"I Want an 8 Million Won Chanel Bag Too" Wife's Cry After Friend's Wedding Ceremony

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"Does Buying Luxury Goods Boost Self-Esteem?" Opposing Views Also Expressed

Amid a survey showing that South Korea ranks first in the world for luxury (luxury goods) spending per capita, surpassing the United States and China, netizens are debating over a post asking whether one should buy a Chanel bag costing around 10 million won for their wife. Opinions are divided between those who believe owning at least one luxury bag is essential and those who argue that purchasing luxury goods is merely vanity.

On the 9th, an anonymous post titled "My wife became downhearted after attending her friend's wedding" was uploaded on the anonymous online community for office workers, 'Blind.'

A, who works at an affiliate of the top-ranked conglomerate in the business world, explained, "My wife is currently a full-time housewife taking care of our child alone. She is so busy looking after the child that she has no time to care for her skin or clothes, but at her friend's wedding, she compared herself a lot to other friends and seems to have felt inferior."

A continued, "Another friend had a Chanel bag, a Rolex watch, and well-maintained skin, but my wife looked worn out and had no bag or accessories, which made her feel shabby herself, so she asked me to buy her a luxury item, something she has never asked for before."

A explained, "Our financial situation is such that with a little more effort, we can get a reasonable loan and move into an apartment in Seoul." He added, "I tried to persuade her by saying, 'Let's buy the apartment first and invite your friends over; you'll feel better,' but there is no sign that her mood is improving."

He then asked Blind users for advice, saying, "I looked into it, and a Chanel bag costs over 8 million won at minimum. Is it really right to buy it? Do people really carry all these luxury items these days?"

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Photo by Asia Economy DB]

This post has attracted high interest from Blind users, with over 1,000 comments as of the 13th. Especially regarding whether to purchase a luxury bag, netizens formed sharply divided opinions with their own reasoning.

Users in favor of buying a Chanel bag commented, "Even if not Chanel, buy her a Gucci or another brand bag. You can't go to a wedding carrying an eco bag," "It's a social norm to buy at least one when getting married or having a child, so buy at least one," "Whether rich or poor, people in their 30s usually have at least one luxury bag bought during proposals or wedding preparations," and "It may feel like a waste of money now, but your thoughts will change when you see your wife happy."

Users opposing the purchase argued, "South Korea might be the only country where carrying a luxury bag is considered normal," "Does buying luxury goods really boost self-esteem?" and criticized, "It’s like a kid whining for a robot or game console after going to a friend's birthday party."

Many comments also empathized with the wife's psychological state. One netizen wrote, "She’s been clinging to the child all day and is probably thinking, 'What is my worth?' At times like this, she might want to fill her self-esteem with material things."

On the other hand, one user sparked further controversy by arguing for role reversal, commenting, "How would you react if your husband came back from meeting friends and said he wanted to buy a luxury watch?"

Meanwhile, according to a report released last month by the American investment bank Morgan Stanley, luxury sales in South Korea last year reached $16.8 billion (about 20.8 trillion won), a 24% increase from the previous year, ranking among the highest in the world.

When converted to spending per capita, South Korea spent $325 (about 400,000 won), significantly higher than the United States ($280) and China ($55).

Morgan Stanley explained in the report, "Appearance and financial success resonate more with Korean consumers than in most other countries," pointing out that Korea's luxury demand is driven by increased purchasing power and the desire to outwardly display social status.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.