In South Korea, where societal expectations are steeped in tradition, two women, Sunwoo and Hana, broke free from the norms by choosing a platonic partnership over the traditional nuclear family. The Korean bestseller "Two Women Living Together" chronicles their journey to find companionship and support in each other as they navigate life's ups and downs.
For these friends-turned-partners, independence felt exhilarating at first, but loneliness began to set in once middle age arrived. As their boxy studio apartments started to feel suffocating, they realized that having a "family" wasn't just about romance – it was about mutual support and care. They decided to buy a house together, not as lovers, but as friends.
The book, comprising 49 essays, offers an intimate look at Sunwoo and Hana's life, from their love of food to their retirement fantasies. Like any couple, they have quiet joys and irritations – laundry protocols that spark heated debates, New Year rituals that leave them both bewildered, and the constant struggle to keep their home tidy.
However, beneath the warmth lies a radical proposition: treating their partnership like any family. When Sunwoo is hospitalized, Hana takes on the role of primary guardian, but she's not entitled to the same benefits as a spouse or partner. In South Korea, where same-sex marriage isn't recognized and cohabiting partners are invisible on official paperwork, Sunwoo and Hana's relationship remains unrecognized.
The book highlights the growing trend of platonic partnerships worldwide, where people are turning to friends as their primary source of stability, companionship, and care due to soaring housing costs and the unraveling of family-centered care. Stories like Sunwoo and Hana's matter, making visible the many ways of being a family in a society that often prioritizes tradition over individual choice.
While "Two Women Living Together" is not without its frustrations – some essays feel like filler, and it could have benefited from more context on the social phenomenon – it remains a generous and witty portrait of friendship. As interest in platonic partnerships grows globally, Sunwoo and Hana's story serves as a powerful reminder that family isn't just about biology; it's about the love, care, and support we choose to give each other.
For these friends-turned-partners, independence felt exhilarating at first, but loneliness began to set in once middle age arrived. As their boxy studio apartments started to feel suffocating, they realized that having a "family" wasn't just about romance – it was about mutual support and care. They decided to buy a house together, not as lovers, but as friends.
The book, comprising 49 essays, offers an intimate look at Sunwoo and Hana's life, from their love of food to their retirement fantasies. Like any couple, they have quiet joys and irritations – laundry protocols that spark heated debates, New Year rituals that leave them both bewildered, and the constant struggle to keep their home tidy.
However, beneath the warmth lies a radical proposition: treating their partnership like any family. When Sunwoo is hospitalized, Hana takes on the role of primary guardian, but she's not entitled to the same benefits as a spouse or partner. In South Korea, where same-sex marriage isn't recognized and cohabiting partners are invisible on official paperwork, Sunwoo and Hana's relationship remains unrecognized.
The book highlights the growing trend of platonic partnerships worldwide, where people are turning to friends as their primary source of stability, companionship, and care due to soaring housing costs and the unraveling of family-centered care. Stories like Sunwoo and Hana's matter, making visible the many ways of being a family in a society that often prioritizes tradition over individual choice.
While "Two Women Living Together" is not without its frustrations – some essays feel like filler, and it could have benefited from more context on the social phenomenon – it remains a generous and witty portrait of friendship. As interest in platonic partnerships grows globally, Sunwoo and Hana's story serves as a powerful reminder that family isn't just about biology; it's about the love, care, and support we choose to give each other.
It's so inspiring to see Sunwoo and Hana's story being shared - they're proof that friendship can be just as fulfilling (if not more) than romantic love. I mean, who needs a traditional nuclear family when you've got a partner in crime like Hana to share the laundry and New Year's rituals with? 
The fact that their relationship remains unrecognized in South Korea is super frustrating, but it's also highlighting the need for change and acceptance. We should be celebrating all forms of love and support, not just the ones that fit societal norms! 
I'm loving this trend of people choosing platonic partnerships! It's so inspiring to see Sunwoo and Hana's friendship evolve into something beautiful. They're showing us that family isn't just about romantic love, but also about mutual support and care. 
In today's world with rising costs and changing lifestyles, it's more important than ever to have a tribe of friends who've got your back. I wish there was more visibility around platonic partnerships, especially in South Korea where same-sex marriage isn't recognized... it's time to break free from tradition and celebrate all forms of love and family! 
! It's like, what even is it? Is it a new kind of dating or something? And how does it work in real life? Do people just, like, live together and be friends forever? 
. I mean, is it fair that same-sex couples don't get the same benefits as straight couples? That's just not right! 
Do you guys have any thoughts on this? 
It's so refreshing to see two women, Sunwoo and Hana, finding companionship and support in each other as they navigate middle age. Their decision to buy a house together is pure genius – who says you need a romantic partner to feel like part of a family? 
It highlights the need for more recognition and acceptance of non-traditional family structures. But overall, I'm just loving this shift in societal attitudes towards love and family – it's all about choice and support now, not just biology! 
These two women are basically living proof that just because society expects us to be in a nuclear family doesn't mean we have to conform. I mean, think about it, they had to fight for even having their relationship acknowledged! The fact that Sunwoo gets taken care of by Hana when she's hospitalized and isn't entitled to the same benefits as a spouse is just messed up 
The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that this is all just a carefully crafted cover-up for something bigger... 
. As someone who's been on the platform for years, I gotta say that I think it's awesome that they're redefining what a family looks like in South Korea. Their journey to finding companionship and support in each other is so inspiring 
Sunwoo and Hana's story is so inspiring, especially with how they're fighting for recognition of their relationship in a society that's stuck on tradition. It's crazy how they have to do all the work themselves when it comes to taking care of each other – laundry protocols are EVERYTHING 
This book should be required reading for anyone who's ever felt like they don't fit into traditional family norms. It's a reminder that love and care come in all forms, and we're better off celebrating that! 
I'm so inspired by Sunwoo & Hana's story! It's like, yeah they broke free from traditional norms, but who cares? They found what works for them & that's all that matters. The fact that they're showing us that family isn't just about romance or biology is so empowering. 
Plus, their essays are like, super relatable... laundry protocols can get anyone frustrated! 
I'm also loving the trend of people choosing friendships over traditional family structures. It's like, we're free to create our own families in whatever way feels most authentic to us 
. Still, "Two Women Living Together" is a beautifully written and relatable portrayal of friendship that I think everyone should read 
. The fact that their relationship remains unrecognized in South Korea is kinda heartbreaking, but its also inspiring to see how much their friendship has grown over time 
and btw, who's up for a house-sharing experiment 