Iwant to get this question right, I know it’s a complex topic,” I say nervously.
It’s Saturday night in Gangnam, Seoul; a bustling neighbourhood inseparably linked with the K-pop song.
Inside a building surrounded by bright neon advertisements, a group of South Koreans in their late 20s and early 30s stare back at me.
I’ve entered the hive of the ‘Honey Bee English’ class.
After some hesitation, I ask my first question.
“Why do young South Koreans refer to their country as ‘Hell Joseon’?”
Inside ‘Hell Joseon’
South Korea has experienced extraordinary economic growth since the Korean War ended in 1953, but the speed of change has opened a chasm between generations.
Societal pressure, competition and family expectation weigh heavily on young adults.
The suicide rate in South Korea is one of the highest in the world.
“It’s difficult to live in Korea. It’s getting worse and worse,” says Kate, a woman in the English class.
Korea was formed after the fall of the Joseon dynasty.
Because it failed, ‘Joseon’ is sometimes used as a pejorative term.
“For Koreans, it’s like we’re insulting ourselves,” fellow student Charlie explains.
“In the Joseon dynasty we suffered a lot, so we’re calling it that because that history wasn’t good.”
She is preparing for the national exams; the culmination of her lifetime of study so far.
Even if Ms Kim makes it into a top university, it’s unlikely the parental pressure will fade.
In fact, John-Hun Kim, a student at Donguk University, says that’s when it really kicks in.
“After you make it to university it starts again with job seeking.
‘My friend’s son got a good job — what are you doing? You should try harder’,” he says.
“After you get a job it starts again. ‘My friend’s son got married, what are you doing? You should go out and date or something’. And on, and on.”
It's an interesting article ... more here ... 'Hell Joseon' and the South Korean generation pushing to breaking point - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
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30-01-2020, 03:57 AM #1Thailand Expat
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SOUTH KOREA ... living in a Hell Joseon
Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago ...
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30-01-2020, 06:52 AM #2Thailand Expat
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There is similar schtick about Chinese 'Tiger mums' driving their offspring hard to perfoem, and of course the formidable and much cliche'd Jewish momma. But what do these groups have in common? You only need look at Uni results- they outperform, on average, compared to the rest of us. A bit of pressure is not a bad thing.
Anyway, interesting article. The old Korean guard- inward looking, conservative, xenophobic- are rapidly dying out, and the new breed are a lot more cosmopolitan and frankly likable. Surely a change for the better, even if they still got Tiger mums.
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30-01-2020, 08:36 AM #3R.I.P.
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If academic results are considered the be all and end all.
Originally Posted by sabang
The Japs have a term (Hikikomori ) for the people that lock themselves in their room and cannot face leaving it due to mental breakdowns over the pressure, it's such a common occurrence. Estimates put their numbers at over 1 million.
Had a neigbhour's kid here called Mee Tang. Have Money. I asked why, and they said that it will bring her money. Why not 'Have Happiness' I thought.
Have always gotten on really well with the K-poppers (In Australia and Thailand). The guys like drinking, football, women, and having a laugh. Originally Posted by sabang
The women like having fun and rooting.
Miss this chick after she had to head back.
Though as with most Asians, how they act when away from the motherland, and thus unshackled from the social and cultural pressures, is likely quite different to when in their own society.
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