Park Kyung-hye struggles with Seoul housing crisis: "No listings for 50 million won deposit"

Actress Park Kyung-hye opened up about the realistic housing concerns of an actor living alone in Seoul. Living in a studio apartment of about 20 square meters, she has been experiencing difficulties finding a new home due to soaring housing costs and a lack of available listings.

In the MBC variety show 'I Live Alone' broadcast on the 14th, Park's daily life in a studio apartment in Yeoksam-dong was revealed. Currently residing in a 6-pyeong (approx. 20 square meter) studio in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Park was personally searching the real estate market while contemplating a move. However, finding a home that met her desired conditions was harder than expected.

The conditions Park was looking for were relatively specific: a studio apartment with a 50 million won deposit, 590,000 won monthly rent, and the availability of maintenance fees and parking.

While conversing with actor Hyun Bong-sik, she lamented, "I am also looking for a house. But everyone says there are no listings available."

Hyun empathized, saying, "I am also moving in September. But there are so few houses available."

This suggests that the housing shortage is not merely a problem for a specific profession, but a common reality felt by anyone seeking a residence in Seoul, directly impacting the daily lives of actors.

To seek direct help, Hyun called a junior acquaintance working in real estate. He asked, "A close younger friend is looking for a house. Can you find a studio apartment for about 50 million won deposit and 600,000 won monthly rent, including maintenance and parking?"

The junior replied, "I will start looking right away," but the scene demonstrated how difficult it is to find even a single home with reasonable conditions in the current Seoul studio apartment market.

In particular, the space where Park resides is quite far from the glamorous image of a celebrity. Her life in the limited space of a 6-pyeong studio while continuing her filming and acting work reveals the reality that being an actor does not necessarily equate to economic abundance.

While celebrities are often viewed by the public as symbols of a glamorous life, off-camera they face extremely realistic issues such as monthly rent, maintenance fees, parking availability, and a shortage of listings. Park's case offered a candid look at that gap.

On this day, another warm story contrasting with the housing issue was revealed at Park's home: a clothing care machine gifted to her by Kim Shin-young.

As Park often rents clothes for filming, she needed a clothing care machine but had been hesitating to purchase one herself. She explained, "It was an appliance I felt buying would be a greed."

However, Kim Shin-young gifted the machine to Park, which she had received as a prize after winning the grand prize at the 'Rainbow Retreat' talent show.

It was reported that at the time, Kim readily yielded the prize, saying, "Since I already have one, I will give it to Kyung-hye."

Park expressed her gratitude, saying, "There are situations where I have to go to the agency myself to rent clothes for filming. I couldn't just return the clothes as they were, so I always had them laundered, but thanks to the gift from my unnie, I am saving a lot."

She continued to express her gratitude toward Kim, saying, "Unnie, I will repay you. I really will."

Kim also recalled the moment, saying, "My talent was not wasted. It was my first time. I was so happy."

Ultimately, Park's daily life showed two realities simultaneously. While a harsh reality awaited in finding a house, for someone living in that small space, a small gesture from someone else can be a significant source of strength.

As the image of Park worrying about a 6-pyeong studio and monthly rent overlapped with Kim readily giving her prize to her, the broadcast showed the daily lives of celebrities through a more realistic lens.