S. Korea's boarding house culture revives amid rising costs

Hasukjib is the Korean word for a boarding house that rents out a room with the option of a meal or two every day.

Now this form of accommodation was quite popular among college students here in Seoul up until the late 1900s and it's been making a huge comeback in recent days.

Our Park Kun-woo tells us why.

A small, quiet living room fills with university students.

That's because a variety of 15 side dishes that might be quite costly at a restaurant are served twice a day at mealtime at this boarding house.

These dishes are all cooked by the owner herself, who says it's a joy to prepare them for the students.

Communal meals at boarding houses were common in South Korea up until the late 1990s but as millennials began prioritizing privacy, studio flats have become more popular since then.

However, students living here today say privacy isn't that much of a concern as there are bigger benefits.

"Since I live in Seoul like eating out is quite expensive. I spend about 50k(won) like per day but that's how much I would save by eating here."

More students are choosing boarding houses to keep costs down.

"During COVID-19, there were almost no students, but after the pandemic, demand surged, even among foreign students."

"Since I came from another country it's quite expensive. I don't cook that much. No time. So more convenient compared to other places."

"This boarding house built decades ago and showing its age, has become increasingly popular, with every room booked. And it's not just this house but according to data, boarding house reservations rose by around 20 percent in the first two months of this year compared to last year."

An official from an online accommodation platform added that boarding houses are cost-effective for students, especially when compared to other housing options.

"The Korean style "one-room," one month price is more than 700-thousand won. Boarding house, there are no deposits and the average price is like 400-thousand won, include the meals.

As boarding houses offer students an affordable option in an era of high costs with rent, meals, and utility bills all included, this trend is expected to continue among students on a limited budget.

Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.