“I thought I’d have a home, car and marriage at 30”: Chungha chooses a home in her name

Chungha imagined that turning 30 would bring a home, a car, marriage and plenty of romantic experience. Instead, she said, “only the number changed, and I feel like I’m in the same state.”

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only the number changed, and I feel like I’m in the same state

The singer made the remarks while appearing as a special host on SBS’s “My Little Old Boy.” Seo Jang-hoon asked about her earlier expectation that she would have a home, a car and dating experience by her 30s. Chungha joked, “Can I go cry for a moment?” before describing the adult life she had pictured as a child.

When Seo asked her to choose between being the owner of a stylish home in Gangnam and dating her ideal type, Chungha hesitated before selecting “a home in my name.” Her choice of home ownership over romance drew laughter from the studio.

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Can I go cry for a moment?

The article presents the answer as reflecting a wider reality in which home ownership and marriage are no longer automatic milestones for people in their 30s. Statistics from 2024 showed that the home ownership rate among households headed by people in their 30s stood at 36.0%, down 0.6 percentage points from the previous year. A separate survey found that 81.0% of South Koreans aged 19 to 34 were unmarried.

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a home in my name

The program also showed Chungha reuniting with members of the project group I.O.I to rehearse the choreography for “PICK ME,” their debut song, for the first time in about 10 years. Chungha said they were startled after watching the video because they had become “much more sultry.” She explained that the original performance had felt youthful and earnest, while years of stage experience had brought more ease to the same choreography. Chungha debuted with I.O.I after appearing on the first season of Mnet’s “Produce 101” in 2016 and began her solo career in 2017.

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much more sultry