In the southwestern region of Jeolla, South Korea, Eun Seo-Ran and her adopted daughter Lee Eo-Rie begin their day by having tea before working in separate rooms; Seo-Ran as an essayist and Eo-Rie studies for an exam. Later, they cook lunch, eat, and watch their favorite comedy series. The sound of their giggling fills the living room of their three-bedroom apartment as green cabbage fields stretch for miles outside. In the evening, they eat dinner, do household chores, and practice yoga before bed, chatting about friends and work.
Despite being adopted, Eo-Rie is 38 – just five years younger than Seo-Ran. The women have been best friends and roommates for seven years and have made a unique family. Last May, Seo-Ran adopted Eo-Rie in order to be recognized as family under South Korea’s strict family law which only recognizes those related by blood, marriage, or adoption.
Seo-Ran grew up in a family where women were expected to quit their jobs upon marriage and become lifelong caregivers for their in-laws. Determined to live differently, she decided at a young age that she did not want to get married. After moving across the country for various jobs, she settled in a rural county of Jeolla, and soon after, she met Eo-Rie, who had also moved to escape city life. The two quickly became close and decided to live together for safety and companionship. Over time, they found that they had created their own unique family and decided to buy their apartment together.
The story of Seo-Ran and Eo-Rie challenges traditional ideas of marriage and family in South Korea, where strict gender roles and patriarchal family culture remain deeply ingrained. They represent a growing movement in South Korea to expand the definition of family to include non-traditional companionships, such as unmarried couples or friends living together, and demand rights and services available to conventional family units.