Housing
traditional housingKorea's characteristic traditional straw- or tile-roofed houses are quickly being replaced by boxy houses and high-rise apartment buildings that all look alike. In the past, the norm was to have several generations of one family living under one roof. However, the modern generation favors a nuclear family, and the demand for new housing far exceeds the supply, driving up housing prices in the cities. Modern housing still uses the traditional ondol method (flat stones underneath floors that retain heat for long periods after being heated) for keeping warm during the winter, although nowadays water pipes are used instead of stones.