Seeing each other at the same place every day adds more happiness!

Q. Hello! Nice to meet you.

Hyunsoo: Hi, I'm Hyunsoo Kim, a chef with 15 years of experience. I chose to pursue cooking as a profession because I enjoy the process more than the results, and I strive every day to achieve my own dreams in the culinary industry. Currently, I'm learning how to make wood-fired pizza.

Hyejeong: Hello! I'm Hyejeong Jeon, who first fulfilled my dream of independence at Mangrove. While living there, I worked as an exhibition planner, and now I've transferred to a Korean language department to become a Korean language teacher. I'm focused on studying to promote the Korean language widely and always pursue a life doing what I love joyfully.

Q. What inspired you to choose a lifestyle like 'co-living'? What led you to decide to live in Mangrove Sinseol in particular?

Hyunsoo: As I decided to try starting a restaurant, I needed a space for recipe testing and an office. That's when I discovered Mangrove by chance, and its various communal spaces, including the kitchen and coworking lounge, were very appealing. Plus, I enjoy tasting tours, and the old shops around Sinseol-dong were so interesting that I decided to live in Mangrove Sinseol.

Hyejeong: I learned about the co-living house lifestyle when I saw the ‘Knock, Knock’ exhibition at the Mangrove Sinseol opening. At that time, commuting was long and exhausting, making independence essential, so I introduced Mangrove to my parents as a last card. I liked the low deposit burden, safety, and separated private spaces. The day I toured the Sinseol branch, I was so enamored with the underground common area that I signed the contract immediately, and my parents felt assured of the safe environment after seeing it themselves. The loose relationships pursued by Mangrove among its members also appealed to me.

Q. Where did you two first meet?

Hyunsoo: On the last day of my restaurant's soft opening, my now-wife visited as a guest. Later that evening, I unexpectedly met her again at a gathering before the departure of our neighbor, Mr. M. The members who were there shared their Instagram accounts, and the most impressive account happened to be my wife's. I remember her feed full of well-decorated room photos. At that time, I was contemplating store interiors, and I thought I should definitely talk to her about interiors someday if I got the chance.

Hyejeong: The next day, I bumped into him in the elevator. Initially, our greetings were brief, but that evening after a workout, I took a different elevator after missing one, and there he was inside. We were so thrilled to see each other that we forgot to get off at our floors and chatted away. Two days later, we ran into each other in the communal kitchen early in the morning and had a conversation. These repeated coincidences drew us together as fate.

Hyunsoo: That week, I visited my friend's and her room, and we talked. I was amazed at how well we communicated, and as Hyejeong shared her exchange student experiences in France, we talked without realizing how time flew. Hyejeong was warm-hearted and a good listener, and I was instantly mesmerized by her. Even exchanging messages until three in the morning, our conversation never ceased. Meeting someone I connected with so well was a delightful surprise, filling me with excitement.

Seeing each other daily and living in the same place kind of feels like building up happiness.

Q. What is the charm of a romance that began in a co-living house?

Hyunsoo: Everyday spots become our date places—whether it's the kitchen for a drink, the laundry room, even the hallway to our home and the elevator. Seeing each other every day and living in the same place tends to build up happiness. Oh, I remember the funny day we first went out for a meal together. Hyejeong had a towel over her shoulder because she didn't get to dry her hair. I think a co-living house is a place like that where we can meet comfortably and not feel awkward.

Hyejeong: The feature of sharing the same residence leads to a daily encounter environment. I imagined, 'Is this what getting married would feel like?' I found it more familiar to meet in casual clothes with just a quick wash than in a dressed-up state. Being able to say good morning right after waking up and taking morning walks at Seongbukcheon on weekends became routine. In the evenings, we'd cook and share wine to end the day. It was a kind of daily life sharing that would've been difficult if we lived separately.

Q. When did you reveal your relationship to the neighbors? Was there a period of secret dating initially?

Hyunsoo: I disclosed it immediately. I posted our dating photos on Instagram and told my parents straight away that I found someone I wanted to marry. I was so proud and couldn't stop talking about it, deciding to marry just 100 days into the relationship because I liked her so much. There's no reason to hide such good news.

Hyejeong: I think I told our close neighbors soon after we started dating. Their surprised expressions were so amusing. Both of us are poor at hiding things, and we didn't see a reason to keep it a secret. Initially, I kept it from my parents, but they were surprised when I shared later that I met someone I wanted to marry.

Q. What led you to decide on marriage?

Hyunsoo: It was our first date. We went for yukhoe bibimbap, but the line was too long, so we had to wait. A quick decision was needed, and my wife suggested, “Shall we take it to go and eat at a nearby park?” I was drawn to her decisive words and easy-going manner. Eating our takeout in the park, the weather was lovely, the food was delicious, and the conversation was so fun. Usually, I would just eat in silence, but with her, I talked a lot during meals. That day made me think I could indeed marry this person, and eventually, I proposed.

Hyejeong: Before meeting him, marriage wasn't on my mind at all. I enjoyed time alone and didn't want to be disturbed, but dating him was much more fun than being alone, and time flew by. Our conversations never stopped, and the excitement from his comfort was delightful. Normally, in relationships, I'd quickly tire of the other person, but with him, I felt like I could live a fun life forever. We shared similar tastes, hobbies, and even dispositions, drawing me strongly to him. Talking to him, it felt like there was someone similar to me, and when I was having a hard time, he listened to my struggles without analyzing circumstances, leading me to decide on marriage.

Q. Living together under one roof, were there times when you had no choice but to face each other, even after a fight? Any memorable moments?

Hyunsoo: We bickered over trivial things because we're too similar. The person at fault usually reaches out to reconcile first. (But it seems like I'm usually the one at fault.)

Hyejeong: In fact, rather than fighting, I tend to nag. We had a big argument once at Mangrove and debated on the emergency stairway for a long time. Of course, he always apologized because it was his fault, but I remember that day. We're both so sensitive that we cried a lot. People assume we never fight at all. Having lived different lives, it's only natural to have disagreements. Still, we're learning to express our feelings to each other without avoidance.

Q. Is there a shared communal space you both frequented together that you’d like to introduce?

Hyejeong: We frequently used the communal kitchen. Since I lived on the 4th floor and he on the 3rd, we often used the common kitchen on the 4th floor. We liked cooking and often prepared meals ourselves. If the 4th-floor kitchen was crowded, we'd find another quiet floor. We'd meet after freshening up, enjoy wine in a peaceful atmosphere, and play music in the communal kitchen. On nice days, we ordered chicken, grabbed a can of beer, headed to the rooftop terrace, put our phones away, and enjoyed the evening scenery. I also often did personal work in the community room on the 20th floor, and I still can't forget that high-rise view.

Q. Was there a favorite or particularly memorable local place in Sinseol you loved?

Hyunsoo & Hyejeong: Olden Brown Café was a place we frequently visited. On weekends, we'd take our laptops there to write or read, and even plan our wedding. During cold winters, we'd warm up with a glass of mulled wine. We also shared our first snowfall there. It's a place full of memories, so even after leaving Mangrove, we often visit when nearby. Plus, there were many great restaurants around, like genuine sundae soup places or maps of tofu dishes. On weekends, we’d often jog by Seongbukcheon. After leaving Mangrove, we missed those simple daily routines dearly.

Q. If you were to pick an unforgettable scenery at Mangrove, what would it be?

Hyunsoo & Hyejeong: The scenery from the 20th floor of Mangrove was so beautiful we often went up there. The puffy clouds in the blue sky and the sunset on clear days were a perfect way to wrap up the day. The particularly memorable view was the nightscape of Seoul seen from the rooftop. The bright, twinkling city lights were so beautiful, and being aware that I lived in such a gorgeous place was moving, spending a long while gazing at that view.

Having time to deeply understand myself, my preferences, preferred time frames, and ways to concentrate after independence.

Q. Is there anything you took away from your time at Mangrove? I'm also curious about your feelings upon leaving.

Hyunsoo: I gained love! Without Mangrove, we wouldn't have met so effortlessly. I was busy late into the evenings, leaving little time to date, but staying in the same place allowed us lots of conversations. I think that’s why we grew closer and eventually got married.

Hyejeong: I discovered myself and love at Mangrove. After living independently, I had time to deeply understand myself, my preferences, preferred time frames, and ways to concentrate. The comfort, coziness, and warmth I felt here will stay in a corner of my heart. Leaving was an emotional mix that made me teary. I'm so grateful that my first independence began at Mangrove and hoped this space brings happiness to its next owner. I'm also thankful for meeting a life partner here.

Written by | Jeongyeon Lim

Photos by | Rakyum Lee