A popular American travel YouTuber with 6.55 million subscribers has sparked discussion after revealing the interior of Seoul's goshiwon micro-apartments, as rising rents and deposits push more young Koreans into such cramped housing.
According to the "Quality of Life for Youth 2025" report released by the National Data Agency on the 9th, 5.3% of young households aged 19-34 live in so-called "non-housing residences" such as goshiwon or lodging facilities. This figure is approximately 2.4 times higher than the overall household average.
The rate climbs to 5.7% in the Seoul metropolitan area, where jobs are concentrated and housing costs are particularly burdensome. This means approximately 270,000 young household heads nationwide lack even minimum housing rights.
Poor housing conditions are leading beyond mere inconvenience to psychological breakdown. Survey results show 32.2%—one in three young people—are experiencing burnout, with rates rising as living conditions worsen.
Recent academic research indicates goshiwon residents are more than twice as likely to experience depression symptoms compared to those in standard housing.
The reason young people turn to goshiwon is clear: they cannot afford soaring rents and deposits. As of 2025, average monthly rent for a one-room apartment near Seoul universities is approximately 610,000 won, reaching nearly 700,000 won including maintenance fees.
YouTuber Drew Binsky posted a video titled "Inside the Smallest Apartment in Korea" on his channel on the 1st. The video has surpassed 1.91 million views.
"Seoul is one of the biggest, flashiest, and busiest cities on Earth," Binsky said in the video's introduction. "But did you know that hundreds of thousands of residents live in micro-apartments that barely fit a bed?"
He visited three goshiwon locations in Seoul's Eunpyeong-gu, Dongjak-gu, and Dongdaemun-gu districts. Entering one goshiwon, he spread his arms to measure the corridor width. "It's really small. The hallway is only about 60 centimeters wide," he remarked.
Lying on a bed in a cramped room, he said, "Only someone small like me can barely fit. Life in Korea happens in these ridiculously tiny spaces."
"I've only been here five minutes and I already feel uncomfortable and suffocated," he said. "I can't believe 150,000 people in Seoul live in rooms this small."
Viewing a windowless room costing $200 (approximately 290,000 won) per month, he said, "It's suffocating. It's like a prison. Someone might call this a closet, but in Korea, this is an entire home."