"You become an adult only after you've put your hair in a topknot," a traditional Korean saying goes, referring to the premodern custom of a man putting his hair in a topknot for a wedding ceremony. Conventional wisdom that had dominated Korean society of yesteryear was that one truly comes of age only after committing oneself to marriage.

That notion is quickly changing, however, with 35.5 percent of the households in South Korea being comprised of one person, and with more than 40 percent of men and women aged 25-49 saying they are either undecided on marriage or have no intention to tie the knot in a 2024 government survey. Living alone is no longer a temporary arrangement for young people, but a lifestyle chosen by a growing number of the country's population.

Living by oneself in Seoul ― not only the nation's capital but also the center of its economy and culture ― comes with all sorts of strings attached: from finding a place to live, to paying the rent, to going to the hospital when ill, to figuring out the ins and outs of living in the district you choose to live in. As a single tenant of this grand city for 13 years and counting, I can safely say that living alone in Seoul is no picnic by any means.

But if you are to live by yourself in Korea, you would be hard-pressed to find a better place to do so than right here, with all-night delivery, plentiful eateries and watering holes, and a more expansive public transportation system than any other region in the country. With nearly half of Seoul's households consisting of one person, living alone is quickly becoming a new norm in Seoul.

Single-person household support centers set up by the Seoul Metropolitan Government are located in each of the 25 districts in Seoul, offering a range of health, financial and other counseling for anyone dwelling alone here, information for which is available in Korean from the "Single in Seoul" website, 1in.seoul.go.kr. In keeping with the new trend, the city government is rolling out policies targeting single-person households.

Of course, as in any other major city, there can be safety issues when you have no one else to rely on. Going to a hospital or even calling emergency services can be a hurdle when you don't live with family members or a partner.

While many people immediately think of younger people when discussing single-person households, the uncomfortable truth is that a considerable number of senior citizens live alone as well. A 2024 Statistics Korea report shows that 18.6 percent of the one-person households in the country are aged 70 or above, almost as high as the portion aged 29 and under, accounting for 19.2 percent.

Living alone can be enjoyable but also challenging. This series will discuss both the lighter and darker sides of solo living in Seoul. ― Ed.