Here's a proposition: you can participate in a game. If you win the game, your prize is 3 billion won. If you lose, your youthful physique will be transformed into an elderly body. Do you take the bet? This scenario was the plot of 2008 thriller The Game. The main character struggles to save his body which he sacrificed on a bet. That is fiction, of course, but what about you? Which is more valuable: your youth or 3 billion won? Is 3 billion won worth losing your youth?
I would like to believe people in their twenties would not accept such an irrational bet. I have faith they strong enough to overcome the lure of money. And I believe they have an ability of living this difficult world.
However, the decision is had and makes us cry. We feel pain and don’t know how to live rest of the life. Difficult forces us to choose between 3 billion and our youth. What should we do to live will in a tough society?
Youth Fall Into The Depression
Why assessment in which 20-year-olds falls into mannerism comes out? Though a lot of analysis has been done, it concludes that the seniority system dwindled after IMF influence and other structural problem are prime cause of the 20-year-olds mannerism situation. At this time, the seniority system is the system that rises together maintaining a shape constantly. In other words, that is an inefficient system which safely raises everyone and fosters less competition but disregards the person’s ability. However, the problem is that the seniority system was chosen by past generations, before IMF influence, consequently, system divides stable layers centered IMF, from unstable layers that should compete with each other. As a result, present 20-year-olds have lived under the imperfect system competing over and over again. Additionally, high college tuitions, increased employment specifications, permanent temporary employee starts, and 880,000 won per month internship salaries and to the aggravate with the system.
Generational Depression Outrun Mannerism
Choi Min Hyeok(28) has heard entering the college is possible by doing one special thing. However in 2002, he couldn’t adapt to the rapidly changing college entrance system. As a result, he couldn’t enter university as he hoped. After that, he continued his struggle to enter the college, studying in academy and finally succeeded. But university wasn’t what he expected because he had to take care of TOEIC, credit, license and internship necessary for quality employment.
The young men of Korea have suffered from depression since their time in high school due to the stress caused by this situation. According to a university survey of 1363 students, 42%(573) claimed that they experienced depression and 6%(81) had attempted suicide. Experts have concluded that as employment rate have decreased, this generation's rates have increased. Another problem is that many college students avoid visiting mental hospitals, just in case it will be considered a disadvantage in the employment arena. Of the students who have experienced depression, students who receive psychiatric treatment is only 4%(55). A melancholy mood is very normal, it is often seen as a sign of our maturing spirits. However if it develops in to a disease, it can reduce job performance. Insomnia. meal disorders, and digestive problems ensure. On account of these problems, their social lives are ruined. Depression cannot be overcome alone unlike temporary melancholy mood. In more serious cases, depression patients attempt suicides when they think circumstances can no longer improve. In the case of university students, they go so far as to commit suicide because they have great potential to act impulsively, experts say.
Presidential Election Makes Youth Hard
The structural problem of society are not only one reason for his generation's mental state. The 20s mentally suffered from vote called the flower of democracy. In 2012, the phenomenon was especially apparent. In December 2012, 20s who carried candles for half tuition in 2011 carried a ballot paper. According to the exit polls done by three main broadcasting companies, the turnout for people in their 20s was 65.2%. This was a rapidly increase from the April 29th general election where turnout was 41.7%. It is also an 8.7% increase from 2002 when No Mu hyeon received 56.5% of the 2030 generation's vote. Twenty-something in 2012 show tendencies of supporting the opposition. Exit polls show 65.8% of 20-year olds voted for Moon Jae in and 33.7% voted for Park Geun hye. Before the presidential election, the ruling and opposition parties asked for pledges of support from 20 year olds; as they considered them a crucial voting bloc. Though candidate Moon Jae In received high support from 20 year olds were psychologically traumatized. It was a devastating situation for a generation who just started paying attention to politics and hoped the candidate of their choice would won. After the presidential election defeated, successive suicide of subcontracted workers who supported Moon Jae In is also example of psychological trauma. In this example, we understand psychological trauma is not limited to 20-year-olds.
The Reason Why We Need Healing
In the late 1990's the definition of healing was no longer limited to the body but the mind as well. This was also the period that marked a transition from industrialization to an information-based society. As the paradigm has changed from industry to knowledge, people were in a state of shock. Korea citizens tried to adapt to this new world and survive somehow. As a result, "self-improvement fever" took hold and the subject dominated publishing and broadcasting just like the "healing culture currently."
However, circumstances have worsened with the United States economic crisis. Trying to adapt to a new world turned out to be a failure and people were left wounded. As a result, the "healing culture" appeared on the scene. In England and America, Buddhism meditation books have actually rose in popularity since the 2008 financial crisis.
Korea may not be different from other countries, or perhaps, the situation is much worse than any other countries. In case of the West, the transition to an information-oriented society took 200-300 years. China and Japan have had more than 100 years based on early adoption of Western culture. What about our country? Some people identify the Japanese colonial era with the start of industrialization, but it isn’t considered intact industrialization due to Japanese invasion of Asian continent. Therefore, many people consider the 1960's as the beginning of the Korean industrial era; ushered in by the Park Jung-hee regime. Considering all of this, Korea has gone through these changes in just a century. When we examine people between the ages of 20-40 years, their grandparents lived in an agricultural society, their parents lived in an industrialization society, and now they live in an information-oriented society. As cultural generation gaps grow, cultural conflict also runs deep. This trend is clearly revealed in elections whereby support for political parties is completely divided different by age group.
Meanwhile, Korea has good global standing. The world has been astonished by the Miracle of the Han River is signified by Korea hosting the Olympic Games only 30 years after the Korean war; joining the OECD in 1996; and currently holding 7th place in the "20-50 club($20,000 per capita income, 50 million populations)." Korea is definitely in the ranks of developed countries.
Yet the success has complicated the matter. The highest suicide rate among all other OECD countries is now common knowledge. Horrible crimes occur constantly; to such an extent it is no longer newsworthy. From family conflict, bullying in the workplace and school, lock of respect for teacher authority, students, suicide, and unilateral employee dismissal based on old political grudges... The Republic of Korea really needs Healing.
Healing Culture Sweeping Over the Whole Country
The fever isn’t limited publishing industry. Healing program in the broadcasting industry are becoming popular as well. SBS’s Healing Camp is one example. Previous talk show were full of competition and cress behavior, but healing programs invite people to display empathy and sympathy in the disclosure of personal stories. MCs, guests and viewers are often brought to tears. MBC’s Guru Show- Fortune Teller which had been abolished by Gang Ho Dong’s temporary retirement, has since restarted and is also similar to Healing Camp.
Even some municipal corporations encourage Healing. Gyeongju-si is planning the acquire land for a Healing Center by 2017. Pyeongchang-gun is scheduled to construct a Healing Center by 2018. In addition, Healing is becoming popular in music, fashion, food, and the housing market. Books, TV programs, and special events are all infusing encouragement, consolation, and various forms of social and personal healing into thejir models.
What We Needed is Passion
Miss Lee, who attending the Y University in Seoul, says begrudgingly “My mom seemed to have had an enjoyable college life. However, we are different. We can’t enjoy college because we are busy collecting employment specification." Do you think our parents' generation experienced more happiness in their twenties?
Mr. Park, participant of the Gwangju Democratization Movement, now a middle-aged man, does not agree. "In our day, it was natural that university graduates found jobs with relative ease, but competition was still present. Competition for entering nameless universities was 4 to 1 or 3 to 1. Therefore, there were lots of people who couldn’t go to university”. Also he adds, “It doesn’t make sense for today's youth-who haven't been hit with teargas under a dictatorship-to claim we lived in a romantic period.” Thus, suggesting we lived with ease is like spitting on our faces. There is no objective evidence that proves the present generation has more difficulty than we did. In the end, everyone has no choice but to ‘shut up and proceed.’ No one lives for me. No one solve our problem spontaneously. Struggle and hard work are the only ways to succeed.
By Park Jeong-Yeon CP Reporter
pjy2616@cnu.ac.kr
One day I read a piece of writing.
“If you pass by hell, pass as quickly as possible”.
I remember the words of Winston Churchill.
Are you living life like a hell?
Are you being pressed down by the weight of life?
Did you give up, because of adversity?
If so, get to your feet!
Continue to walk even if you can’t see that lies ahead. Until you escape the hell, vigorously proceed towards the success waiting for you in the end.