AI calculates 214 years to buy Hannam-dong apartment on 3 million won salary

During a broadcast of the MBC variety program "Where Is My Home" on the 29th, announcer Kang Da-eun used AI to calculate that it would take 214 years to purchase an apartment in Hannam-dong with a monthly salary of 3 million won.

Announcer Kang Da-eun was met with a surprising response from AI after asking how long it would take to purchase an apartment in Hannam-dong, Seoul, based on a monthly salary of 3 million won. The calculation suggested that even if she saved her entire salary every month, it would take more than two centuries. The moment, which arose from announcer Park So-young's candid residential dream of living in Hannam-dong, evoked both laughter and bitterness due to the unexpectedly realistic figure.

During the MBC variety program "Where Is My Home" broadcast on the 29th, Jang Dong-min went on a real estate field trip to Asan, South Chungcheong Province, with announcers Park So-young and Kang Da-eun. The three toured residential spaces in the area and shared various stories about housing, which naturally led to discussions about future married life and ideal living environments.

During the episode, Park So-young identified Hannam-dong in Seoul as her dream residential area, stating candidly, "If I think about the view, I want to live in Hannam-dong." Known for its open views and luxury residential environment, Hannam-dong is frequently mentioned as a coveted place to live. The atmosphere of discussing vague dreams shifted instantly into a realistic asset calculation when Kang Da-eun utilized AI.

Kang Da-eun, who is majoring in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in graduate school, asked the AI directly how long it would take to buy an apartment in Hannam-dong. She asked, "How many years does it take to buy a Hannam-dong apartment based on a monthly salary?" When the AI initially attempted to calculate based on an assumed monthly salary of 5 million won, Kang Da-eun immediately corrected it, stating her salary is 3 million won.

Based on the 3 million won monthly salary, the AI's recalculated answer was "214 years." It is a duration that exceeds a lifetime and would require spanning multiple generations to reach. As the vague longing for a Hannam-dong apartment was converted into a specific number, attention focused on the scene. In particular, the AI's answer drew interest by instantly demonstrating the realistic gap between high-priced housing and average monthly salaries.

Of course, the figure of 214 years is a calculation based on a simple comparison between apartment prices and salary, and does not literally represent the actual period required to purchase a home. Results could vary depending on various conditions such as fluctuations in housing prices, loans, savings rates, living expenses, and investment returns. Nevertheless, the number resonated with viewers as a symbolic figure illustrating how difficult it is to secure an apartment in a core residential area of Seoul with an ordinary salary.

This scene is also interesting in that it revealed the generational perception of real estate and the housing gap in a variety show format. While anyone can talk about preferred locations and views, the moment the actual purchase cost is calculated, the residential dream becomes an issue of a completely different dimension. Although Kang Da-eun's AI question began as light conversation, it brought to light the realistic concern regarding the gap between salaries and housing prices.

"Where Is My Home" is a real estate variety program where stars personally search for homes on behalf of busy modern people. This field trip featuring Jang Dong-min, Park So-young, and Kang Da-eun is broadcast every Thursday at 10 PM.

Read the original (Korean)