four of us were eating at a restaurant, and without beating around the bush, my boyfriend's parents asked, 'When you get married, are you going to live in the house where our son currently lives?' When I said I wanted to move into a newly built apartment on a jeonse (long-term lease) contract after he moves out next year, they asked if I could take out a loan since their son already has a lot of debt. They said they hope we have children and live in the rental apartment because prices are high."
A said, "Isn't that ultimately our choice, my boyfriend's and mine? After entering society, I’ve seen how people view rental apartments, especially when you have children. I want to move to a better apartment while we are still young... but they tell me to take out a loan if I want to move," she wrote. "I’ve been feeling bad since the meal. My boyfriend is very indecisive and keeps saying he doesn’t mind living in the rental or moving to another apartment," she added. She ended her post by asking, "Am I being too sensitive?"
Netizens criticize the author, saying she lacks financial sense
As of the afternoon of the 20th, the post had over 79,000 views, with 2 upvotes and 342 downvotes. Most of the 170 commenters expressed negative reactions toward the woman. One netizen commented, "It seems you’re just upset because your boyfriend’s parents said that, but it’s realistic. Taking out a loan for a jeonse, not even buying? Have you calculated when you can buy a house after living on jeonse and having a child? You should endure the rental apartment for as long as you can and save money," they sharply advised.
Other netizens shared similar views. They said, "Given the current situation, it seems right to stay longer in the rental, save money, and move when the child starts school. Rejecting the chance to live cheaply in a rental apartment and choosing to pay loan interest for newlywed life is questionable. Living tightly with loan interest can even harm your relationship," "How would a newborn baby know whether this is a rental or not? Why take out a loan for jeonse from the start for the baby’s sake?" and "You have to endure with the mindset of buying a house and moving out before the child starts school." Some also criticized, saying, "If appearances matter that much, break up and marry a rich man," "You have no money but are foolishly refusing rental apartments," and "I can’t believe someone is trying to marry a woman with no financial sense like that."
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