59.6% of Single-Person Households Pursue Side Jobs for 'Spare Cash and Emergency Funds'

A growing number of single-person households in South Korea are turning to side hustles, with nearly 60% actively pursuing additional income streams. This trend represents a substantial rise from 42.0% in 2022, indicating a significant shift in how individuals manage their finances.

The primary driver behind this surge in supplementary employment is the desire to accumulate spare cash or establish emergency funds. This motivation was cited by 40.4% of respondents, highlighting a widespread concern for financial security among those living alone.

The most popular form of side hustle is 'app tech,' which involves earning points or rewards through activities like daily app check-ins. This method alone accounts for 75.1% of participation in side income activities. Other popular options include blogging and social creator activities (11.7%), part-time service jobs like convenience store or food service work (8.0%), and delivery driving (5.5%).

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The main reason for engaging in side income activities is to prepare spare cash or emergency funds.

Despite the increased engagement in side jobs, overall satisfaction with life among single-person households has slightly improved, with 73.5% expressing contentment. A majority (58.3%) also intend to continue living alone. However, satisfaction with economic status remains the lowest among evaluated aspects, with only 51.4% satisfied, largely due to insufficient financial foundations for home ownership or savings.

Currently, single-person households constitute 36.1% of all households in South Korea, numbering 8.045 million. Projections indicate this figure will rise to 9.62 million, or 41.3% of all households, by 2052. The report is based on a survey of 2,000 individuals aged 25-59 living alone in major South Korean cities.

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App tech, such as app attendance checks and point accumulation, is the most participated-in side income activity.