the background was a cramped side street—rundown pork restaurant with flickering neon signs, a 24–hour convenience store glowing white and green, and tangled electrical wires crisscrossing overhead. 

jiwoo waved both hands at the camera, her energy high despite the humid summer air.

“hi everyone, welcome back to seoul life! i’m your jiwoo, and today we’re checking out something a lot of you have been curious about—the goshiwon life. we usually check out luxury high-rises and trendy officetels, but not everyone is able to have the privilege. these super cheap, tiny rooms are staple for students and young workers in korea.”

the cameraman, hyunwoo, smiled behind the camera, nodding his head. as the frame widened, a few mice scattered across the alley floor near the overflowing trash bags, searching for food. he scrunched his nose in disgust. 

the camera caught the stained walls, the flickering barber neon sign, and the general grime of the backstreet before panning back to jiwoo.

she chuckled awkwardly. “as you can see… while the location is convenient, the environment is, uh, very real.”

“anyway, if you’re a student or you’re just starting to work in the city, you’ll probably know how expensive renting can be. if it has a nice layout but it’s cheap—it’s most likely a scam! even a small studio in seoul can cost a fortune, and for a lot of people, finding a cheap place means making a compromise.”

the camera cuts to a wide shot of an older apartment complex—one they were about to enter. the concrete walls were aged and weathered from seasons, with large patches of paint chipped off. dark streaks of moisture and mold ran down from years of exposure. 

rusty balcony railings lined the upper floors, and laundry hung outside several windows, fluttering weakly in the humid. the whole structure was screaming, tired, worn–down.

“we’re in yongsan, right outside one of the older goshiwon buildings. it’s about 7pm now, and this area is pretty typical—close to the subway, lots of cheap eats, but also… very compact.”

before stepping inside the small lobby area, jiwoo glanced around. an elderly man sat just outside of the kitchen area of the restaurant on a plastic chair, fanning himself with a folded newspaper. his shirt was unbuttoned halfway, exposing a large beer belly. a cigarette rested between his fingers, smoke curling lazily into the air.

he stared directly at the camera, hyunwoo, and jiwoo. his expression blank… almost, unpleasant. 

his area, perhaps.

jiwoo smiled awkwardly and gave a small, polite nod. continuing,—she lowered her voice. “right… cheap rent comes with trade–offs. safety, maintenance, location… some complexes don’t even have a smart lock or cctv.”

hyunwoo panned the camera toward the entrance. a broken cctv camera hung crookedly from a wired pole, completely lifeless. next to the building sat discarded furnitues—an old, stained mattress leaning against the wall, reeked with piss and a broken chair missing two legs.

they moved further inside the dimly lit hallway. the lights above flickered and buzzed.

“today, we’re lucky enough to get to meet with someone who lives in one of these apartments! she reached out and offered to show what it’s really like living here. let’s meet her!”

the camera followed jiwoo as she walked a little deeper down the hallway. they climbed up three flights of stairs, before stopping in front of a room where the number had been censored with black box. 

jiwoo turned to the camera and whispered with a small, excited smile, “we’re here!” 

she raised her hand and knocked softly on the door.

there was a short pause, then after a few seconds, the door opened just a few inches, still secured by the metal chain lock. a young woman peeked through the gap.

“hi… seoul life team…?”

“yes! i’m jiwoo, and this is my cameraman, hyunwoo,” jiwoo said warmly. “yn, right—? thank you so much for reaching out and letting us film. we really appreciate it.” 

you gave a small smile and finally unlatched the chain. the metal clinked loudly on the quiet floor as you opened the door fully. 

“yes! i’m yn. please come in, come in.”

as the camera moved past the doorway, the first thing viewers saw was—

everything. the whole... room.

you're instantly met with the bathroom—barely enough space for one, with a toilet, sink, and shower head and no divider or a heater. 

hyunwoo and jiwoo stepped further inside, panning the camera slowly to capture the full layout. just one single, small room that served everything. 

your single bed was pushed against the far wall, decorated with a few cute plushies. in front of the bed stood a wooden drawer with a small tv, no bigger than a monitor, on top. next to it, facing the side of the wall was your study table with a chair tucked underneath, some clutter on the surface, and a small stand fan. 

above the desk, a shelf packed with notebooks and studying materials. you had a lot of books, stacked everywhere where there was space. on top of the bed headboard, there’s a small window.

there was no couch. no dining table. no kitchen. no other chairs but your study chair. just your essentials, neatly arranged despite the situation you were put in. despite how minimal and super claustrophobic everything was, your room was clean. a sweet, fresh scent lingered in the air thanks to the automatic air freshener dispenser that puffed every few minutes.

the camera zoomed in gently on the way your toes overlapped one another nervously, then slowly tilted upward to your face. 

you were smiling, but it was shy and embarrassed, cheeks flushed. you rubbed your arm and looked down for a second.

“i’m so sorry… it’s, um… it’s small,” you said quietly, voice soft with shame. “i tried to organise it as best as i could so it wouldn’t look too bad on camera, but… yeah. this is it.”

jiwoo’s eyes widened and immediately shook her head, waving her hands in front of her. “no no, don’t apologise! this is actually so cute and homey, yn! the plushes and everything—the way you arranged it is so cute.”

you let out a small laugh, still clearly embarrassed. “thank you! i keep telling myself it’s only been for a while. the rent is cheap, and i can walk to my classes. but oh—! please, please have a seat, you guys.”

you quickly moved around the tiny space, pulling out three seating pillows. you placed two in front of the bed for jiwoo and you, then set one near the study chair area for hyunwoo. in the middle of it all, you laid down a desk cushion, just wide enough to hold two teacups.

with three people, there was barely room to breathe.

“there… it’s not much, but it’s better than standing,” you said softly. you looked a little self–conscious about everything, but you tried your best to be a good host. 

hyunwoo muttered a soft thank you as he took a seat, setting up his mini tripod to hold the camera. 

“thank you, this is perfect,” jiwoo said, getting comfortable on the pillow. she  exchanged a quick nod and a smile to hyunwoo. “the place is really neat—and it smells so good too. what’s this scent?” 

you smiled shyly, tucking your knees beneath your weight. “it’s just jasmine. there’s a pork restaurant not far from this building, so sometimes the smell comes in really strong if i leave my window open for too long. gotta be careful with that… it sticks.”

jiwoo let out a light laugh. “i can imagine. smells are one of those things you can’t really get rid of fully once it’s stuck to your room.”

she turned to hyunwoo. “woo, are we all set?”

hyunwoo gave a thumbs–up. “rolling.”

the interviewer turned back to you with an encouraging smile. “great! then yn, could you introduce yourself first? just whatever you’re comfortable with. your age, major, how long you’ve been here, anything like that.”

you sat up a little straighter, hands resting on your lap. even though your cheeks were still faintly red with embarrassment, you tried to speak clearly. clearing your throat, you began. “hi, everyone. i’m yn. i’m a student at seoul national university, majoring in social science and humanities, and i’ve been living here for about… a year now?”

your eyes drifted upward at the ceiling as you thought, then gave a small nod. 

“yeah, almost a year now. it’s my first time living away from home, so it’s really hard to adjust.”

jiwoo smiled, nodding. “a whole year… that’s impressive. adjusting to being a student and living alone life must’ve been a big change. what was the hardest part at the beginning?”

you pursed your lips, then glanced around your tiny room for a moment.

“honestly, everything was hard,” you admitted, nodding. “i’m really close with my family, so leaving them was the biggest shock. i have one younger brother and sister, and i was the one who takes care of them while our parents handle the restaurant. i’m a little worried if they’re okay…”

you paused, fiddling with your fingers.

“then moving in was also tough. everything i owned barely fit in this room, and i kept bumping into things. the walls are really thin, so you can hear almost everything. i’ve gotten better at ignoring it so now i just try to keep my space clean and organised so it feels more like home. like me.”

the air freshener puffed again. 

jiwoo hummed in acknowledgement. “ah, i see… i think i’ve said it so many times but your room is really cute, yn. then… do you mind telling us how—and why—you ended up choosing this place?”

“the biggest reason was the rent,” you answered honestly. to be fair, there really was no reason to live in such a place in the first place. it stinked, dangerous, shady, weird—and when it rained, it leaked.

“as a student, i have to be really particular with money. this place is cheap, and it’s close to the subway line i need for uni. i spend most of my allowance on books and study materials, so i can’t afford anything more expensive right now.”

the camera panned toward your shelf and the stack of books beside your desk.

“and… secretly, i also send some of my scholarship money to my younger siblings. our parents are working hard, but i still want to help them a little.”

both crews’ expressions softened. “oh… that’s really sweet of you, yn. you’re juggling a lot. can we know how much you pay for the rent here?”

you gave a small nod.

"about... 250,000 won? it used to be cheaper, but you know."

"aah, got it... inflations suck." jiwoo leaned forward a bit on the cushion. “then, to balance it out, what would you say is a really good thing and a bad thing about living here?”

you thought for a second, lips pursing, head tilting.

“hmm… a good thing is that when it’s small, it feels… comforting in a way?” you said, glancing around your room. “like, everything is right here in my view. my bed, my books, my desk, my stuff… when i come back after a long day, it’s like this little space of mine is waiting for me.”

hyunwoo smiled, zooming in on the critters and trinkets around your room that perfectly resembled you.

you paused, then smiled again. “but the bad parts… there are quite a few.”

“oh?” jiwoo perked up, lowering the teacup from her lips.

you hesitated for a moment. “the smell is one thing—especially when the restaurant down there is cooking. and the neighbours… the walls are so thin you can hear people do everything.” you shrug, “but what makes it really bad is the lack of safety.”

“like what?”

you shifted on the bed, looking a little more uncomfortable now.

“uh… as you can see, there’s no security guard and police rarely patrol this area. the cctvs don’t work either, so yeah,” you replied, almost indifferent. “the people around here too… mm, it’s kind of just… you look out for yourself here,”

a beat.

hyunwoo looked around only to realise how flimsy the lock on your door was. the chains were barely hanging on. he didn’t record that.

“have you ever had any issues with looking after yourself?”

smiling, you nod with almost no hesitation. “yup. all the time.”

jiwoo frowned. behind the camera, hyunwoo stiffened slightly. there’s a pause long enough for the weight of your words to settle in the small room.  

you notice the shift in the atmosphere—the way they are momentarily caught off guard and the way their postures are a little stiffer. you quickly wave your hands, laughing a little—not wanting the awkward moment to stretch too long.

“ah—! i don’t mean anything serious!” you said quickly, expression lighthearted like it was just a normal mention. the contrast between your casual demeanour and the topic makes the air feel heavy. “i mean, you know, things happen—but it’s fine!”

neither of them looked convinced. jiwoo and hyunwoo looked at each other for a split second. then, she turned back to you, trying to match your casual tone even though her eyes showed confusion. 

“things… like what?” she asked, tilting her head with a small smile that was barely there.

“hmm,” you hummed, tilting your head slightly. “you know how nothing good in life comes as it is?”

jiwoo and hyunwoo nodded, listening attentively.

you continued with the same light tone. “well, the downside of it is—i think stalking is quite common in the area.”

a heavy silence filled the tiny room.

jiwoo’s smile faltered for a second. she blinked, clearly caught off guard. she wasn’t sure what she was expecting. behind the camera, hyunwoo shifted his weight, grip tightening slightly on the tripod.

you noticed their reactions and instantly tried to ease the tension by chuckling. 

“...stalking?”

you nodded again. “mmhm, but it’s not really a big deal now.”

jiwoo felt her lungs heavy in something indescribable. “yn… that sounds really scary. can you tell us what happened? if you have ever experienced anything like that yourself?”

you nodded. “of course. sure… i think it was maybe a month or two after i moved in? one day i came back from class and noticed my door lock was broken, and so was my window lock. but nothing was missing, so i thought maybe it was just old and worn out.”

they nodded, very slightly.

“i changed both locks the next day. but… it happened again. the new lock was tampered with. i told the landlord, but he said nothing was stolen so i shouldn’t worry too much. he told me i was probably paranoid since i’ve never been far from my family.”

“but of course, when you’re all by yourself in the city, it kinda gets to you, you know? the creeps.” 

the air in the tiny room felt thicker. jiwoo frowned another worried expression. 

“but still, i filed a police report anyway—but just like what my landlord said, since nothing was missing and there were no signs of entry, there was nothing the police could do. and i think i’ve changed the locks like, almost twenty times? to a point where i was spending more on fixing locks and changing keys.” you let out a small laugh.

hyunwoo glanced at your window—the handle missing. your window couldn’t even be shut properly.

“...and then?”

“and then my items finally went missing.”  

you rested your chin on your knees, voice calm but distant. “at first i didn’t really notice it. just small things like a hair tie or my comb—stuff i could rebuy. but then, it was my perfume, faculty uniform, notebooks, toothbrush… yeah.”

the room went completely silent.

hyunwoo, who had been silent since the interview began, spoke up for the first time. “toothbrush?” 

you nodded, hugging your knees a little tighter. the way you just smiled about it made hyunwoo shiver. 

“yeah. one morning i woke up and it was gone. i thought maybe i misplaced it, but i know i didn’t. it really creeped me out but i just bought a new one—then that one disappeared too.” you chucked, cheeks warming like it was an embarrassing occurrence. 

“i think that’s when i truly, truly realised—oh, someone’s coming in. someone really came into my room.”

hyunwoo’s lips part slightly, as if he wants to say something, but he hesitates. he figured he’d let you explain first. 

but then jiwoo interfered. “that’s violating. why didn’t you move out?” 

you stayed quiet for a few seconds, fingers tracing the pad of your knees. the air freshener puffed again, but the sweet scent did nothing to musk the heaviness in the room.

“where else could i find a place this cheap…” you finally muttered, admitting. you gestured vaguely around the cramped space as if it should’ve been obvious. “with my situation, this is pretty much the only option i have now.”

hyunwoo panned the camera to the small monitor, the little wind chime hanging on the window, your study table where certificates were pinned above, and a colourful stickman family of five drawing from your little sister. 

everything was in its exact place. 

“oh…”

you smiled. “and to be very honest, after almost a year… i don’t think what he’s doing is that bad. he doesn’t do anything, doesn’t take anything important… just the little things.”

jiwoo frowned deeper, but it was hyunwoo who said something about it. “he?”

you blinked, as if only now realising what you’d just said. but instead of correcting yourself, you just nodded. “yeah, the stalker is a he. i knew it when he left his hoodie, cap, and watch when i woke up.”

the interviewer’s expression tightened, her fingers curling slightly against her knees. 

“so he comes inside while you were sleeping?”

you nodded, humming. “i guess so. cause sometimes i wake up and there’s breakfast on my study table—and the clothes have been ironed. he does my laundry sometimes too. this building doesn’t have a washing machine or a dryer, so it’s a hassle to carry my basket outside.” you continued.

“he bought flowers and stuff too.”

the way you talk about it—so mundane like it’s a small perk.

“just like that?” jiwoo didn’t even realise she was leaning towards you.

“i mean, i don’t really have a choice?” you chuckled, like it’s silly to think otherwise. “when i went to the police again, they only advised me to put up a camera inside my room but at that moment i was super broke, so there was nothing i could do.” you shrugged, although feeling a bit ashamed of your current life. 

“and besids… he’s doing me these favours and it kinda helps me save money too…”

jiwoo’s eyes widened and she almost grabbed your hands to knock some sense into you. that this wasn’t normal, and you were forced to accept it because of the circumstances you were put in. 

instead, she kept her voice as steady as possible.

“have you ever seen him?”

you shook your head, pursing your lips. “nope, never. but i was close to it once…”

your fingers drummed on your knees.

“one night i couldn’t sleep and i felt someone get on the bed behind me. it was really scary ‘cause it was the first time i was aware and awake of his presence. he laid down… really close. when i tired to turn around to look, he just…” you paused. “...cupped his hand over my eyes. he whispered ‘go back to sleep’ and stayed there until i eventually did.”

the silence that followed was suffocating. 

jiwoo’s face had gone pale. hyunwoo couldn’t stop staring at you.

“what—? and nobody knows.”

“the police does…”

“no, i meant… who else, yn?”

“nobody else.”

she frowned, swallowing the lump in her throat. “yn, look—if you ever need help, we can help you. we can file a report together and maybe even bring this situation to the media—”

“no, no,” you quickly cut her off, pulling your hands back and waving them. “everyone will see. my parents… my siblings might see it. it’ll worry them so much.”

hyunwoo frowned, he shifted closer. “yn, this isn’t okay. just because nothing happened now doesn’t mean it’ll stay that way forever. we can help y—”

you took a small breath, trying to steady yourself. 

“thank you but i’m fine, really,” you pursed your lips, tilting your head slightly. “sometimes… when you are put in a situation where there’s not much to be done… you kinda just have to accept and see the brighter side of it, you know?”

you rubbed the back of your neck, voice soft. your cheeks flushed in embarrassment at how pathetic your life was. 

“like for me, as long as i’m alive—and my family’s doing well, and the laundry’s warm and fresh, and i have food on my table… i think i’m doing fine. i’ll think about your offer but for now,”

your smile falters just a little—just for a second—but you quickly recover. “i think it’ll be fine.” 

the silence stretched just enough before the video faded to black.

——

this was the behind the scenes footage of a video we were supposed to post.

while editing this episode a few weeks after it was recorded, we were informed that yn ln was found dead in her apartment—the same one featured in this video.

according to the police, her body was discovered in the bathroom almost two weeks after the estimated time of death. the scholarship officer had been receiving calls about her absence, and a neighbour had reported an odor coming from her room.

cold folded laundry was placed on her bed, and breakfast was left untouched on her study table. although by then,  it had rotted and the stench overpowering the scent of her air freshener. 

the case has been classified as murder, with signs of break–in and violation were found. despite her multiple previous police reports detailing repeated break-ins, missing items, and stalking, no arrests have ever been made. 

with no working cctv footage and no strong leads, the case remains under investigation for now.

stalking is NOT a joke. if you or someone you know is experiencing similar situations, please seek help and take necessary precautions. no one should have to ‘accept’ living in fear. 

act now—speak up before silence becomes your only voice. 

to respect and commemorate yn and her family, the original full video will not be posted.

only the clip where she talked about the stalking incidents will be released, in hopes of shedding light on the ignorance and dismissive attitude victims often face from authorities. 

seoul life is currently supporting yn’s family restaurant business and her siblings’ education, just as she had been doing.

——

“...thank you so much,” you said politely, bowing slightly as the older handyman finished installing the new lock.

he wiped his hands on his rag and looked at you with a furrowed brow. “...kid, are you okay? this is the fourth time you’ve changed locks this week.”

after the interview and visit from jiwoo and hyunwoo, you’d finally realise just how carefree and light you’d taken the stalking situation to be. 

 just because nothing happened now doesn’t mean it’ll stay that way forever.

you forced a bright smile, nodding quickly.

“yes, yes, i’m fine! i’m currently looking for other places to rent but i keep losing my keys. sorry for the trouble.”

you quickly slipped inside and closed the door shut before he could say anything else. the sound echoed down the hallway.

the handyman stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door and your chipped room number. he shook his head, slowly, clearly not convinced. 

“...do let me know if you need anything else,” he muttered, even though he knew you couldn’t hear him anymore.

——

that same night, it was past 3 in the morning when you heard it.

you were still studying and the rest of the apartment was dark except for the faint glow of the study lamp.

the doorknob started shaking.

at first it was subtle—like a rattle. but it quickly grew stronger, more aggressive when he realised it wasn’t opening. your heart slammed against your ribs. 

“oh my gosh…” you whispered, dropping your head low.

you tried to ignore it. told yourself he’ll… he’ll go away. 

but the shaking only got worse.

finally, you couldn’t take it anymore. 

with shaky legs, you grabbed the pair of scissors from your drawer, and stood by the doorstep, holding them tightly with both hands. your breathing was fast and shallow.

the rattling continued until—crack.

the lock mechanism broke, and the door slowly pushed open.

and for the first time, you saw his face. 

the man who had been coming in and out of your room for a whole year.

he stood in the doorway, eyes meeting yours. both of your eyes widened in shock—only yours in pure terror but his…

his expression barely changed. if anything, the corner of his lips twitched upward into something eerily soft.

he looked almost relieved.

“...hey,” he said quietly.

your stalker stepped inside like it was the most natural thing—taking off his shoes and setting them neatly by the entrance. 

“i’ve forgotten how to pick locks after a year,” he added with a small, almost apologetic smile.

he reached behind him and tried to close the door, but the lock wouldn’t latch onto the hinge—it just hung awkwardly, not shutting properly. 

your hands trembled around the scissors as you backed up until your legs hit the edge of the bed. “who are you…?” your voice cracked. “who are you?”

he tilted his head slightly, looking at you with a soft gaze.

“you know me,” he said gently. “anyway, why’d you decide to change the lock again? it’s such a hassle for both of us.”

your breath hitched, fear and realisation finally hitting you. you couldn’t believe that you were coming in contact with the same man who’d been trespassing and stalking you for a year—and to think you were coming to an acceptance to it was so—

“get out,” you whispered shakily. then louder, “get out!”

“don’t be like that,” he frowned, taking another step closer. you were okay before this, so what changed? 

“...it’s because of that fuckass channel, isn’t it?” he tilted his head, sighing. your stalker ran his fingers through his hair, shaking his head. “they’re saying bullshit, baby, i’ll never hurt y—”

terror overtook you.

“get the fuck out!” you screamed. “get out!”

when your stalker only kept closing the distance, you panicked. you scrambled onto the bed behind you, still holding the scissors, and desperately pushed the small window open, trying to climb out. 

the winter air hit your face—

but a strong hand suddenly wrapped around your ankle and yanked you back hard. 

you almost hit your chin on the window pane.

“ah—!” you gasped as your body slammed against the cheap mattress. he pulled you away from the window, his grip firm enough to hold you down. 

“why are you trying to run away from me?” he murmured, one knee pressing onto the mattress as he tried to get on top of you. “i always take care of you, don’t i?”

pure panic surged through you.

survival instinct kicking in, you kicked him hard with your other leg. your foot against his chest, sending him stumbling backward. he crashed into your study table, knocking over the stacks of books and notebooks.

they scattered across the floor.

you scrambled off the bed instantly and bolted for the door, heart pounding in your throat. but before you could reach it—just before your fingertips could touch the knob—, your stalker got up fast. he grabbed your arm, yanked you back violently—

and shoved you into the narrow bathroom. you stumbled and hit the toilet, landing your ass hard on the closed lid as the automatic light flickered on above you.

the cramped bathroom had never felt so fucking small with both of you inside.

my favourite song of sabrina will forever be best thing i got! it rlly rlly brought me back to when i was 10 :"( and being a huge disney esp. girl meets world fan u.u ...

it's impossible to not recommend all of her songs but ugh i'll always tell people to give this album a shot!! i know the album is popular on its own but it doesn't get as much love as her recent ones 🥹 i love bet u wanna the most hehe!!

my current favourite is this!! it's soo angelic in my ears @ reminds me a lot about her cover on hopelessly devoted to you!! :") both man's bestfriend and short n' sweet albums ARE AMAZING. divine even wow. genuinely no skips AT ALL. so i'd recommend it all to u... :") ... i'm sorry i can't choooseee ugh i love this woman sooo much she makes sex sooo funnnnn as it shouuulddd beee <//3

i genuinely will never stand by the whole thing about her appealing to male gaze or whatsoever!! sabrina can never do anything wrong omg i don't care that all her songs are about sex or men #itsfun