Inside Korea's Smallest Apartments

Can you imagine if your entire house is this small?!

That is a reality for 150,000 Koreans living in tiny apartments! In this video, I'm going to be taking you all around Seoul to meet these residents, and hear their stories!

This is the toilet, the shower, and the sink, all in one!

And you can barely fit through the crack here.

I thought this place was like a jail.

Just being in here for five minutes, I'm already, like, uncomfortable. Our first stop leads us to a young man named Sang-woo.

This is my house.

Which one?

Here.

It's very interesting how it's in a commercial building?

Yeah, I was just gonna say, like, it's just, we just turned the corner, there's all these shops and cafes, and then it's like, boom, right here. Look at this place.

It is so small.

The alleyway here, when you walk in, it's like two feet wide.

This is the entire space right here. That's it.

If you're small like me, you can fit in the bed perfectly.

Wow! And if you wake up, you stand here, and this is all the space you have right here. Like, insanely small living here in Korea. Bathroom.

I mean, this is tiny.

How long have you lived here?

Probably, like half a year.

Can you give me a tour? I want to know everything.

This is door. Uh...

there's a mirror.

So, like, I can brush my teeth over there.

And like, this is, like my laundry uh... bag, my trash bag. Like like, this is my all clothes and stuff.

I like how it's very organized -- in this small closet.

This is a nice little light here. LE LED light.

Yeah, we can, like, turn on, turn off, the switch light. There's a button.

I'm a tour guide.

So, like, if I take a picture with the guests, or like, if I get some, like, souvenir, I just put all the stuff in here.

Even though it's so small, you have space for everything.

There's a little office.

There's even a fridge. There's a bed.

This is the bathroom. Did you pee on the floor?

Ah... So...

No, no, no. So...

The reason why this is so, like, dark... and brown...

because if I put water water on here...

it's not getting down.

So, it's clogged.

Yeah, so it's clogged. So, what I do is...

like, when I use this water, I always do, like.

This.

That's why it looks like there's pee stains on the floor, Like...

but it's just water.

Yeah!

When I lived in Korea for two years teaching English, I had a small studio. And...

the most shocking thing for me was...

the shower is connected to the sink.

So, there's only one lever to turn turn it on.

The first time I ever went in my room, I thought I was turning on the sink, and I turned on the shower and I got soaking wet.

So, what else is in here?

Why do you have a balloon?

this is the only window that I have. So...

So, if I open my window...

It's connected to the hallway!

Yeah, so people can uh... look and watch my place. So, like, I'm protecting and you know.

This is a fire hazard! Like, uh there you have to have a window, like, emergency exit!

My...

room -- is much cheaper than another room because I don't have any...

window.

How much do you spend for one month?

Two hundred fifty dollars in a month.

That's so cheap.

That's very affordable.

Two hundred and fifty bucks?!

-- Man, that's really, really cheap!

So, do you know your neighbors, the people who live around you?

I don't know their name, but I just say hi. I'm the youngest person who live in in this Goshiwon.

Average of the...

age, people who live here, like, they're like a middle 40s, uh... Older 50s.

Really? You have AC.

That's nice! Do you have internet?

So, they provide some... uh...

Wi-Fi.

Wait, so 250 bucks a month, and you get Wi-Fi?!

They provide Wi-Fi, unlimited ramyeon, and...

unlimited rice, and kimchi.

I'll show it later.

A good deal, bro! What do you got in your fridge?

Bean sprout, because I love ramyeon.

How many times in one day do you eat ramen?

Ten ramyeon in... in a week.

So, probably like 1.5 ramen.

What do you think about that? Ten ramens a week.

That's some Korean drama... struggling person's story, man.

I haven't... I mean, I average like one a month!

But you're also jacked! Dang!

What is this thing?

I don't have much money to go to gym, so, I have to do something.

So, I do like kind of push-up, pull-up.

And this is, I don't know how to say it in English, but like, I do like -- this. And this is like a 50 kilogram. Do you want to try?

Yeah, he just, he can break it with his pinky!

I will try. Oh, my God!

It's actually quite hard.

Do you feel claustrophobic if you stay here for, like, many hours or like one full day?

I... came here on January.

I thought this place was like a jail. So, I don't want to live here.

But after... like May...

I feel very comfortable.

I'm like waiting to... stay...

and like, rest in my house.

Goshiwon is like part of my life.

-- I'm very good with everything because, like, this is only like 250 bucks.

And I can save all money.

My bank account, I can invest in the... stock.

It's really good!

You used to live in a Goshiwon?

I did.

Is it, was it similar to this one?

Yes, except mine actually didn't have a... private toilet.

This is one of the better Goshiwon rooms that I've been to.

What does it say?

Uh... -- Like, I invest stock.

So, when I invest my stock, I always have to, like, be careful... and you know...

like, let's save the money.

Like, kind of that.

Foreign stocks, be strict with the standards.

Do not invest in one stock with more than 15% of the capital.

You read that every night before you go to bed?

If I feel, like, crazy, look, if I can, like...

handle, I always try to...

like, focus and make some, like, standard. That is part of it.

You like sunflower seeds?

When I study...

or when I have to do something, I'm not good at focusing.

So, I try to chew this sunflower so I can, like, wake up.

You have to spit out the shell.

I usually just swallow. So, I, I don't...

I don't eat more than one.

How long do you think you will live in this Goshiwon?

Oh, one moment! Let me just swallow it and let, I'll talk.

Don't choke, man!

This is like proper Goshiwon life.

Yes.

The reason I...

live in Goshiwon, like, my goal... is making, like, saving $70,000 in this Goshiwon. But I think I like Goshiwon. So, if even if I can, like, save $70,000...

I will still live in a Goshiwon. I love it!

This is a crazy experience, man!

When people think of Korea, they don't think about this!

So, this is our trash house.

Like, all the plastic... Trash...

over here. So...

this is our kitchen.

Where we can do laundry. And...

this is a treasure box! If you open it, this is like unlimited ramyeon!

All we can eat is all ours. You can only get this in -- my Goshiwon.

Treasure? This is amazing!

That's very thoughtful!

I got my Goshiwon ramen.

That's so...

amazing and so Korean... Bro!

If you've never tried it, it's fermented spicy cabbage.

That and Koreans eat it with every meal!

They also provide rice, so I don't have spend money for grocery.

And even the water that you were drinking earlier from the jug, did you get that water from here?

They also provide water. And inside, this is my laundry!

All right. It is boiling hot in this room! I am...

like, sweating from every part of my body!

So, let's go outside.

This is how Sang-woo spends his time, on the rooftop.

Before I eat ramyeon because, you know.

-- Eating ramyeon always is like a criminal. So, I have to refresh my blood!

What else do you do up here? Do you meditate?

I don't smoke, but people who come here, they smoke and... feel the atmosphere, vibe of this local neighborhood. Uh...

and this is the... push-up bar.

So, I have a question for you.

I used to live in a Goshiwon like I said. Uh...

I thought it was quite -- uh, negative for my health. Do you feel okay, white rice, kimchi, instant noodles all the time?

It seems like you're eating that very often.

I know, it's like, it's very unhealthy, and I know, like, sometimes I feel sick because, like, you know, ramen is like a fried uh... noodle.

So, I try to eat some, like, local fruit or, like, vegetable in, like, local market so I can, like, balance it with ramyoen...

fresh veggie... fresh fruit.

I see.

Yeah, mix it!

You seem to have a very positive attitude about, like, living here. That's really great!

Yeah!

I was very much suffering when I was living in a Goshiwon.

Actually, this is my...

second time living in a Goshiwon. But that Goshiwon was was like, terrible! The...

distance of the room was too small, tight, and like, every people, like, hate each other! But here...

like, more open space.

Uh...Like, people say just "Hi", and I think it's kind of lovely!

Do you have a girlfriend?

Uh... I have a person, like, contacting, but I don't have.

I have a person contacting!

Have you brought her here?

Two days ago.

And is it a problem?

Uhm... no, I think it's not a problem!

My door, my room...

protect, like, you know, the noise and sound.

What kind of noises?

Okaaay! Okaay!

Yeah, yeah!

It's crazy walking around this building and just seeing all the residents!

Like, most of them are older... like, their 40s or 50s!

People just leave their stuff in the hallway.

Like...

Supposedly, the person that lives here is getting evicted. That's why...

the stuff is all outside in the hallway.

He has a severe mental condition, so we have to be very careful!

He has a criminal record.

I can't imagine living in this apartment building.

But I understand why it makes sense for Sang-woo.

Now, we are heading across town to see how people are living in the heart of Seoul.

We've made it to Seoul Station here, which is obviously the main train station where you can take a bullet train anywhere in the country.

And this is also the place with the highest homeless population in Seoul, which is really interesting! I've never actually met any homeless people in South Korea, so we're going to see who we can meet living on the streets.

And if they have homes, if they're going to show us!

Our welfare system is quite decent. So, we don't really have people that go homeless because of financial difficulties.

It's more because of the combination of finances and mental health.

Right. -- What's going on right here?

Oh, it seems that they're doing a volunteer work where...

they give free haircuts to the senior citizens.

We've just met Kim Chi-eun, who lives right here in this place, and he's so kindly allowing us to see his place for a donation.

I love you! I love you!

I love you, man!

I love you too!

Always got to remove shoes when you enter any Korean household!

Okay. So, it's actually really cozy in here. Like, he's got all of his stuff.

He's got -- photos...

He's got his Korean flag...

He's got his bed where he sleeps...

It's extremely hot in here! Bro!

It's like a heat, it's like it sucks in the heat!

Right? It's like a little steam sauna, actually!

I, I don't know how anybody can stay here in the day!

Like, we're literally right next to the... Dude, it's crazy!

highway! Like, look, it's right there!

Of course, I knew that I was going to find a soju bottle at some point!

In fact, more bottles of this are sold in Korea than any other liquor in the world.

-- How many years have you lived here?

He's been living in the same spot for over 20 years.

Twenty years?! Before you came here, what were you doing in life?

Only one of the sentences made any sense. Uh...

It sounded, like, he used to work for an electronics company??

And he said something about his uh... younger brother passing.

Do you have any family or anyone that can look after you?

He said his parents are in Gunpo, which is a different city that's about an hour away.

And can I ask you why, why do you have the chain and the eyebrows?

Is that like a style or fashion?

It sounded like he's just rambling out random words, word-by-word. Uh...

the only thing that could make sense out of is the eyebrows and manicure.

It's just hard to...

explain how hot it is in here.

It's super hot in general in the summer in Korea.

And this is just, this like traps the heat inside.

Super humid. What happens when it rains?

And, and what about in the wintertime?

So, when it rains, he's gonna hide under this tarp, and...

he dries it after the sun.

And how about, like, in the freezing cold?

So, it looks like when it gets extremely cold, unbearably cold, there is a shelter that you can go to.

If you could say one message to everybody in the world, what would you tell them?

You and I must realize the reality.

That's powerful.

Thank you so much.

How does it feel for you to be in here right now and talk to this guy?

I haven't -- had an interaction with a... homeless person my entire life in Korea!

It is, in fact, very rare to see one! And to...

meet and talk to them, it kind of breaks my heart.

Yeah, it's very emotional!

He wants to show the cat. Oh my God!

Look at the cat!

Jesus Christ!

I love you! I love you!

I love you!

That's an aggressive way to... to...

have a cat on a leash!

That's super sad, actually.

I'm not a fan of that!

Yeah.

Even though South Korea...

is one of the richest countries in the world and has one of the best economies, you still find people... living like this in the middle of the city.

It's truly heartbreaking!

But it's, it's crazy to to see a Korea like this!

So, the police stopped us, and...

we let him know that we had permission from him to film, and he said it was okay! Bye.

Bye. I understand a lot of Korean.

I didn't understand almost anything he said.

I am Korean myself, I -- did not understand about 99% of the things he said.

It looks like he's having a hard time putting a sentence together.

Twenty years living on the freeway. It's really sad!

Especially with all the infrastructure that we have, we are able to provide for the homeless people.

It's just that they don't have the access to all these uhm... social services.

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All right, now let's get back to the smallest homes in Korea!

Metro is always the preferred way of travel around Seoul or any really big Asian city!

It's clean, it's fast, it's efficient.

It's pretty cheap!

It's incredible how many millions of people ride the Seoul metro every day, and there is not a single piece of trash on the floor.

Everyone's on their phone or sleeping.

Right?

It's weird if you're not on your phone or sleeping.

Right? They've just done extremely stressful day, probably.

Like a cheer person.

We've just made it to our next place in a random neighborhood in Western Seoul. There's another Goshiwon down here, which we got connected to, and the guy... is kind enough to show us inside!

It's so crazy how many people can slam into one floor.

All these doors are rooms of different people living inside of Goshiwons.

And it's just, like, when you're walking down the street, you just see the building!

It just kind of looks like a normal building!

You don't realize that people are actually living like this!

I'm going inside of a room that is -- 9 square meters or 90 square feet.

This is the entire unit. Holy...

crap!! This thing is freaking tiny! This is so claustrophobic!

Holy crap, dude, look at the bathroom!

Full office station here.

You got all your cabinets up there.

We got only the essentials down here, which is...

gochujang sauce and then literally one beer.

Just being in here for five minutes, I'm already like uncomfortable.

Crazy to think that 150,000 people in Seoul are living in Goshiwons or rooms that are this tiny! Wow!

Most rooms don't have their own private toilet, but he prefers privacy, so...

he's paying extra to have his own private restroom here.

This is the toilet, the shower, and the sink, all in one!

And you can barely fit through the crack here!

I mean, it is -- a foot wide.

The door doesn't open anymore?

Yeah.

It doesn't open anymore?

That's as wide as it gets.

I like to think that I'm pretty skinny.

I literally can't get out of the bathroom!

You have to stay skinny to live in this room!

Otherwise, you can't literally get in the bathroom!

Yeah, I could...

What are your thoughts, Jimmy?

It's really crazy, man. I honestly wouldn't be able to live here!

Like, there's no sense of, like, breathable space here!

So, how much do you pay...

for one month rent to live here?

Four hundred and twenty thousand Korean won.

So, more than... the other one?

Yes.

How long have you lived in this space for?

It's four months.

Four months.

What's the best and the worst part about living here?

The best thing about it is that he has unlimited air conditioner. The downside is the space is so small that he can't really store anything here.

Do you know any of the neighbors, like, people living here?

Really?

He lives... like, directly next to all these people.

There's got to be, like, 16 rooms, but he doesn't talk to any of them. So, it's very isolating and very antisocial, even though you're in this, like, community of space.

If I had to be honest.

Yeah, sure.

If I lived here, I'd be in such -- feeling of sadness that I wouldn't really feel like going out, making friends.

Completely speechless just being in here. All right...

Dang, this one really got me, man! That was quite an experience. That was way smaller than the other one. That was sad!

Yeah. I mean, I would not want to live there!

I hope it's temporary! He he said he's just there... until he can make enough money for the deposit to live in a better apartment. But yeah, that was just rough!

As you're walking through the neighborhoods here, how can you tell which buildings are Goshiwons?

Does it say on the outside?

Yeah, it typically says on the outside, like, right next to...

the building, there's typically a sign that says Goshiwon or Goshitel.

Not every neighborhood has them!

It's just kind of like, I guess, where a lot of students are, where a lot of, like, poor people are...

like, like, not rich areas.

Yeah. I would say in...

places where the land is a little cheaper, they tend to have Goshiwon and it becomes this extremely affordable housing option for people.

This ties into a greater theme about, like, the pressures of living in South Korea. Like, there's so much pressures by the families to, like, have a good job and make a lot of money.

And that's also a reason why... like, the suicide rate in Korea is among the highest in the world.

Is that, like, you, you, grew up here. Is that true?

I've definitely had that growing up! I mean...

it is extremely difficult to afford a proper...

spacious house in Korea.

Right now, like, an average house in Korea is like a million dollars in Seoul.

To be precise, it's probably about $600,000, $700,000 for a...

three-bedroom apartment that is required to, you know, have a family and raise kids.

The wages are not that high to support that.

I mean, that's crazy!

You know how they're saying Korea is disappearing because if we have a population crisis.

It's not that we don't want to have family or it's not that we don't want to get married. It's just that to... have a family, it requires a stable home! And we just simply can't afford it.

Right now, we are in the beating heart and soul of Korea. This is Gangnam!

Made famous by the song "Gangnam Style" by Psy!

It is the bustling... district of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, cafes, and... a lot of plastic surgery!

That's exactly right! So, a lot of...

You, you live in Gangnam!

I do. I do live in Gangnam District.

What attracts you to this place, versus others?

So, a lot of people want to live in Gangnam, just because...

we have great access to corporate buildings.

Like, if you had a job at Google, these people that you see around us are probably corporate workers that just finished their work.

What do you think is the average wage for these, like, corporate workers?

Oh, I know for a fact that -- an average income, pretax, is 2,700 US dollars for a Korean individual.

So... after tax, it's like $2,000 a month?

Just above $2,000. Yeah!

So, that's not a lot of money!

And we're, we're living in, like, a city that's not exactly cheap, especially in this area!

So, that explains a little bit why people have to live in Goshiwons. Like, like, they're just not making a lot of money here!

Correct. Right.

If you had a...

rental apartment around here, like a little one-bedroom studio...

there would be about that would get close to $1,000.

That's half of their income gone!

Are there Goshiwons, like, tucked away in the corners here?

Or is this all like fancy living?

So, there are Goshiwons around here, but it's very rare to find them just because they... would still be very expensive. It's a very expensive district!

Right. We are now entering Jimmy's place.

He's been so kind to let us see inside of his apartment, which is located right in the heart of Gangnam!

How long have you lived in this building?

I think I've been here for three years now?

So, this is like a normal...

like, one-bedroom studio?

I would say it's a...

very average one-bedroom space.

Nice, man!

Shoes always off?

Yes, please.

Every single household in this country, shoes off.

All right. Come on in!

So, as soon as you come inside, you'll realize that I don't really have much.

And this is the entire living space.

The kitchen, the living room, the... the office.

I do all of my work here!

I work as a YouTuber in Korea.

It's not tiny-tiny, but it's certainly not big!

It is possible to just get by in this space, and this is how a lot of young people live.

I want to say for a one-bedroom space, it's not considered tiny!

How much do you pay per month?

I pay about 800 US Dollars a month.

So, compared to, like, a city like New York or Hong Kong, that's still pretty like, even for this space, it's a good price!

I think so.

I think so. I And to know that this is in the prime area in Gangnam. It's so accessible to, like, anywhere from here.

Yeah, you live right next to the metro station.

This is a dream for any editor! Holy crap!

I just like working in chaos!

Like, wow! This is very typical for all Korean houses.

They don't have dryers.

The issue with it is it takes up, like, 10% of your house!

It also takes a long time, especially during summer when it's like really humid in Korea, to dry my clothes. Only the rich people have dryers.

You're the first person I've ever met where, like, when I see guitars that you're not a musician. You just you just collect them.

Yeah, I just collect for the cool coolness of it!

Your bed is pretty large!

You must like your shows, bro.

Yeah, I I mean, I love playing video games, so, I play a lot of PlayStation on my bed.

It's my guilty pleasure. Like, it's my only source of pleasure, almost.

Pretty nice setup, bro!

Not bad, right?

I want to say it's for, like, a...

middle-class person living by...

him or herself -- in their 20s or early 30s?

Into the late 30s or 40s, this would be considered a low... in fact, a very low standard of living.

I like the simplicity of this life!

Check the bathroom. That's a busy sink.

I...

They are Korean beauty products?

Yeah, it's...

When I was living in the US, I probably had, like, 10% of it, but...

You've become Koreanized.

Yes.

Okay, this is very typical.

We've got the toilet, shower right next to each other.

And completely wet, too.

Yep!

After we finish checking out Jimmy's place, we get a message from Sang-woo, who wants to link back up for cheap street food.

For me, it's hard to say no, especially when he's going to take us to a secret local market that few tourists know about! Afterwards, he wants to show me an even smaller Goshiwon that he promises will blow my mind!

We've arrived at the first place to get some hand-cut noodles for 4,000 won.

Let's go! This is a huge bowl...

of noodle soup for about 3 US Dollars.

The quality of these noodles look fantastic.

These are freshly made in the back.

Hand-cut noodles with anchovies and... seaweed.

With the kimchi.

I blow it up like a hand fan to make it, like, cool.

Like a hand fan.

And then... and I try it with one bite, like this.

Holy sheez, dude! Uhm...

are you serious, bro?!

I mean, for a guy who eats ramen noodles 10 times in a week, it makes sense that he, he can, he's a professional noodle eater. So...

you live in a Goshiwon.

What is your weekly expense?

Like, how much money do you spend in one week for food, for everything?

Less than hundred dollars. Like, everything.

Like, uhh.. like, transportation...

like, lifestyle items... I think...

yeah, everything. Like, under 100 US Dollar.

Per week? Food?

Yeah. So, I spend like $350 in a month.

That's pretty affordable, man!

A lot of people think, like, Korea and Japan are super expensive, and they can be expensive, but you could also be really cheap!

Bro, you're freaking dripping sweat all over the mic!

So, when we enjoy our food and we feel good, and, like, this is like a...

pleasure. This is like a...

like, effort, we're enjoying this!

Korean food is my absolute favorite cuisine on earth, and this meal is delicious! But now, the three of us are ready to check out some more small homes in Seoul.

The next place we are going to might actually be the tiniest place in the city!

Dang, dude! This hallway is super narrow!

These are all different rooms around me.

This is freaking crazy!

This is the little common area, where they have a staff member working here.

Almost like a hostel!

And all the rooms are in here.

It's also super hot in here!

This is tiny, man!

-- This is the whole room, bro.

This is smaller than yours!

So, this is like a real ori original Goshiwon.

This is the entire room.

Like, we're standing here at the bed.

So, window room is like $220.

No, no window room is like $200.

There's one little closet and one TV. Wow, that's it!

This one has no window.

I mean, bro, this is smaller than your room!

It's like tiny!

It's suffocating in here!

There's no windows, bro!

This is actually like a jail cell.

Yeah, It is.

Some people would call this a closet, but here in South Korea, this is the home! The whole home!

We're not able to meet any residents in this building, but the owner has kindly shown us some empty rooms here. Dude!

Have you ever seen one that small?!

I think I... just saw this kind of Goshiwon in drama. This Goshiwon established 30 years ago.

So, I think this is uh...

this represent, the people who are, like, not rich, and people who don't have money that cannot afford, like, the rent in Korea.

So, I think...

they're staying in this Goshiwon and they're, like, struggling, surviving in this Goshiwon.

I hope they luck!

It's true that Korea has an insanely high cost of living, but after touring several buildings where people are struggling to get by, I'm curious to see what a mid-tier apartment in Seoul looks like!

So, I got in touch with a Twitch streamer, and she's gonna give me a tour!

Do you mind if I see your house?

Welcome. Welcome to my space!

Nice! Well, this is this is great!

So, this is my bedroom.

This is where I sleep, you know... then I'll read book.

It's very pink in here.

It is very pink! Pink is my favorite color.

Yeah, I could have guessed that!

This is really cool how the storage space, because we're in the wall here so instead of having a dresser that comes out, Yeah.

you can just open it and then you can just threw itself in there.

Yeah, open it and then just take it out. Yeah.

So... it's very very convenient!

It's a really cool design, never seen that before!

So, how much do you spend for one month to live here?

One month? This place is about...

$900, plus...

with the utility and everything, that's about 170?

So, I think total...

It, it really depends on the unit, but I think total, it's going to be like -- 1,200-ish. This is my...

my company! This is my workplace.

Cool! Welcome to Tyongee TV!

So...

Wow! It is also really pink in here!

Yeah, it is very pink! My headset...

to become kind of like a AYAYA streamer, you know.

We have a... different persona when we stream.

So...

What's your persona called?

Ugh.... Do you actually want to know?

My persona, everyone calls me "Auntie".

What I do on stream is... I have my... collection!

Cool! Show me more.

Keep going, keep going!

Really?!

Yeah, I want to see everything! Yeah!

So, this is like my working tool.

"Spank Me."? What do you do with that?!

Oh, so what happened was uhm...

I just, like, spanked my friend's butt and then it got viral.

So after that I became a spanker, official spanker on Twitch!

Did you know this?

I did not know.

So, which one is your favorite?

I mean, the one that says "Spank Me". What who do you spank? Just spank your friends?

Everyone! Yeah!

I can spank you! Do you want to?

That's kind of weird! But...

It's not weird! It's like uh...

it's like showing...

how do you say, kindness!

This one is actually very weak because I've been spanking people with this one, kind kind of a lot of times! It's not bad, it's not bad!

I'm, I'm kind of, I'm kind of, I'm kind of scared!

Welcome to Korea!! Yeah, this one is...

One of the weirder things I've done -- in recent memory.

So, so you made a career off spanking?

Yeah, so...

I, I think so. Yeah.

But anyway, yeah.

So, also, oh, this is this is my future husband. So...

Oh, my God!

I can't beat those guys!

Personally, I've...

never been on Twitch and I don't even, I don't even know how it works.

So, you basically sit here, you live stream on this camera.

Yeah! Do you want to, like, see how it works?

Yeah, yeah, I do. Show me.

It's super interesting!

Yeah, yeah . Okay!

And then, camera... And...

there you go!

All right.

This is what it feels like to be a Twitch streamer in Seoul. But you could actually go live right now.

No, I can't!

Yeah, do it! Yeah, let's go live!

actually do it?! Do you want me to Yeah, yeah! I'm a YouTuber.

And I'm from the U.S. I'm making a story about different Korean lifestyles here in Seoul and small living spaces. Even though she doesn't live in a small space. And then uhh...

that brought me here!

It's pretty cool!

Hi, guys!!!

Long time no see!!!

So, where's my donations?! Just kidding!

Anyway!

So, every time you go live, they donate?

Uh-huh! And then every time they donate, uhm... I have to do reaction.

Can somebody donate?

Because we're filming uhh...

a really crazy video, and I want to see I want to see a reaction!

No, no!

Please! Please!

Please!

My Queeeeen!

Someone donated?!

"Introduce me."

Oh!!! Chum chum number one, thank you for $20!

"Introduce me"? I don't think I can introduce Chum chum?!

Thank you so much!

Usually, I do squats.

Wait, donated $50?!

Yeah!

You made 50 bucks?!

Yeah!

Is that US?

Thank you so much!!!!

Yeah, 50 US Dollars.

So, that's my reaction. Yeah!

What?!- Wait, I can't, I ugh, this is, like, blowing my mind right now! Wait!

Thank you, Chat! Thank you so much!

That's that's awesome uhhm... support.

Thank you, thank you.

There you go! All right.

All right!

Signing off now!

Thank you so much, guys, for uhh...

Buh-bye!

Yeah! for helping the content!

I'll see you guys later after this.

That was -- one of the most interesting things I've ever seen in my life.

Yeah?!

Like, I just imagine how many more people, like you, are making, like, a living like this. A lot!

A lot! Yeah.

It's a whole different world. On Twitch.

I feel like stream is very unstable.

Like, Jimmy should know, like, it's, like, very on and off.

Yeah!

So, like, when you make money, it's important to, like, I think, save, instead of, you know, just, Yeah!

like, spending.

Yeah.

I can't believe this is how some people make a living in Seoul.

And spending the day inside so many tiny homes showed me a side of the city I've never seen, even after spending over two years here!

Behind the bright lights and the shiny tech, millions of people are squeezing their lives into rooms smaller than a closet.

But the positive attitude they have is inspiring.

If you truly want to understand Korea, you have to look closer at the everyday lives unfolding behind these tiny doors.