I live in New York, where apartments are considered luxury if they have simple amenities like an elevator, an in-unit washer/dryer, or a walk-in closet (or sometimes even a refrigerator). Meanwhile, even standard apartments in South Korea are apparently packed with futuristic features that feel straight out of an episode The Jetsons.
In a recently released Instagram Reel, influencer Soo Youn Lee shows off her parents’ home in South Korea, which has high-tech amenities that “just make sense,” Lee says. A refrigerator for your clothes may sound extreme (and a little confusing), but wait until you see its unique purpose.
In the US, touchpad locks are often installed by the homeowner, but in this video Lee demonstrates that they are common in homes in South Korea. After opening the door, she points out that there is a separate entrance to add an extra layer of hygienic safety – like taking off your shoes outdoors. Imagine!
“Separate entrance is a MUST,” someone wrote in the comments section. “I hate bringing shoes [into] my apartment.”
The entrance area is not the only feature that prioritizes hygiene. Near the closet is a machine that disinfects clothes, which Lee describes as a “clothes refrigerator.” And actually, there are a surprising number of refrigerators in the house. If you don’t count the clothes sanitizer, there are three fridges: for food, drinks and skin care.
A clothes sanitizer, also known as a steam closet, is a device that will disinfect, steam, and deodorize your clothes from unwanted odors or debris, and you can usually just turn them on and go. You can often find these machines here for around $1,000, but it’s just a regular part of the cabinet in the video. As for the skin care fridge, it’s a great idea for a place with the legendary K beauty, but you can also buy one for your home here.
The interior of the bathroom has a built-in hose and drainage system, which makes cleaning literally easy. And if the combination of floor and hose isn’t cold enough, check out the sink: with an adjustable nozzle, you won’t have to worry about water splashing on your face.
According to her caption, the house’s extensive amenities are actually pretty standard for South Koreans, not just wealthy people. “These features are not considered high-tech or only for the wealthy — they are fairly standard and readily available for anyone to incorporate into their homes,” she wrote.
While it’s rare to find a high-tech apartment with such cool features (unless you’re Batman), maybe this Instagram Reel will inspire you to upgrade your home.