A YouTuber named Seen Aromi in South Korea has found contentment and triumph in advocating for a lifestyle that goes against the country’s efforts to boost its alarmingly low birthrate. Despite the government’s substantial investments in encouraging marriage and procreation, Seen, who is 37 years old, practices yoga, enjoys a flexible sleep schedule, and inspires her substantial YouTube following to embrace singlehood without shame or guilt.
“Not getting married is my greatest achievement,” Seen told AFP, emphasizing that she never considered becoming a “good” wife or mother as her life’s ultimate goal. She criticized the notion that women not having children in South Korea is a “disaster,” referring to the country’s impending demographic crisis, which boasts the world’s lowest birth rate and a rapidly aging population. For Seen, the potential drawbacks of not having children are nonexistent.
Seen’s book, “I Can’t Help but Live Well On My Own,” which celebrates the joy she discovered in rejecting societal expectations and embracing solo living, has become an unexpected bestseller in South Korea. It briefly topped a major bestseller chart and resonated not only with other single women in their 30s but also with older generations, including those who had experienced widowhood or divorce. In her book, Seen enthusiastically wrote about the freedom to be as lazy as she desired without facing criticism, stating, “While some people might marry because they dislike being alone, others choose not to meet anyone simply because they enjoy lying around.”
Experts suggest that many young Koreans are opting out of marriage and child-rearing due to economic factors, such as stagnant growth, exorbitant home prices in Seoul, and fierce competition for well-paying jobs. However, broader cultural issues also play a role, as the country remains socially conservative, with single parenthood being stigmatized, same-sex marriage not recognized, and married women often leaving the workforce, spending 3.5 times more hours per day on household chores and childcare than their male counterparts.
For Seen, letting go of the traditional South Korean markers of success – a Seoul apartment, a high-paying job, and a loving spouse – has allowed her to find genuine happiness. She has never worked for a large corporation, lived in the city, or been married.
After living abroad for years, working various jobs, and sharing her life experiences online, she returned to South Korea and settled in a rural town, renovating her late grandfather’s old family house. Her YouTube channel has grown in popularity, amassing over 200,000 subscribers, and a single video now earns her five times more than her previous monthly salary in Seoul, enabling her to lead a much more autonomous and satisfying life.
Despite the backlash she has faced online, with critics claiming she must be lonely or labeling her as “selfish” for not getting married, Seen remains steadfast in her belief that her happiness should be respected, just as married people’s happiness is rarely criticized. She has been in several fulfilling relationships but prioritizes her autonomy and adventurous lifestyle over starting a family.
“Not getting married is my greatest achievement,” Seen told AFP, emphasizing that she never considered becoming a “good” wife or mother as her life’s ultimate goal. She criticized the notion that women not having children in South Korea is a “disaster,” referring to the country’s impending demographic crisis, which boasts the world’s lowest birth rate and a rapidly aging population. For Seen, the potential drawbacks of not having children are nonexistent.
Seen’s book, “I Can’t Help but Live Well On My Own,” which celebrates the joy she discovered in rejecting societal expectations and embracing solo living, has become an unexpected bestseller in South Korea. It briefly topped a major bestseller chart and resonated not only with other single women in their 30s but also with older generations, including those who had experienced widowhood or divorce. In her book, Seen enthusiastically wrote about the freedom to be as lazy as she desired without facing criticism, stating, “While some people might marry because they dislike being alone, others choose not to meet anyone simply because they enjoy lying around.”
Experts suggest that many young Koreans are opting out of marriage and child-rearing due to economic factors, such as stagnant growth, exorbitant home prices in Seoul, and fierce competition for well-paying jobs. However, broader cultural issues also play a role, as the country remains socially conservative, with single parenthood being stigmatized, same-sex marriage not recognized, and married women often leaving the workforce, spending 3.5 times more hours per day on household chores and childcare than their male counterparts.
For Seen, letting go of the traditional South Korean markers of success – a Seoul apartment, a high-paying job, and a loving spouse – has allowed her to find genuine happiness. She has never worked for a large corporation, lived in the city, or been married.
After living abroad for years, working various jobs, and sharing her life experiences online, she returned to South Korea and settled in a rural town, renovating her late grandfather’s old family house. Her YouTube channel has grown in popularity, amassing over 200,000 subscribers, and a single video now earns her five times more than her previous monthly salary in Seoul, enabling her to lead a much more autonomous and satisfying life.
Despite the backlash she has faced online, with critics claiming she must be lonely or labeling her as “selfish” for not getting married, Seen remains steadfast in her belief that her happiness should be respected, just as married people’s happiness is rarely criticized. She has been in several fulfilling relationships but prioritizes her autonomy and adventurous lifestyle over starting a family.
