Even With a 900 Million Won Deposit and 2.5 Million Won Monthly Living Expenses, Residents Say "It's Good to Be Taken Care Of"... Inside a Luxury Silver Town [Opening Silver Housing]

[On-site Report] From Meals and Nursing to Swimming Pools...
Why Seniors Are Paying for Hotel-Level Services: Communities That Ease Loneliness Compete Despite High Deposits

Residents are enjoying basketball at the sports facility within 'Baegunhosu Prugio Forest Morning' in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Seo-yoon Choi

Choi Jinhee (age 74), who moved into "Baegunhosu Prugio Forest Morning" (hereafter "Forest Morning") in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi Province with her husband after retiring from life in the United States, said, "What I dislike most as I get older is cooking and cleaning," adding, "Now that I am freed from housework and treated with respect, I really enjoy life."

In the morning, she attends exercise classes. During the day, she plays table tennis and golf with other residents. On Wednesdays and Fridays, she takes line dance lessons. Choi said, "Living here, there is no time to feel depressed or bored."

Seo Hye-eun (age 95) moved into "Wirye Symphonia" (hereafter "Symphonia") in Songpa-gu, Seoul two months ago after losing his wife. Seo said, "I no longer need honor or have any greed," adding, "I decided to move here because I want to live out my life in good health."

Interior view of a bathroom in 'Wirye Symphonia' in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Safety handrails are installed around the toilet, and an emergency call bell is placed at the bottom to prepare for emergencies such as falls. Photo by Choi Seoyoon

Older adults are opening their wallets to escape decades of housework and to receive immediate medical care in emergencies.

The so-called "active seniors"—those aged 50 and above who enjoy their own lifestyles and have financial means—are opting for quality of life even if it means paying security deposits amounting to hundreds of millions of won and monthly living costs in the millions.

There are three main reasons why residents encountered recently at these senior living communities are choosing the unfamiliar housing model called senior residences.

They want to escape housework, prepare for emergencies, and socialize with others. Most residents found their way into these communities through voluntary searches via the internet, YouTube, or personal recommendations.

Inside a unit of ‘Wirye Symphonia’ in Songpa-gu, Seoul. A motionless sensor that detects abnormalities when there is no movement for a certain period is installed at the upper right wall, and an emergency call bell for urgent situations is installed at the lower part. Photo by Choi Seoyoon

The majority of residents have moved here from neighborhoods nearby. Their backgrounds are diverse, ranging from former ministers and legal professionals to corporate CEOs.

Kim Jonggil, CEO of Symphonia, explained, "After entering the major conglomerate market, active promotion has broadened the base of interest."

At Forest Morning, the security deposit for one person ranges from 596 million to 995 million won, with monthly living expenses between 1.9 million and 2.5 million won. The deposit is frozen for four years.

At Symphonia, the deposit ranges from 550 million to 1.1 billion won, and living expenses range from 2.3 million to 3.35 million won. There is also a deferred deposit program. To ease residents' concerns, the company issues a written guarantee promising the return of the deposit. Both places have a mandatory residence period of two years.

Interior of a 5-star Marriott Executive Apartments room in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. The residence-style layout separates the living room, bedroom, and dining area. Household appliances such as a washer, dryer, water purifier, and microwave are also provided. Photo by Seoyoon Choi

Alternatives have emerged for seniors who find multi-hundred-million-won deposits burdensome or are reluctant to sign long-term contracts. One such option is a product that utilizes extended stays at luxury hotels.

The "Golden Senior" package at the 5-star Marriott Hotel in Yeouido is a representative example. The conditions are for those aged 55 and above and a minimum stay of 30 nights. The price is around 300,000 won per night. Other than a 500,000 won deposit refundable upon check-out, there is no security deposit required.

Under the Elderly Welfare Act, silvertowns (senior communities) are classified as residential facilities rather than care facilities and are not required to have a resident nurse. The only essential personnel required at establishment are one facility manager and one social worker.

High-end facilities employ medical staff at their own expense.

At Forest Morning, five nurses work in shifts to provide 24-hour coverage. There are 20 to 30 health consultations per day. Kang Taegun, CEO of Empore (an MDM Group affiliate), which operates Forest Morning, said, "There are cases where residents injure themselves playing table tennis or suddenly experience muscle stiffness."

Residents are receiving health consultations with a nurse at 'Baegunhosu Prugio Forest Morning' in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. In the background, other residents are undergoing body composition tests such as InBody. Photo by Seo-yoon Choi

Symphonia provides 50 meals per month. Every Monday, a meal planning meeting is held with residents to manage satisfaction. The menu receives acclaim from residents, with some saying, "It feels like a home-cooked meal my mother would make."

Forest Morning operates with 30 meals per month. Meals are provided by Ourhome, the second-largest food distributor in Korea.

The Yeouido Marriott Hotel offers a breakfast buffet with 132 menu items, using animal welfare and eco-friendly certified ingredients. For regular customers, the price is 50,000 won per person.

Community facilities serve as more than just spaces for exercise—they are also places for social interaction. Forest Morning features a swimming pool, a rarity among silvertowns. There are also 14 resident-run clubs, including billiards and baduk (Go).

Symphonia not only runs programs with external instructors but also has welfare workers and nurses organize their own programs.

The Yeouido Marriott Hotel provides unlimited access to "Soo Fitness & Spa" for guests. It is a facility that generally requires a membership deposit of 50 million won and an annual fee of about 4.6 million won.

Response to resident requests is also swift. At Forest Morning, when a verbal request is made, it is immediately shared in a group chatroom with staff from six related departments. For requests made through the application (app), a response is given within two days.

At Symphonia, 102 households are managed by five social workers, reducing the number of households per staff member to about 20. This allows for customized services based on each resident's personality, health status, and dietary preferences.

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