"I Saved This Much While Living Alone"—A Civil Servant in Their Ninth Year Has 340 Million Won in Assets

[Financial News] A single civil servant in their mid-30s, now in the ninth year of their career, has reportedly accumulated net assets of 340 million won after excluding debt. The person’s assets are divided among real estate, U.S. stocks and deposits, prompting discussion among office workers.
A, a 35-year-old unmarried civil servant in the ninth year of their career, said their current gross annual salary is around 65 million won.
A, who lives independently, disclosed the assets accumulated so far. After seeing the post, users shared various opinions about the size of the assets and their allocation among real estate, stocks and deposits.
A said their gross annual salary is approximately 65 million won. Their assets consist of real estate, U.S. stocks and fixed-term deposits.
The largest portion of A’s assets is real estate worth approximately 400 million won. However, A still has a 200 million-won mortgage, bringing the net value of the real estate to 200 million won after debt is deducted.
A said their financial assets consist of 120 million won in U.S. stocks and 20 million won in fixed-term deposits.
After subtracting the 200 million won in debt from the real estate and financial assets, A’s total net assets amount to 340 million won. A asked other users whether the assets accumulated while living alone were at an appropriate level.
Office workers who saw the post responded positively, noting that A had built net assets in the 300-million-won range by their mid-30s while living as a one-person household. One user wrote, "Accumulating net assets in the mid-300-million-won range by your mid-30s while living alone, with ongoing fixed expenses such as rent and food, shows that thrift and saving have become ingrained habits."
Others also viewed the asset allocation favorably. Another user said, "It is a well-balanced structure, with more than 100 million won invested in foreign stocks with strong growth potential in addition to real estate, while also maintaining liquid deposits."
Some, however, said A should prioritize reducing the 200 million-won mortgage. One user advised, "Because the interest burden could increase depending on mortgage rate trends, it would be more prudent to gradually repay the loan principal with part of the stock gains and reduce the debt ratio." According to Statistics Korea’s Survey of Household Finances and Living Conditions, the average net assets of households headed by people in their 30s are in the high 200-million-won range.

[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter