Zero savings and in the red: Why a man on 'Love War' acts as a 'servant'

Economic hardship can profoundly impact the psychological dynamics of romantic relationships. In the 13th episode of the JTBC variety program 'Love War,' a male participant's dire financial situation and the resulting imbalance in his relationship were brought to light.

"Zero savings, in the red"... A confession of financial struggle

During a conversation among the cast, the male participant revealed he is facing severe economic difficulties. He disclosed that he has 0 won in savings and is actually in a deficit. Although he had accumulated assets while working for a large corporation, he has exhausted all of them and is now focused on repaying debt, leaving him with no financial leeway.

The participant shared specific details regarding his debt. He previously spent 100 million won to build a house, of which 80 million won was covered by a bank loan. Additionally, he leases a vehicle worth 70 million won, resulting in monthly lease payments between 800,000 and 900,000 won. This financial pressure explains why he often walks on eggshells around his partner or relies on sponsorships to manage dating expenses.

How financial strain causes relationship imbalance

The episode highlights how the participant's behavior—appearing to serve the female participant—is directly tied to his economic status. Other participants noted that his decision to act like a "servant" was a strategic choice to sustain the relationship despite his lack of financial freedom. His behavior was so pronounced that some reacted by joking he should change his name to "Jeong Ha-in" (meaning "servant Jeong").

The conversation also drew attention to how financial deficiency leads to a lack of psychological stability. The participant mentioned that because his circumstances are so difficult, he lacks mental peace and finds himself becoming irritated by trivial matters. Other participants suggested that it might be better to wait to date until one has worked hard to rebuild savings and regained the mental capacity to focus on a partner, suggesting that his current financial state is driving psychological instability within the relationship.