Mangrove Sinchon Trio Room
At Mangrove Sinchon, there’s a special type of room: the Trio Room.
As the name suggests, it’s designed for three people, each with their own bedroom while sharing a kitchen and bathroom.
What could life look like in a co-living space shared by three roommates? To find out, we visited Room #308, home to three close friends, on a January day brimful of new commitments and excitement.
Choi Nak-hyun, Seo Jae-yong, Lee Hyun
Q. Hi, everyone! Could you please introduce yourselves?
Nak-hyun (NH): Hi, I’m Choi Nak-hyun! I’m a student studying culture contents, looking to pursue a career in performance production after graduation. I’m especially passionate about the arts, particularly music, so my studies focus on musical arts – my favorite genre being R&B.
Jae-yong (JY): Hello, I’m Seo Jae-yong, the “middle child” of Room #308. I like to go for a run with my roommates, but I also enjoy photography and writing. I used to work as a developer at a startup, and now I’m in business development.
Hyun (H):Hi, I’m Lee Hyun, working as an equipment engineer. I’ve been living at Mangrove Sinchon for 10 months now. I enjoy a lot of things in life, from reading and writing to just doing deep-dives into various topics and subjects.
Room #308: Hyun’s Space
Q. Let’s start with a quick icebreaker question. What’s your favorite moment in your daily life at Mangrove?
H: I love mornings around 8 AM when sunlight starts to stream through the curtains, and also evenings around 8 PM, when the room is dim, and I can relax with a book by the lamp.
NH: For me, it’s definitely my workout time in the Flex Room – fitness is one of my favorite hobbies.
JY: It’s hard to pick just one, but I’d say late at night, sitting on the floor and just chatting with these two; it feels like a gift. After spending the day apart, we come home, get together, and share whatever happened over a drink or two. (Laugh)
“In Room #308, my room serves as the liquor storage.”
Q. You all seem really close. Did you know each other before moving in?
All: No, not at all! It’s surprising to us too how close we’ve become since we met here.
Q. Then, what brought each of you to Mangrove Sinchon?
H: Early last year, I was searching for a place near my work when I came across Mangrove Sinchon. It was actually my first time learning about the concept of co-living. Curious, I scheduled a tour, and the idea of living separately yet together with others piqued my interest – it sounded fun! Before I knew it, I had already signed the lease.
NH: My story’s pretty similar. I needed a place to stay in Sinchon and then discovered the option of co-living through Mangrove Sinchon for the first time. I decided to move in because I thought the shared spaces would allow me to do so much at home, like cooking meals, exercising, and studying.
JY: I chose this place because I wanted more freedom. I used to live in a rental property through jeonse*, but the housing market at the time was becoming really stressful – with constant news about scams involving key money deposits, and managing a large loan felt overwhelming too. I wanted to be free from those burdens and try something new and exciting, so I decided on Mangrove Sinchon.
(Jeonse*: A unique housing rental system in South Korea that allows tenants to rent a property with a large lump-sum deposit instead of monthly rent)
Living here has been liberating both financially and emotionally.
I wouldn’t change a thing.
Q. How do you like the Sinchon neighborhood?
H: It’s hard to describe in just one word. Sinchon, to me, feels raw and unrefined, but then there’s the Gyeongui Line Forest Park to soften that roughness. Walking along it toward Gongdeok Station, you’ll find plenty of great restaurants and a comforting touch of greenery.
JY: I love the park too – it’s my daily route to work. I’ve been exploring all the cafes and bars along the way, one by one. One that stood out was a bar called Hongdae Seom, where I heard the classic song “Secret Garden” by Lee Sang-eun playing – it was the perfect old pop vibe I’ve been into lately.
NH: I’m very used to this neighborhood because I started living here as a student at 21. Sinchon offers a variety of food options, affordable prices–thanks to the large student population–and proximity to Hongdae, where there’s always something to see and do. Of course, the convenient transportation is definitely a huge plus. I also enjoy walking around the Gyeongui Line Forest Park, especially because you get to spot so many dogs and stray cats! (Laugh)
15th floor | Member’s Lounge
16th floor | Flex Room
Q. Mangrove Sinchon has a total of nine shared spaces, ranging from social areas like the Member’s Lounge and Social Kitchen to quieter spaces like the Library and Work Room. Where do you spend most of your time?
H: Last year, I was really focused on career growth, so I spent a lot of time studying in the Member’s Lounge on the 15th floor. From there, I could see my company through the window and even catch a view of Yeouido, Seoul’s financial hub, in the distance. Whenever I needed to refocus or boost my motivation, I’d gaze at that view.
JY: For me, it’s the 11th floor Social Kitchen – it feels most cozy and homey. Not long after moving in, Nak-hyun made spicy pork stir-fry for me there. We’ve celebrated birthdays there, thrown holiday parties, and just enjoyed quiet weekend mornings too, making instant noodles together with Hyun. It’s a space where the people you’re with truly start to feel like family.
NH:My favorite is the Flex Room on the 16th floor. It’s right at the top of the building, so when I’m on the treadmill, I get a sweeping view of the city. Since it’s reservation-based, it’s relatively quiet, which makes it ideal for focusing on workouts or just zoning out while running. Honestly, I’m pretty sure I use the Flex Room more than anyone else at Mangrove Sinchon.
3th floor | Diner and Store
Q. Can you tell us about Room #308? Were there any concerns when you first decided to live in a Trio Room?
JY: To be completely frank, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried. I did think about, “What if there’s a foreigner I can’t communicate well with? What if my roommates are untidy?” for sure. But I kept reminding myself not to stress over things beyond my control. I also figured that people who struggle to live with others probably wouldn’t choose a Trio Room to begin with. And even if they did, they’d likely have moved out early if it wasn’t a good fit. Thankfully, I’ve met amazing people here, and looking back, those worries feel so trivial now.
I believe the Trio Room is the best way to experience Mangrove Sinchon to the fullest.
H: My friends were more concerned than I was. They thought living with strangers might be too stressful. Also, sharing a kitchen and bathroom in a Trio Room might feel less convenient compared to having a private room. But once I moved in, I realized the Trio Room actually allows you to experience what Mangrove has to offer to the fullest. The moments we sat down together to overcome minor inconveniences as roommates ended up becoming fun memories too.
Room #308: Nak-hyun’s Space
NH: At first, concerns outweighed my expectations as well. But living with these two hyungs (older brothers), we kept discussing and gradually came up with our own housekeeping rules. Those shared efforts made me look forward to our life as roommates even more.
Q. Living with three people must be quite different from living with just one other person. What’s it been like?
JY: Living with three has its ups and downs. If it were just two people, I feel like disagreements might have escalated more easily. The three of us share the cleaning and meal duties around the house and always talk about how to handle them. Like, if someone puts off their chores, we try to understand how tough their day must have been. At the same time, if someone does something nice, like taking out the trash or hanging out your laundry, we make an effort to express our gratitude.
Having a third person helps with mediating any conflicts.
Sure, it might slow down decision-making a little, but I think it’s a healthier way to communicate.
H:It’s different for sure. Sometimes, when one of us is away for an extended period, the room suddenly feels much bigger. (Laugh) We try to respect each other’s privacy as much as possible, so we haven’t had any major conflicts. Over time, we’ve created our own set of housekeeping rules for Room #308.
Q. Can you share an example of those rules?
NH: For instance, we decided that each of us can only keep two pairs of shoes at the entrance. Since there are three of us, that’s six pairs already – one pair of slippers and one pair of everyday shoes each.
H:Yeah, exactly. The entryway can feel a bit cramped for three people, so we agreed on this to make the best use of the space. It’s a practical compromise that works for everyone, whether you own a lot of shoes or just a few.
Q. Have there been moments when you felt glad to be living as a trio?
JY:I moved to Seoul two years ago, which is when I started living alone for the first time. Back then, I don’t think I realized how lonely I was. But after moving into Mangrove Sinchon, coming home to a simple “Welcome back” felt so warm and comforting. On rough days, I’ll flop onto the orange cushion in my room, and Nak-hyun will find me and say something encouraging to make me feel better.
I’m really thankful to be spending this time together as three,
not alone – just like family.
Nak-hyun calls it ‘Hotdog Mode’ whenever he sees me sprawled out on this orange cushion.
Q. Lastly, what does an ideal home mean to you?
NH: For me, it’s a place where both my body and mind can feel at ease – a space where I can relax with people who make me feel comfortable.
H: My ideal home is “one filled with warmth to share.” I used to think it was all about the size and grandeur of the exterior. But living at Mangrove has taught me to appreciate the small joys in life and the friends who’ve shown me how to care for others and share warmth. I realized that I’d been living with a somewhat cold and detached mindset towards others and life in general. So now I know better – the size or shape of a house doesn’t matter as much as the warmth we share within it.
I dream of creating a home where I can share warmth, inspired by the gratitude I felt here.
JY: To me, home is “a place I can breathe as my true self.” Outside, I’m expected to fulfill certain roles and meet expectations as a responsible member of society. At home, I want to be able to let go of those pressures and be at ease. You might wonder, “Then why the Trio Room?” When we first moved in, I suggested that, for the first month, we not focus too much on being overly considerate of one another but just live as we would if we were by ourselves. That way, we could learn when and how each of us feels comfortable and at home. I hoped that we wouldn’t overthink or exhaust ourselves trying too hard to be mindful of one another.
I always have music playing in my room, and Nak-hyun even sings out loud sometimes. Hyun doesn’t mind any of it. If home were a place where I had to be constantly tense and self-conscious, it would be exhausting. Whether I live alone or with others, I want my home to be a space where I can truly be myself.
Written by | Juneha Park, Jeongyeon Lim
Photos by | Seokhyeon Lee
