The worst part of living alone in Korea? Laundry.
Washing is fine — the machine handles that. The problem is drying. No balcony in my studio, so I'd set up a drying rack in the middle of the room. The living room disappears. Clothes take two days. During monsoon, three days — and they start smelling musty.
I finally got a dryer. LG TROMM heat pump. Honestly the single biggest quality-of-life upgrade since I started living alone.
I hesitated at first
Dryers cost 500,000-1,000,000 won. Not a small decision. Plus worries about clothes shrinking and electricity bills.
But when monsoon hit and laundry sat damp for 4 days growing mold smell... I stopped overthinking and just bought it.
Why heat pump
Three types of dryers:
- Electric heater: Cheap but high electricity, more fabric damage
- Heat pump: Low-temp drying, less damage, lower electricity. More expensive.
- Gas: Fast but needs gas line. Rare in Korea now.
Heat pump uses about 1/3 the electricity of heater type. Running 3-4 times a week costs about 10,000-20,000 won/month extra. Manageable.
Towels feel like hotel towels
First thing I noticed. Air-dried towels are stiff. Dryer towels are soft and fluffy like a hotel. First time I touched one: "Is this my towel?"
Friend came over, used a towel, asked where I bought it. "It's just the dryer." Next month she bought one too.
My laundry routine completely changed
Before: Wash → set up rack → hang → wait 2 days → flip → wait more → fold Now: Wash → dryer → fold into drawer. Done.
Finishing laundry the same day you wash it is unreasonably satisfying. Bedsheets washed in the morning, back on the bed by evening.
Installation tips
Stacking on washing machine saves the most space. Need a drum washing machine (top-loaders can't stack). Get the stacking kit.
Dedicated outlet required. No extension cords. 220V direct plug.
Drain options: Built-in water tank (empty periodically) or hose to drain. I went hose — set and forget.
Do clothes shrink?
Honestly? 100% cotton shrinks a bit the first 1-2 washes. Buy slightly larger or use low-temp mode. Delicate/wool cycles minimize shrinkage.
Towels, underwear, socks, bedding, workout clothes — zero issues. That's 80% of daily laundry.
Monsoon is when you'll thank yourself
The dryer's value peaks during monsoon. Outside: rain. Humidity: 90%. Laundry: won't dry. Dryer: 2 hours, fluffy and done.
If I could only add one appliance to a studio apartment, it wouldn't be an air purifier or robot vacuum. It'd be the dryer.
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