South Korean authors Kim Hana and Hwang Sunwoo have made headlines with their bestselling book "Two Women Living Together," which chronicles their decision to purchase a shared home in Seoul and live as friends rather than a romantic couple. The narrative details daily life with four cats, differing habits, and occasional quarrels, but it also exposes a deeper social issue: in South Korea, cohabiting partners lack legal recognition and therefore miss out on tax benefits, welfare support, medical decision‑making rights and the ability to act as a primary caregiver. The authors point out that a 2025 progressive bill aimed to extend the definition of family to include such arrangements was blocked by the conservative government, leaving many like them invisible on official paperwork. The review notes similar legal protections exist in France under the Pacte Civil de Solidarité and were once considered in Germany, highlighting a global trend of people turning to platonic partnerships as a response to rising housing costs and shifting family structures. While the book is praised for its wit and intimacy, the reviewer wishes for more context on the tradition of unmarried women living together in Korea and how neighbours perceive these arrangements.

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