[Independent Living] is an interview series that records stories of various types of one- or two-person households or individuals living independently. We hope that people dreaming of independence can imagine their near future life more concretely and joyfully.

Q. Could you please introduce yourself, Yeji?

I am Hwang Yeji, a photographer. Ever since middle school, I've been carrying a camera around to capture everyday life, which turned into my main job as I majored in photography in high school and college. I sometimes write as well. Three days a week, I cook at a restaurant called Midopa in Yeonhui-dong.

© @yezoi

© @yezoi

Q. The interview photos of Hwang Soyoon from the band Se So Neon in <Daily Isul-Ah>* were shockingly good. I remember finding your name in the credits and looking up your past works for a long time. You've done a wide range of work from family photos to Hong Kong protest documentaries and the Sewol Ferry memorial exhibition on its sixth anniversary. Was there any turning point that broadened your scope of work?

When I first started taking photos, most of my work was about expressing my interests and emotions. At some point, other things started to catch my eye where emotions had once swept through. I became interested in stories about living as a woman, which my colleagues and I constantly experience, as well as the situations around me and social issues. I think I was also influenced a lot by my father, a former union chairman, who wished I would become a social affairs journalist. (Laughs)

* This is a project where author Isul-ah sends one essay a day to your inbox. During this project, Hwang Yeji was responsible for interview photos of Hwang Soyoon of Se So Neon, author Kim Kyujin of <Sister, Will You Marry Me?>, director Kim Chohee, and actor Kang Malgeum of <Lucky Chan-sil>.

© @yezoi

Q. It seems you were quite close to your father to the extent that he influenced your working world. How did you come to live independently?

I'm not sure how others decide to live independently, but I had a huge argument with my father. Our relationship was more of an individual-to-individual, almost friendship-like, rather than a typical parent-child relationship. So whenever trouble arose, it felt more personally hurtful than a family dispute. I thought this person would totally understand me, but found out that wasn't the case.

Around the time I was graduating from college, my father and I had disagreements about my career, and he suddenly declared that he wouldn't help me anymore. Meaning I had to manage on my own. At that time, I thought I couldn't make a living just from photography and I hadn't decided on a career path post-graduation. To put it harshly, I felt abandoned by my father. I packed my bags and moved in with my then-girlfriend. (Laughs) Soon after, I found a place with friends, marking the start of my independent life.

Q. That's quite an extreme reason. (Laughs)

Yes, this marks my fifth year of independence. My father seemed to expect that I'd return sooner with a white flag, but he's disappointed to see I'm managing well outside. (Laughs) In my case, I had a fierce drive to demonstrate that I could thrive without relying on my father, so I'm really curious about the various reasons other people have to live independently.

Q. That's exactly why Mangrove planned the <Independent Living> series. I'd say you and Mangrove are a great match. (Laughs) You moved out abruptly without any preparation for independence. How did you find a home with friends after leaving your girlfriend's place?

It was quite spontaneous to find roommates and my first independent home. (Laughs) My girlfriend's place was a protected space to some extent. The moment I decided to leave was the true start of my independence. Looking for a house and facing Seoul's rent prices was truly overwhelming.

'Wow, how do you live alone? How are people managing on their own?' I found myself thinking.

It didn't feel like an amount I could handle as a newbie in society. So, I posted 'Looking for roommates' on Twitter. Friends I knew from Twitter responded with 'Me, me, me,' and that's how we ended up living together. (Laughs)

Q. Deciding to live with others is no easy decision. Were you already acquainted through Twitter? Was it difficult to decide to live together?

We all came from the same school, so there was some familiarity. And I'm generally open-hearted towards women. Maybe it's a mindset that women can achieve anything together. (Laughs) I thought, since we're all creatures that can converse, we'll figure it out. Of course, there was an initial adjustment period. We didn't have significant conflicts.

We found a place in Namgajwa-dong, which we were all familiar with, and signed the lease within a day. We gathered roommates in an hour, signed the contract in a day, and lived together for two years. I'm still living with one of those friends.

Yeji and Hyeonji. The two live with two cats.

I started living with my current roommate after meeting her less than five times, yet we've been living together for over four years now. We became roommates without knowing each other very well, but conversing with her was so enjoyable. We would talk until 5 a.m. about everything about us, society, and all kinds of topics. We built our time and relationship through conversation. Even now, although our relationship has deepened, she still treats me with a chic kind of consideration. As we've gotten used to one another, we've established unspoken rules about living together. She's cleaner than I am, so she cleans more often, while I contribute slightly more to household expenses or refill water and tissues. Our families occasionally visit the house and are on close terms.

Q. It's like you happened upon a social family. 

That's right. To me, they're like an alternative family. I think of her more as an older sister rather than just a roommate, which is really nice. Although my journey to independence was dramatic, meeting good roommates by chance helped me have a soft landing.

Q. The place you're living in now is your second home since becoming independent, right? Do you have any key criteria when choosing a place?

My roommate strongly insisted on living in Mangwon-dong. She wanted to live near the Han River, have access to a market, and reside in a vibrant area. Namgajwa-dong was too close to the college, always bustling with crowds, with welcome party noises and festival sounds wafting into our home. I agreed with her, and we started looking for a place in Mangwon-dong that fit our lifestyle and budget. One particular checklist item was having a house with new windows to capture good light. Our old house in Namgajwa-dong was an old wooden-finished residence that was really cold during winters. Having lived together before, our criteria became clearer when selecting a new home.

Q. I noticed how different your room and your roommate's room's atmospheres are. It's fascinating how two different people can blend together like this. 

Neither of us has a firm notion of 'This is how the house should look.' It's more about gathering things that provide a sense of security and comfort in one space. Friends who visit say, 'It's small but feels safe and cozy.' Hearing that makes us really happy. For me, I want the house to be a safe place. A space without strong self-assertion. We already fight and compete so much outside. We should rest at home; if we had to argue over aesthetics here, I’d be exhausted. We are judged by fashion and photography outside; I just don’t want that at home. I've created an ambiance where I can genuinely relax. Even though we're not a biological family, my roommate, with whom I've lived for nearly four years, assists this house in being my safe place.

Q. Indeed, the arrangement of lighting and decorations makes it feel very cozy. Though the neighborhood felt unfamiliar, coming into your room felt like entering a different world. Is there any routine or ritual you stick to when curating your day with your own mood in this safe place?

I find myself lying down quite a bit at home. (Laughs) After leading such an intense life outside, I feel like resting at home. I light scents that uplift my spirit and play music according to my mood. Sometimes I use YouTube, sometimes LPs. There’s no fixed way.

Scattered around my room are objects I feel protect me: cushions from Mom, cushions from my closest friend, leaves I picked up in Hong Kong, posters from a friend. These items are arranged everywhere, offering comfort and positivity whenever I glance at them. They lift my spirits just by being there. The worry dolls by my bedside were made by my roommate when I was struggling with insomnia.

It's a safe place where people who support and cherish me, and those precious to me, are woven into it.

Q. Yeji, you take photos, write, teach, and also cook. Writing or photography could be seen as variations of expressing thoughts through language, but cooking seems like a completely different realm. How did you end up cooking at a bar?

Whether it’s writing or photography, representing my thoughts takes a lot of time. I'm truly slow – not in movement, but in my thought process. I need ample time and reflection. Thus, I judged making a living solely from photography would be difficult. (Laughs) So I tried various things, joined an advertising agency, worked part-time at a global snack store, and truly experimented with 'What kind of work can I do to earn a living?' The outcomes were all just so-so. Then, a pastry chef friend who knew I liked cooking at home asked, 'Want to give working a try?' So I did. Turning a hobby into a job, it surprisingly suited me better than expected.

Q. What aspects suit you well?

While photography requires capturing moments spontaneously and intuitively, cooking requires a long preparation process before serving someone. With photography, I'm often looking at digital devices for long hours, which strains my eyes, but cooking feels more primal. You watch flames, observe dough rising, and select fresh produce. It’s like taking a brief trip to nature, pondering 'Wow, how did this grow so well?'. Such different processes provide refreshing stimulation and joy.

Above all, it feels wonderful when someone enjoys what I've carefully prepared. Knowing I can gift someone delightful experiences is very satisfying. So I cook on the side, amidst my photography work.

Q. Cooking helps your photographic senses stay sharp by reinforcing the essence of photography. It seems like you're inspired more by relationships and what you see in society rather than being tied to a singular place. 

That's right. I digest what I see outside while resting in my safe place at home. Even during the digesting process, I keep looking for input. (Laughs) I constantly explore the ecosystem of images. It's important to know which photos are emerging, what pros and cons lie in this flow of images – because I'm also a part of that ecosystem. I believe photographers must continually reflect on their vision. Creating something entails responsibility, so continuous accumulation leads to developing a responsible and good vision.

Q. What's the best part of living independently?

Being able to take responsibility for my life is truly satisfying. I can feed the cats without missing meals, buy things that bring me comfort and happiness, and cook or treat loved ones to meals. Having the financial means to make these small spends without worry is something I really appreciate. Developing responsibility for my life that I've built myself, is such a joy. I used to be more dependent than I realized, leaning on relationships and romance.

These days, I feel like I'm standing on my own two feet. It's such a happy state to be in.

Writer | Kim Jinyoung

Photography | Eom Jongheon, Hwang Yeji