Choi Jinhee (age 74), who moved into 'Baegun Lake Prugio Forest Morning' in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province with her husband after retiring from the United States, said, "The thing I hate most as I get older is cooking and cleaning. Now, I am free from housework and love being treated so well."

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

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In the morning, she attends gymnastics classes. During the day, she plays table tennis and golf with other residents. On Wednesdays and Fridays, she learns line dancing. Choi said, "Living here, there’s no time to be depressed or even bored."

Suh Hye-eun (age 95) moved into 'Wirye Symphonia' in Songpa-gu, Seoul two months ago after his wife passed away. Suh said, "I no longer need honor or greed. I moved in because I want to live my life in good health."

Older adults are spending their money to break free from decades of housework and to receive immediate medical attention in emergencies.

This trend is especially true among so-called 'active seniors'-those aged 50 and above who enjoy their own lifestyles-who are choosing quality of life, even if it means paying deposits of hundreds of millions of won and monthly living costs in the millions.

According to residents recently interviewed at senior towns, there are three main reasons why they opt for the unfamiliar residential model of senior residence.

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Not only do they want to escape housework, but they also seek to prepare for emergencies and to socialize with others. Most residents found these places on their own through the internet, YouTube, or recommendations from acquaintances.

The majority of residents moved from neighborhoods nearby. Their backgrounds are diverse, including former ministers, legal professionals, and CEOs of major companies.

Kim Jonggil, CEO of Symphonia, explained, "Since large corporations entered the market and promoted these residences more actively, interest has expanded across different groups."

At Forest Morning, the deposit per person ranges from 596 million to 995 million won, and the monthly living cost is 1.9 million to 2.5 million won. The deposit remains fixed for four years.

Symphonia requires a deposit of 550 million to 1.1 billion won, and a monthly living cost of 2.3 million to 3.35 million won. There is also a deferred payment program for deposits. To ease residents’ concerns, the company issues a deposit return guarantee certificate in its own name. Both places require a minimum two-year stay.

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

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There are also alternatives for seniors who find multi-hundred-million-won deposits or long-term contracts burdensome. One such option is a package utilizing long-term stays at luxury hotels.

The 'Golden Senior' package at the 5-star Marriott in Yeouido is a representative example. It is available to those age 55 or older, with a minimum stay of 30 nights. The nightly rate is around 300,000 won. Apart from a 500,000 won deposit, which is refunded at checkout, there is no other deposit required.

Under the Elderly Welfare Act, silver towns are classified as residential rather than nursing facilities, so there is no legal obligation to have nurses on site. The only mandatory staff required at the time of establishment are one facility manager and one social worker.

However, high-end facilities employ medical staff at their own expense.

Five nurses take turns staying on-site 24 hours a day at Morning in the Forest. There are 20 to 30 health consultations daily. Kang Taegun, CEO of Empore (an affiliate of MDM Group), which operates Morning in the Forest, said, "There are cases where people injure their bones playing table tennis or suddenly experience body stiffness."

Symphonia provides 50 meals per month. A menu meeting is held with residents every Monday to manage satisfaction. The meal program is so well regarded that some residents say, "It tastes just like homemade meals my mother used to make."

Forest Morning serves 30 meals per month, with catering provided by Ourhome, the second-largest food material distributor in Korea.

The Marriott offers a breakfast buffet featuring 132 menu items, using animal welfare and eco-friendly certified ingredients. The cost for regular guests is 50,000 won per person.

Community facilities go beyond simple exercise spaces to become hubs for social interaction. Forest Morning features a swimming pool, which is rare among senior towns, and residents have created 14 clubs, including billiards and go.

Symphonia not only offers programs by external instructors, but its social workers and nurses also organize their own programs.

Marriott Yeouido offers 'Soo Fitness & Spa' with unlimited access for guests. This facility normally requires a 50 million won membership deposit and an annual fee of about 4.6 million won.

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Complaints are handled swiftly. At Forest Morning, whenever a verbal complaint is received, it is immediately shared in a group chat that includes staff from six related departments. Complaints submitted through the app receive a response within two days.

At Symphonia, five social workers are responsible for 102 units, reducing the number of units per staff member to about 20. This setup allows for personalized services tailored to each resident’s personality, health condition, and dietary preferences.