"Why Pursue Independence?"... 68% of Apartment Kangaroo Generation Live with Parents Until Marriage

"Don't Really Feel the Need for Independence, Living with Parents Is Comfortable," and Other Responses

Among kangaroo tribe members aged 25-39 living with their parents in apartments, 7 out of 10 have no plans to become independent before marriage.

Focus Media Korea, the operator of Elevator TV, released the "Trend Report: Kangaroo Tribe Edition" on the 14th, which studied the lifestyle of apartment residents. The term "kangaroo tribe" refers to those who, despite being of an age to be independent, rely on their parents financially and emotionally.

[Photo by Focus Media]

Last year, Focus Media surveyed 196 residents aged 25-39 living with their parents in apartment complexes equipped with Elevator TV about their plans for independence. The results showed that 7 out of 10 (68%) answered that they had "no plans to become independent before marriage." Those planning to become independent after one year accounted for 24%, and those planning to become independent within one year were 4%.

Residents who said they had no plans to become independent even after marriage accounted for 4%. The main reasons for not becoming independent were "not feeling the need to become independent" (40%, multiple responses allowed) and "living with parents is comfortable" (32%). Economic reasons such as "housing prices are high" (32%) and "living expenses are burdensome" (23%) were also significant. As proximity to work and school became more important, 26% of the kangaroo tribe answered that "commuting and attending school from parents' home is convenient."

[Photo by Focus Media]

Among the kangaroo tribe living with their parents, 7 out of 10 (69%) paid living expenses to their parents every month. The level of living expenses was 300,000 to 500,000 KRW (35%), less than 300,000 KRW (26%), and more than 500,000 KRW (8%) in order. On the other hand, 31% of the kangaroo tribe did not pay living expenses.

However, 71% of the kangaroo tribe answered that their parents mainly purchased daily necessities used at home. 72% said they planned to travel abroad, and it was analyzed that they actively spend on themselves as the burden of living expenses is low.

[Photo by Focus Media]

The main offline shopping place for the kangaroo tribe was convenience stores (57%, multiple responses allowed). Large supermarkets (52%) ranked second, which seems to be because they accompany their families when grocery shopping. Neighborhood marts (35%), corporate supermarkets (SSM) (26%), and department stores (26%) followed.

According to NH Investment & Securities last month, as of 2020, there were 649,000 adult children in their 30s and 40s living by relying on their parents. They range from "unemployed kangaroos" who live on their parents' money due to lack of proper jobs to "one-house kangaroos" who have jobs but do not leave their parents' home.

Also, according to the "Changes in the Young Generation in Korea Analyzed from the Population and Housing Census Results" announced by Statistics Korea last year, 1 in 2 young people aged 19-34 were found to be part of the "kangaroo tribe." Among the young generation living with their parents, about half (53.6%) were economically active, and more than half (66.4%) had completed their studies.

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