SEOUL – South Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning film “Parasite” has brought banjiha dwellers to worldwide attention, thanks to its depiction of two families — one living in a semi-basement apartment and the other in an airy mansion — and the differences in their social status.
In 2015, around 1.9% of South Koreans lived in semi-basement apartments, according to data from Statistics Korea. It’s an affordable choice for urban dwellers in Seoul, one of the most expensive cities in Asia.
The apartments, which are often cramped and sometimes squalid, generally cost between $210 and $500 a month with a hefty deposit. (AP)
