Sometimes on places like Reddit, I come across claims that Korea suffers from extreme wealth inequality, widespread corruption, and severe low birth rates. Along with this, I often see posts saying that Korea is a dystopian country that has already collapsed. After reading such content, I wanted to find out if any of this was true, so I thoroughly analyzed and compared numerous Korea-related statistics, OECD data, and international statistical websites.
For example, when it comes to the Corruption Perceptions Index, Korea ranks around 30th, classifying it as a relatively clean country. The Gini coefficient, which measures income inequality, is in the low 0.3 range—comparable to countries like Italy, New Zealand, and Switzerland. This isn’t a particularly small number, but it’s certainly not excessively high either. In terms of median disposable income, Korea ranks 15th, which is by no means low. Working hours have also dropped significantly over the past decade, and compared to the OECD average, Koreans now work only about 30–40 minutes more per day. Looking at various other statistics, I found that while there are some areas of concern or bad, many of the negative claims circulating online are either unsubstantiated or highly exaggerated.
Of course, Korea is not a perfect country. There are certainly troubling statistics, and I am not writing this to argue that Korea is good country. I acknowledge that there are areas in need of improvement. My question is not about claiming Korea is “better,” but rather why do these falsehoods circulate so widely as if they were facts? Are they a kind of fake news?
Sometimes, honestly, I even find these bizarre claims about Korea laughable. Often, the people making such arguments come from countries whose own fertility rates are dropping rapidly, whose economies are struggling, and whose political situations are unstable. This makes me suspect that spreading fake or distorted “knowledge” about Korea might be a way for them to feel a sense of superiority or self-righteousness despite their own country’s difficulties.
These days, on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, I also see people disparaging other countries while flaunting their own nation’s supposed superiority. I find it unfortunate. It feels like the world is becoming more divided, where mocking others has become part of daily life.
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