As someone who was born in Manhattan but spent the majority of their teenage years in Seoul, South Korea, I have always felt a distinct difference between my birthplace and my hometown. While time is certainly a factor in my connection to Seoul, there is also a deeper sense of alignment between my personality and the city's tendencies.
Source: Hyundai Motor Group
To me, cities are like puzzles, and nowhere is this more evident than in Seoul. Every piece of the city fits together to create parcels of communities, from intricately planned apartment complexes to subway and bus stations that seamlessly connect to nearby department stores. Even on a micro level, each apartment complex represents its own puzzle, with each building placed at an appropriate distance from the others and occasional playgrounds of different themes. For new complexes, there are often no overground streets, making it extremely safe for children to roam around freely. High-value apartment complexes also frequently have schools either inside or on the periphery of the complex, creating a sense of community and convenience for residents.
As I became more interested in real estate, I realized that Seoul is an area where fundamental concepts of real estate are clearly shown. The large apartment complexes not only attempt to effectively fit the concentrated population of Seoul into a limited area of land, but they also highlight the surroundings of the area in which the complex is located. In many ways, the city's economic pieces just make sense, much like the pieces of a puzzle. Each piece contributes to the bigger picture and fits together for very obvious reasons.
A few years ago, when my family moved from a relatively new apartment complex to an older one, I was infuriated by the transition. To me, the new complex was no more all-inclusive buildings in the middle of the complex with stores, no more gyms inside the complex, and no more newly built playgrounds to hang out in. I could not believe that our old house and our new, aged house were in the same price range.
Source: Korea JoongAng Daily
However, to my parents and the general economy, this older complex had two subway stations and multiple bus stations within walking distance, a well-renowned public elementary school that my younger sister could attend, and most importantly, the potential to be redeveloped. In Seoul, older apartment complexes are often redeveloped by large companies into new, high-end apartment complexes. In fact, the apartment I moved out of when I was younger was the result of my parents investing in an old apartment complex that got redeveloped into a new complex that we ultimately moved into. The most torn-down apartments you see in the middle of this city will have soaring costs just for their potential of being redeveloped, especially because having ownership of the old apartment often means if you can afford the new apartment complex, you are guaranteed a unit. Yes, many people who can afford new apartments are still unable to purchase these complexes because many of them require a lottery process for consumers to even get a chance to purchase these houses.
Overall, Seoul's personality is logical, and many of the city's economic pieces just make sense, like when you are solving a puzzle. Each piece contributes to the bigger picture and fits together for very obvious reasons: for puzzles, because their shapes match; for Seoul, because of the level of comfort and convenience they provide to their residents in their living environments. For me, the city's alignment with my personality and tendencies is undeniable, making it feel like a true hometown, despite not being my place of birth.
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