People Lie Down and It's Full... Netizens Stir Over 200,000 Won Monthly Rent One-Room in Gwanak-gu

Interior View of a Seoul One-Room Apartment for 200,000 Won Monthly Rent
A Space About One Pyeong Near Seoul National University Entrance Station
Prison? Gosiwon? Heated Debate

A monthly rent studio near Seoul National University Station for 200,000 won. It is so cramped that a person can barely lie down. YouTube channel 'Bokdeokbang Hongman'

The interior of a one-room apartment in Seoul with a monthly rent of 200,000 won has been revealed, attracting the attention of netizens.

Recently, a video introducing an affordable one-room apartment with a monthly rent of 200,000 won near Seoul National University Station was posted on the YouTube channel 'Bokdeokbang Hongman.' This one-room apartment was located on the 5th floor of a building without an elevator. After struggling up the stairs, a uniquely shaped one-room apartment awaited. Upon seeing it, the man exclaimed, "Is this a home?" in surprise.

As soon as the door opened, what stood out was the cramped room. It was a space of about one pyeong (approximately 3.3 square meters), just enough for a person to barely stretch out and lie down. When an adult man stretched his legs fully, the room was filled. Moving even slightly caused his head to touch the refrigerator. The room was equipped with everything expected: a refrigerator, drum washing machine, microwave, and air conditioner. Next to the refrigerator was a mini kitchen consisting of a sink and a single-burner induction stove. On the side wall of the room, there was a built-in closet and bookshelf for hanging clothes and storing items.

Agent: "It's like 10,000 won a day... Isn't it better than a jjimjilbang?"

Next to the kitchen was a bathroom equipped with a washbasin and toilet. Surprisingly, the bathroom was spacious and clean. There was a large window on the side of the room, providing lighting, ventilation, and airflow. The monthly rent for this one-room apartment was 200,000 won with a deposit of 2 million won. The maintenance fee was an additional 100,000 won. The agent said, "It's like 10,000 won a day," adding, "Still, isn't it better than a jjimjilbang?"

However, most netizens who watched the video responded negatively, saying things like "This is not a home," "A prison cell might be bigger," "This isn't even a hallway, what is this?" "Can't even use it as a study room," "There's a reason it's 200,000 won," "Even 200,000 won seems expensive," and "No matter how cheap, I couldn't live here."

Meanwhile, according to the real estate information platform Dabang, as of September, the average monthly rent for row houses and multi-family one-room apartments (exclusive area of 33㎡ or less) in the 25 districts of Seoul was 730,000 won. Among the districts, Gangnam-gu had the highest monthly rent at 912,000 won, which is 125% of the Seoul average. Following were Yeongdeungpo-gu (122%), Jungnang-gu and Yongsan-gu (119%), Gangseo-gu (116%), Seocho-gu (113%), Guro-gu (109%), Gwanak-gu (107%), Gangbuk-gu (104%), and Geumcheon-gu and Gwangjin-gu (103%), totaling 11 districts with rents above the Seoul average.