This post is trending because it taps into a highly relatable and often criticized aspect of Korean society: the pressure to maintain appearances and acquire luxury items like cars, even if it means living beyond one's means. The 'Used Car Destroyer' is a popular online personality, and their direct critique of this flawed financial logic resonates with many who have witnessed or experienced the 'car poor' phenomenon.
A recent post from a popular online personality, 'Used Car Destroyer,' has sparked a heated debate across Korean online communities, highlighting the all-too-common phenomenon of going 'car poor.' The post details a scenario where someone, after a single good month earning around ₩4 million (approximately $3,000 USD), decides to buy a Mercedes-Benz on full installment. The 'Used Car Destroyer' points out the critical flaw in this thinking: mistaking a one-time 'high run' income for a stable average. This person, after browsing on Encar (a major Korean used car platform), convinces themselves that a ₩1 million monthly car payment is manageable because they still have ₩3 million left over from their recent peak earnings. However, as the post emphasizes, this individual has only *once* earned ₩4 million, with previous months bringing in as little as ₩500,000. This risky financial decision, driven by a desire to 'flex' (gao) with a luxury car, resonates deeply with many Koreans who witness or experience similar pressures to maintain appearances, often leading to significant debt.
🇰🇷 KOREAN REACTIONS 10
Seriously, what an absolute idiot.
Buying a car with cash upfront seems like the cheapest way to go.
Buying an imported car with cash upfront??? Rich bro, share some of that wealth!
The installment guys seem richer... don't they care about interest? lol
Even if you consistently earn ₩4 million, spending ₩1 million on a car is a lot. If the installment is ₩1 million, you're probably spending at least ₩1.5 million a month on the car in total. For someone with unstable income to think like that, it's better to get into debt early than to realize it when they're old.
A Benz in a one-room village? It's one of three things: a small business owner parking to visit their side piece, a used car dealer (looks fine on the outside, but it's cheap junk), or a 'yeong-kkeul' (all-in) buyer (same, looks fine, cheap junk).
A Benz that sounds like a tractor when you start it lololol
I only earn ₩3 million and I'm a bus-riding pedestrian. If I bought a car, it wouldn't be negative, but the positive is too small.
Flexing with an E-Class was like 10 years ago. Now to really show off with a Benz, you need a G-Wagen or GLS. The EQ is a laugh every time.
A car is a liability, not an asset.