• This is not a political discussion.
• Speaking as an outsider.
• All my information is theoretical, not accurate.
• I seen Kurgesagt video sound alarms on South Korea becoming an Elderly State: A nation of elders with few young people which will destroy it inside out.
• The video says it all: South Korea is doomed. Policies voted by a majority elderly populace, ballooning house prices that minic pre-2008 financial crisis, polarization between men and women, and hopeless attitude towards life.
• I have a different view: Humans never experienced a scenario where the majority of the population become elderly (40 -> 50%). Throwing money at an unknown scenario such as low birth rates is slinging stones down an endless well.
• Much of the 20th century had baby booms after post-war economy boom in South Korea where people could live hopeful lives seeing their nation grow out of poverty. It’s hard for a person who grew up in this period to understand why young people are so unhappy and stressed. They lived in a time where companies were expanding, some bumps came along the way (IMF and Dot com bubble), and people didn’t have to compare each other so much, focusing on living day to day.
• Looking at South Korea’s culture, there is an unhealthy obsession to live a Perfect Life. Good job, a happy lover, a house, and kids. All of that is replaced with Luxury goods, Promotions, more money, and constant comparisons. It leads to a populace that thinks more about their co-worker’s achievements than living with the fact their life is already good.
• South Korea. You done an insane speed run from a nation destroyed by the Korean War into a nation that has the highest rate of college graduates. You can eat good food, your culture is popular in America, Europe, and Smaller parts of the world. Your music is iconic that It competes with American stars. Your films and dramas are watched more in the world (Squid Game, Train to Busan, Parasyte) and more known than Hollywood films. Your living standards are off the charts (automated homes, clean streets, cheap public transportation, and safe streets). Foreigners want to learn your cuisine from Kimchi-Jiggae to Dalgona, people outside of Korea look up to you. All your video searches on YouTube are tourism,food, and culture.
• South Koreans, give yourselfs a pat on the back. There is no shame to constantly think about what you don’t have when many around the world are jealous of how you live, not hate that you don’t got it all. Even people in Japan are getting into Korean culture and films.
• Your country has struggled, living under military dictatorships, and here you are standing having impeached a president that threatened to undo all the sacrifices made to achieve democracy. Yet your nation faces problems: high living costs, disillusioned youth, a culture intolerant to change, politicians who shamelessly collude with Chaebols to keep their power secure, a justice system that gives unfair rulings to serious crimes, and worries of the future.
• If you have so much to hate about South Korea, there is little to care about what you have. Calm down, close your eyes, and look around you. You can buy food when many have to wait in food banks. You can take out credit to pay for overspending when corrupt banks charge you high interest rates. You can use public transit than having to wait in traffic for three hours. You don’t need to worry about getting harassed by gangs collecting protection brackets. Your life is deemed mediocre by others, living another day is a sign of courage.
• So to Kurgesagt, cheers to uploading the video because if South Koreans can make electronics, cars, planes, apps, good food, great music, great dramas, and good public transit, birth rates are to add to the list of problems South Koreans are figuring out how to turn a problem into an opportunity. Cheers.
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