this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2026
323 points (98.8% liked)

World News

54048 readers
4046 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

jackpots in 2025 averaged 2.06 billion won ($1.41 million), which falls to 1.4 billion won once taxes are deducted.

That after-tax amount is below the average price of an apartment in Seoul, which was 1.5 billion won in December 2025, according to separate data compiled by KB Land, the property data tracker of KB Kookmin Bank.

all 44 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] pulsewidth@lemmy.world 98 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

TFW regular lottery money isn't enough for an average apartment in Seoul, let alone living expenses and upkeep costs.

13058

[–] markovs_gun@lemmy.world 81 points 2 weeks ago

TFW people realize Squid Game and Parasite are social commentary and not just fun meme shows

[–] Species8472@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Is it The Fuck What? I have no clue. I'm old enough to remember that ROFL was a thing, gramps ain't keeping up.

[–] Polkira@piefed.ca 24 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] FooBarrington@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

When someone doesn't know an initialism?

[–] tgcoldrockn@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

the face when

[–] expatriado@lemmy.world 54 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

no wonder they have the lowest fertility

[–] lechekaflan@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

Exactly, and my country now has some of the largest populations of expat Koreans, because to them it's cheaper living here and they get to learn English faster.

[–] lechekaflan@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago

What Fatboy Kim loves to capitalize on, the awful costs of living south of the DMZ.

[–] Pacattack57@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Seems like they are misrepresenting the costs of buying and renting. It’s the same in the US. If you tried to BUY an apartment they’d easily charge you close to 1 million in New York. It’s the same concept. Obviously rent in Seoul doesn’t cost 1 billion won per month.

[–] hraegsvelmir@ani.social 12 points 2 weeks ago

I don't think they are misrepresenting it. Between the NY State Lotto, Powerball and Mega Millions, the state lotto has the lowest estimated cash payout post-tax, and it's still $1.6 million prize. You might be priced out of Chelsea and Soho, but there are plenty of decent enough neighborhoods in the outer boroughs where you can find an apartment for $750,000. The Powerball is the next smallest pot, with an estimated lump sum payment of $29.4 million, which would certainly let you buy an apartment just about anywhere in NYC you wanted, and still have plenty left over for living expenses to not have to work again.

Even then, the NY State Lotto has a smaller jackpot than typical at the moment, considering the average jackpot is $10.26 million, according to the state's website. So, at least in this case, the NY State Lotto still offers one a feasible, if not reasonable, path to homeownership, while the Korean Lotto doesn't offer that with its average jackpot for those who live in Seoul.

[–] Cort@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

Depends on what part of the city, but Bronx/Queens is about half that. Manhattan is double tho

[–] stupidcasey@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

This is more a small lottery, if the US had lotteries that were that little it would be about the price of a house here too, not to say $1.4M is cheap for a house but the US lotteries can easily be <$40M.

[–] TonyTonyChopper@mander.xyz 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I thought most US lottery winnings were like $10

[–] weew@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That's not the jackpot prize

[–] TonyTonyChopper@mander.xyz 1 points 2 weeks ago

best I can do is a tenner

[–] CeeBee_Eh@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Well, $1.4M is less than $40M. So not sure what you're trying to say.

[–] sepiroth154@feddit.nl 2 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Buying lottery tickets to get a house... Maybe this man should get a financial advisor.

[–] bassomitron@lemmy.world 40 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yes, because it's totally normal for apartments to cost over $1 million/1.5b won.

[–] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I mean, I buy up to a dozen lottery tickets a year next door in Japan. Paying off the house would be first and, were I not already a homeowner, buying one would certainly top the list. Those lottery tickets amount to something like 3600 JPY a year which is probably like 20 USD or so. It's not a financial plan, but I wouldn't complain if I won. I used to spend more than that at starbucks in a month.

[–] sepiroth154@feddit.nl 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Spoiler alert: you won't win.

[–] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 1 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Ah but I have won... just not enough to do more than pay for about a year's worth of tickets. It's not an investment strategy; it's entertainment. If I ever get rich (and I don't expect to), nice bonus.

[–] sepiroth154@feddit.nl 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

That's how they get you! Also, I meant the jackpot.

[–] Honytawk@feddit.nl 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The chance of you playing your entire life and never winning a significant amount is much much much higher than you winning decently once.

Because those lottery businesses aren't going to give out more money than they make. Your chance of getting more out of it than you put in is none.

But you do win every time you don't play.

[–] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 1 points 2 weeks ago

People waste their money on all kinds of dumb shit. Posters, pictures, plastic toys that will just end up in some landfill, etc. This is mine and I almost certainly spend a lot less on it (again, $20-$25 a year in USD depending on the exchange rate). I almost never eat out. I have real investments. This is entertainment.

Edit: to clarify, dumb here means not necessary. Support art and artists, but don't by plastic stuff that's going to end up in a landfill

[–] Visstix@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Hey, it worked. Sort of.