Ja-chui, meaning “living apart from one’s family” or “living by oneself” in Korean, is often anticipated by fresh-faced university students. As their first taste of independence after graduating from twelve years of school, a ja-chui life is sweet compensation for their hard work. However, living alone has become quite different in the current era of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with students struggling to fully enjoy their ja-chui life. Some, nonetheless, continue to find alternative options to fill their pandemic-induced mundane days and seek silver linings amid the dark clouds.

In the wake of the current pandemic, time spent at home continues to increase for everyone. As a result, our residential space had to be transformed into a multipurpose area where work, relaxation, and leisure coexist. Personally, I spend most of the day at home, which then leads to searching for ways to optimize my room into a perfect space for my pastimes. For instance, I rearranged my bed and desk to make a small theater; I installed a screen projector on a newly empty part of the wall, creating my very own home cinema.

Pandemic Life for Ja-chui Students

Once considered ordinary, spending time with classmates and studying in campus buildings has become fantasies due to the current pandemic. Some say such a contact-free lifestyle suits their routine, but others believe that the situation has resulted in several drawbacks to their quality of education and social relationships. For example, difficulties were recorded regarding virtually delivered classes. This is because their working and leisure zones are inevitably put together as students usually live in a studio-type residence, which has limited room space.

In addition, as social gatherings were reduced, a new term called “corona blue” – a combination of the coronavirus and feeling blue – was coined in Korea to explain the depression and lethargy caused by self-isolation and social distancing. Corona blue is said to encompass not only mental despair but also physical changes including gaining weight and losing the strength to actively indulge in activities. Although university classes kept students’ days busy enough, the fact that they had only a screen to stare at failed to make up for the lack of human connection they felt. As a result, people in the current era have had to find alternative ways to occupy themselves to get through the exhausting lockdown.

Interior Decoration Reexamined

As the significance of one’s home as space increased, the public’s interest in renovating it has grown drastically. Bucketplace – an online to offline (O2O) platform for housing and interior design – was evaluated to have a market value of 800 billion won after they successfully raised 77 billion won in a round of funding. Their existence was highly praised by users because their system, which aims to provide products from household necessities to luxuries, exactly fits the needs the current pandemic creates. Moreover, similar startups such as Zipdoc and Zipggumigi are creating a broader range of options for consumers as well as healthy competition.

In addition to O2O businesses for residential decoration, the game and tech industry are thriving as well. Although it has been quite a while, the exponential sales of the game console Nintendo Switch represents one example of the public’s reaction to the pandemic. Animal Crossing: New Horizons, a game for Nintendo Switch, started to gain popularity before its official release on March 20, 2020, for its relaxing atmosphere and user-friendly customization features. Likewise, searching for silver linings amid the gloomy days, people alternated their room space to get the most out of it, and such a trend in transforming individuals’ lifestyles and house ambience has penetrated the lives of Korea University (KU) students as well.

The Granite Tower (GT) interviewed Cho Ahsong (’19, German Language and Literature) and Oh Chang Bin (’17, Mechanical Engineering) for an inside look at KU ja-chui students’ lives during the pandemic.

GT: The pandemic has forced many people to stay home for unhealthy amounts of time, often rendering them into a case of the corona blues. Have you ever felt similar emotions, being alone at home?

Cho: I miss traveling with my friends and hanging out in a lively atmosphere, but I do not feel too lonely because I really like spending time alone. In that aspect, I think I have been doing better than others. There was, however, a time when I felt frustrated because of the sudden spread of the disease and the extended period of staying at home.

Oh: There were times when I was feeling gloomier than before. The increase in opportunities for self-reflection may have been a reason, and the decrease in the number of in-person events may have been another, but I believe the increase in one-on-one chats may have been the biggest cause. In the past, I enjoyed relieving my anxiety through laughing, chatting, and altogether having meaningless conversations with a big group of people. However, recently, I began to meet people one-on-one due to the pandemic. Now, even if I meet my close friends, only our worries are amplified because we mainly talk about serious topics such as our life stories and future plans. The pandemic prohibited me from freeing myself of my worries, so the corona blues did affect me.

GT: Do you have a special way of overcoming such a mental state? Tell us more about a new hobby or means to feel joy in the current lockdown.

Cho: I like to watch movies and cook in my Ja-chui-bang. I was interested in cooking since I was eight when my mom introduced me to my first oven-baked cookies. At first, I thought I could not retain cooking as a hobby because I had no relevant kitchen instruments, but when my dad bought me all I needed, I was able to overcome boredom at home through cooking.

Oh: Recently, I started do-it-yourself (DIY) projects as a hobby. Since my hobby includes projects with dusty and long-lasting processes, preparation and completion take up a whole day. Right now seems like a good time to focus on developing this hobby since the pandemic has given me more time to enjoy being at home. Moreover, as DIY gives you a clear goal to reach, the sense of accomplishment from working on them really alleviates my gloomy emotions.