Q. Hi! Could you briefly introduce yourself? Where are you from, and what do you do these days?

Annyeong-haseyo! I’m Romain from Paris. I’ve been a software developer for a while, and I run a small, one-man company that builds apps and websites for clients. When someone has an idea, I help bring it to life — that’s what I do.

Q. One-man company, so you are a freelancer, right?

Well, you could put it that way. What I like about freelancing is that every project feels new. You get to meet new people, work on different things, and constantly learn something along the way. That’s really what I enjoy the most — the variety, the fresh challenges, and the new faces each time. Definitely keeps things interesting.

Q. What brought you to Korea in the first place?

I first came to Korea as an exchange student and spent a year in Daegu. At the time, I was looking to experience something completely different from what I was used to — I guess I was quite drawn to things that felt a bit different. Later on, I returned to Korea mainly for business reasons. Since I had already lived here before, I was somewhat familiar with the country, and I felt that Korea offered a solid environment to start my own business life.

That’s really what I enjoy the most — the variety, the fresh challenges, and the new faces each time.

Q. What does a typical day in your life look like?

During the week, my alarm rings at 5 AM, and I usually get up around 5:30. Then it’s either gym time — or not, depending on how I feel — followed by a shower and a bus ride to Itaewon. I usually arrive at Suntree House, which is a shared office, around 7 AM. Then it’s coffee. Coffee. More coffee. Work. Eat. Work again. I head home sometime between 3 and 5 PM… or sometimes much later, depending on how packed the day is. Dinner is usually something small. I start getting sleepy around 8 or 9 PM, watch a video or a series to wind down, and then do it all over again the next day.

A lot of my friends say I have a grandpa schedule — I guess it’s because of random remote meetings across different time zones, day and night.

Q. What's a hobby you're into these days, or how do you usually spend your day?

I work out when I’m feeling motivated and ride my skateboard whenever I get the chance. There are plenty of bike paths and lanes, so it’s easy to just hop on and go — which is pretty cool. My favorite spots are along the Han River and a place in Gangnam. I don’t really do tricks — I just enjoy cruising through the city and taking in the ride. I also try to meet up with friends whenever I can. Almost every day, I go to Suntree House — the shared office I mentioned earlier. Oh, and I’m a total coffee stan. There’s a café I love right in front of Mangrove Sinchon called Chak-han Coffee (which means “Kind Coffee”).

Social Kitchen, Mangrove Sinchon 11F

I also enjoy cooking — nothing fancy, just something simple. Pasta, for example, is kind of like Korea’s ramyeon. What’s cool about pasta is that you can toss in whatever you want — salt, mushrooms, butter, olive oil — anything. It’s super easy and satisfying. There’s a spacious shared kitchen here, so I sometimes invite friends over for a social dinner. On those nights, I try to put in a bit more effort and prepare a proper meal.

Well, I’d say I’ve been living quite a minimalistic life so far — don’t you think?

Q. Do you have a favorite neighborhood in Seoul?

Before moving to Sinchon, I lived near Itaewon — and before that, in Yeongdeungpo — and even earlier, in Hongdae. Funny thing is, every neighborhood I’ve lived in felt like my favorite by the time I was leaving. Maybe it’s because I’d grown familiar with the area — I knew all the good spots, and it always felt a bit sad to say goodbye.

Right now, my favorite is definitely Sinchon, of course. I love how convenient it is — whether it's commuting day or night, walking over to Hongdae, or heading to Yeouido. But what I love most is how much there is to do nearby. There are so many cafés, restaurants, and little activities packed into this area. It’s honestly awesome. Jinzza(진짜).

Q. Sinchon is known as a university area in Seoul—what has it been like actually living there?

The universities around here bring in a lot of young people — different, refreshing, and full of energy. I’m slowly becoming an “uncle” myself, but this kind of dynamic flow really makes me feel alive and happy. Also, the food around here is generally cheaper than in places like Itaewon or Gangnam. I guess that’s thanks to all the students. And honestly… I enjoy that. So. Damn. Much.

Funny thing is, every neighborhood I’ve lived in felt like my favorite by the time I was leaving. Maybe it’s because I’d grown familiar with the area. Right now, my favorite is definitely Sinchon, of course.

Q. How would you compare your life in France to your life in Korea?

I used to live in or around Paris, and to me, that felt completely normal — it’s where I’m from, after all. Things don’t change that much there. Places you go to regularly tend to stay the same for years, and overall, life feels slower and more stable.

But living in Seoul — or Korea in general — is a totally different experience. It’s so dynamic and full of new discoveries. There are always new cafés, restaurants, neighborhoods, and people to explore. Things change fast here — sometimes your favorite sandwich shop is suddenly gone, but something new pops up right after. And surprisingly, I really enjoy that. I think it fits my personality and fast-paced lifestyle. Seongsu-dong is a good example — it’s always changing, with new spots opening and closing all the time. I love that energy.

And even though the city moves quickly, there’s also a peaceful rhythm to everyday life that I appreciate. So yeah, honestly… I think I prefer living here.

Q. What differences do you notice between the working culture in France and Korea?

Back in France, I started out working in the IT department of a company. There were only two of us — the CTO and I — so we handled everything. That gave me a solid foundation in both backend and frontend development. Later, I left that job to start freelancing. After moving to Korea, I continued working independently.

At first, I worked from cafés, but it wasn’t ideal. I then tried a popular shared office, but everyone already had their own teams, so it was hard to talk to anyone. Things changed when I found a smaller shared office in Itaewon — Suntree House. There, I met other freelancers like me. Now I can actually talk to people, and sometimes we even collaborate on projects.

Q. It seems like the shared office, Suntree House, has become a meaningful community for you.

I’ve been at Suntree House for quite a while. Aside from Jeehyun, the owner, I’m the longest-standing member — it’s been two and a half years. It’s a small, cool space where freelancers, mostly designers, work independently. There are about 10 of us throughout the year, which makes it easy to get to know everyone. It’s very different from larger offices where people stick to their own groups. I don’t have any official role… but I am in charge of the coffee beans — I guess you could call me the Coffee Captain ☕️

Q. What’s your commute like from Mangrove to Suntree House?

That’s one of the reasons I chose Mangrove — it’s easy to get to Itaewon. Buses like the 740 and 110B go directly from Sinchon. The subway works too, and there’s even a night bus, so even if I work late, I can get home easily.

Q. What made you choose Mangrove?

Before Mangrove, I was living in a shared house run by Jeehyun and working at Suntree. I was looking for a clean, comfortable place, and she mentioned Mangrove. I hadn’t heard of it before, so I looked it up — and found that Mangrove Sinchon had just opened. It was perfect: brand new, convenient buses to Itaewon, and the vibe felt right. I visited, liked what I saw, thought about it briefly… and booked a room on the spot. It’s been over two years now — I guess that says it all.

Q. Do you remember your first day at Mangrove Sinchon?

I visited in March, right after it opened. I checked out the Flex Room and the Members’ Lounge on the 15th floor and thought, “This is great for remote work on days I don’t go to Suntree.” I arrived an hour early — just in case — and took a walk around the neighborhood. The area felt really nice, which helped me decide.

Q. What kind of housing did you live in while in France? What’s the biggest difference compared to Mangrove?

In Paris, I mostly lived in student residences. They were nice in their own way, but the biggest difference is definitely the shared spaces. That’s something I’ve grown really attached to here — and it’s not something you see often elsewhere.

Flex Room, Mangrove Sinchon 16F

Q. Have you met anyone new while living at Mangrove?

I joined one or two Mangrove Social Club programs at the beginning. At one of them, someone suggested I join the Mangrove running crew — I was really into running at the time. For about a year, I ran with the crew almost every week. It was a great way to stay active and meet people. Sadly, the crew eventually faded out, and since then I’ve been busy with work. So I haven’t been running much or meeting many new people lately. 

It’s a bit of a dilemma for an introvert like me. I do want to connect more deeply with people, but putting myself out there can be tiring. I already have friends at Suntree House — just enough to not feel isolated, but not so many that I feel overwhelmed. I’ve made a few new friends here and there, and that feels just right.

Q. Which space at Mangrove is your favorite, and how do you usually spend time there?

The place I spend the most time in is probably the Flex Room. I just do a bit of everything — sometimes I go every day, sometimes not at all, depending on how I feel or how well I slept. I also use this workroom we’re in now to meet with clients. It sometimes serves as my office. So for both work and health, I’d say these are my favorite spots in Mangrove — and where I spend most of my time.

Work Room, Mangrove Sinchon 5F

Q. Has living in shared spaces like Mangrove or Suntree House brought any changes to your lifestyle or personal values?

It kinda changed the way I perceived living in an apartment. I didn’t know it could include really cool spaces that only members can use — I discovered that with Mangrove, and I like the concept. Now, I think it’d be a bit hard to live somewhere without all those features.

Q. What does “home” mean to you, or what do you think a home should be?

For me, there’s a difference between a temporary home and a fixed home. When I lived with my parents, that was my fixed home. I remember feeling so happy coming back there after vacations — it always felt really good. Since I left home around 18, I’ve lived in many places that felt more like temporary homes — places I would kinda “pass by.” But that has its charm too. It gave me the chance to live in and discover different places.

To me, both are still “home” — each with its own pros and cons. Someday, I’d like to find my fixed home again. Will it be in Seoul? In Korea? Somewhere else? I’m still figuring it out — by really living in each place, not just flying through. In the end, I think “home” is something we all define for ourselves. There’s no right or wrong answer — this is just what it means to me. :)

Q. Do you have any dreams or plans you’re determined to achieve in the future?

My dream is to build a great company with a kickass team full of passionate people, and a workplace where we can achieve something meaningful together. That’ll take a lot of work. That’s why I named it HimneRom — a mix of the Korean word 힘내 (which means “cheer up”) and 럼 (Rom), the nickname my friends call me. It’s a little reminder to keep going when things get tough. The idea first came to me after I returned from Daegu. Spending that year in Korea made me feel like… maybe I do want to start something of my own. Maybe even live somewhere new. That’s when this dream started to take shape.

In the end, I think “home” is something we all define for ourselves.
There’s no right or wrong answer — this is just what it means to me. :)