Young Koreans say 'No' to YOLO, 'Yes' to YONO 젊은 한국인들 YOLO가 아니고 'YONO’

[김우정]

우리나라 젊은이들의 소비패턴이 YOLO에서 YONO로 바뀌었답니다.

즉각적인 행복을 우선하는 YOLO에서 불필요한 지출을 줄이는 YONO(You Only Need One)로 바뀌었습니다. 

높은 인플레이션과 낮은 소득 증가율은 젊은 한국인들이 필수품만 소비하도록 만들었습니다.

확실히 젊은 층들은 물건을 소유하는 대신 스포츠나 해외여행등 체험에 지출을 많이 하는 것 같습니다.

Young Koreans say 'No' to YOLO, 'Yes' to YONO
젊은 한국인들 YOLO가 아니고 'YONO’

By Lee Yeon-woo 이연우 기자
Posted : 2024-08-01 13:35  Updated : 2024-08-01 16:47
Korea Times

Young people seeking employment line up to enter a job fair in Seoul, July 3. Yonhap 7월 3일 서울에서 열린 취업박람회에 청년들이 입장하기 위해 줄을 서고 있다. 연합

Choi Ye-bin, a 27-year-old event director, has been keeping a household ledger for four years. She started the habit as she felt a gap between the perceived and actual amount she was spending.
이벤트 디렉터 최예빈(27)씨는 4년째 가계부를 작성하고 있다. 그녀는 자신이 지출하고 있는 인지된 금액과 실제 지출하는 금액 사이에 괴리가 느껴지면서 이 습관을 시작했다.

Housing costs and food expenses, including dining out, account for an overwhelming proportion of her spending. Recently, she has strongly felt the increase in dining out expenses.
외식비를 포함한 주거비와 식비가 지출에서 차지하는 비중이 압도적이다. 최근에는 외식비의 증가를 강하게 느끼고 있다.

"When I don't have a scheduled appointment, I try not to eat out. If I have two appointments in a week, I see it as a red flag and adjust accordingly," Choi said to The Korea Times.
그는 코리아타임스와의 인터뷰에서 "약속이 없을 때는 외식을 하지 않으려고 한다"며 "일주일에 약속이 두 번 있으면 적신호로 보고 조정한다,"고 말했다.

Like Choi, an increasing number of young Koreans are shifting their spending habits toward frugality.
최씨처럼 점점 더 많은 젊은 한국인들이 그들의 소비 습관을 검소함으로 바꾸고 있다.

Over the past decade, the dominant trend has been the "YOLO" (You Only Live Once) lifestyle, where people prioritize immediate happiness over investing in an uncertain future. This trend has also been significantly influenced by the rise in single-person households.
지난 10년간 사람들이 불확실한 미래에 투자하는 것보다 즉각적인 행복을 우선시하는 "욜로"(YOLO) 라이프 스타일이 지배적인 트렌드였다. 이 트렌드는 1인 가구의 증가에도 상당한 영향을 받았다.

However, the spending party has come to an end, creating a new lifestyle of "YONO" (You Only Need One). It refers to a consumption pattern that involves reducing unnecessary spending.
그러나, 소비 파티가 막을 내리면서, "YONO" (You Only Need One)의 새로운 생활 방식이 만들어졌다. 그것은 불필요한 지출을 줄이는 것을 포함하는 소비 패턴을 말한다.

"I used to feel that spending money on personal investments or enjoyment was admired by society. Nowadays, it's clear that's not the case," Choi said.
"개인적인 투자나 즐거움을 위해 돈을 쓰는 것은 사회의 존경을 받는다고 느끼곤 했다. 요즘은 그렇지 않다는 것이 분명하다."라고 최씨는 말했다.

Pre-packaged meals are displayed at a store in Seoul, June 7. Yonhap 6월 7일 서울의 한 가게에 미리 포장된 식사들이 진열되어 있다. 연합

"For instance, while there are still people who enjoy omakase (expensive Japanese-style chef-curated fine dining), the reactions have changed. People in their 20s became more like, 'I'd rather spend that on something else.' It reminds me of how the older generation reacted when young people first started enjoying that food culture."
“예를 들어 오마카세를 즐기는 사람들이 여전히 있는 반면 반응은 달라졌다. 20대는 '저는 다른 데 쓰는 게 낫겠다'는 생각이 들었다. 젊은이들이 처음 오마카세를 즐기던 시절 기성세대의 반응이 생각난다.”

High inflation and low income growth rates have pushed young Koreans to spend only on essentials.
높은 인플레이션과 낮은 소득 증가율은 젊은 한국인들이 필수품에만 소비하도록 만들었다.

Data from Statistics Korea show that from 2021 to 2023, the inflation rate stood at 2.5 percent, 5.1 percent, and 3.6 percent, respectively. During the same time, the annual salary increases were only 2.5 percent, 0.9 percent and 1.6 percent.
통계청 자료에 따르면 2021년부터 2023년까지 물가 상승률은 각각 2.5%, 5.1%, 3.6%였다. 같은 기간 연봉 인상률은 2.5%, 0.9%, 1.6%에 불과했다.

Data from NH NongHyup Bank, which analyzed the credit and debit card transaction data of its card customers from Jan. 1, 2022 to June 30, 2024, shows a clear divergence.
2022년 1월 1일부터 2024년 6월 30일까지 자사 카드 고객의 신용·체크카드 거래 데이터를 분석한 NH농협은행의 자료를 보면 확연한 차이를 보인다.

The number of dining-out transactions for young people in their 20s and 30s decreased by 9 percent in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year. Consumption of convenience store foods increased by 21 percent instead.
올해 상반기 20~30대 청년층의 외식 거래 건수는 전년 동기 대비 9% 감소했다. 대신 편의점 식품 소비가 21% 늘었다.

Baristas make beverages at a Starbucks in Seoul in this February 2023 photo. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho 2023년 2월 서울의 한 스타벅스에서 바리스타들이 음료를 만들고 있다. 코리아 타임즈 사진 이한호 기자

The number of transactions in department stores decreased by 3 percent, and the consumption of high-priced coffee, at places like Starbucks and A Twosome Place, also decreased by 13 percent. While purchases of imported cars decreased by 11 percent, purchases of domestic cars increased by 34 percent.
백화점 거래 건수는 3% 줄었고 스타벅스나 투썸플레이스 같은 곳의 고가 커피 소비도 13% 줄었다. 수입차 구매는 11% 줄어든 반면 국산차 구매는 34% 늘었다.

"Inflation is primarily affecting the sectors where young people spend the most, leading to a direct increase in living costs for those preparing for employment or with low incomes," the Federation of Korean Industries wrote in its research study in 2022. "Due to the ongoing job market difficulties and rising prices, young people have the highest perceived economic pain index among all age groups."
전국경제인연합회는 2022년 조사연구에서 "인플레이션은 주로 청년층의 소비가 가장 많은 부문에 영향을 미쳐 취업을 준비하거나 소득이 낮은 계층의 직접적인 생활비 증가로 이어지고 있다"고 썼다. 이어 "지속적인 고용시장 어려움과 물가 상승으로 청년층의 체감 경제 고통지수가 전 연령대에서 가장 높다."고 분석했다.

Additionally, rising interest in asset management among young people has also played a role.
또 청년층의 자산운용에 대한 관심이 높아진 점도 한몫했다.

"We are the generation who should have a lifetime career where we must independently prepare for our retirement living expenses. I would prefer to use the money for investments rather than just wasting it," Lee, a 30-year-old office worker, said.
회사원 이모 씨(30)는 "우리는 독립적으로 노후 생활비를 준비해야 하는 평생 직업을 가져야 하는 세대라며 그 돈을 그냥 낭비하기보다는 투자에 쓰고 싶다,"고 말했다.

However, the trend doesn't mean that young people are frugal in every aspect of life, as hobby-related overseas spending has increased at the same time.
하지만 취미 관련 해외 지출이 동시에 증가한 만큼 젊은 층이 생활 모든 면에서 검소하다는 의미는 아니다.

"Instead of owning goods, they (younger people) do not hesitate to spend on experiences such as sports or overseas travel," NH NongHyup Bank said.
NH농협은행은 "그들(젊은 층)은 물건을 소유하는 대신 스포츠나 해외여행 등의 체험에 지출을 서슴지 않는다"고 말했다.

#YOLO욜로 #YONO요노 #inflation인플레이션 #frugality검소함 #spendinghabits소비습관 #essentialspending필수지출 #assetmanagement자산운용 #interestrates금리 #incomegrowth소득증가 #economicpainindex경제고통지수