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S. Korea’s younger generation not so proud of heritage

December 15, 2015
South Korean soccer fans react after Russian soccer team scored a goal against South Korea during the group H World Cup soccer match between Russia and South Korea, at a public viewing venue in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, June 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

By Yoon Ja-young

The country’s younger generation is not as proud of their Korean identity as their parents are. They also have less trust in the government and conglomerates.

According to the latest “Korea Social Trends 2015″ report recently released by Statistics Korea, 79 percent of baby-boomers, born between 1955 and 1963, say they are proud of being Korean. In the case of their children, dubbed the echo generation, born between 1979 and 1992, however, only 66.9 percent say they felt the same.

The young generation meanwhile is more open to cohabitation. When asked if they approve of free union, 61.9 percent of the echo generation say “Yes” while only 34.4 percent of baby-boomers agree.

The report showed that over half of those in their 20s and 30s were single as of 2010, while only 35.1 percent of young people were single in 1995. One out of five people between 35 and 39 were single in 2010, which compares with 4.6 percent, or one out of 20, in 1995.

While only 14.6 percent of the baby-boomers regard themselves as progressive, 29.5 percent of the echo generation do. The ratio of conservatives is 43.8 percent for baby-boomers and 19.7 percent for the echo generation.

The echo generation shows little regard for the establishment with only 28.5 percent trusting the government and 34.2 percent trusting conglomerates. For the baby-boomers, 36.8 percent say they trust government and 41.6 percent trust conglomerates.

Koreans are most stressed when they are in high school, with 47.6 percent of girls and 33.7 percent of boys saying they are stressed. Nearly half of high school students say they are discriminated against due to their performance at school.

3 Comments

  1. Horangih Gomtoki

    December 15, 2015 at 3:49 PM

    Of course. All that globalism has made young Koreans reject their own race, culture, and nation. They want to look ‘western’ via plastic surgery, and they want to imitate rappers. And they worship America. Since Korea doesn’t have ‘gay marriage’ like America does, young Koreans are so ashamed. Young Koreans grew up on junky video game, trash music, and idiocy on the internet.

    And Korea Times promoted this garbage along with other Korean elites. Korea is just a servant whore dog of America. Young Koreans want Korea to become mini-me of America. Since Korea is still different from America, young Koreans are ashamed.

    Reply

    • Theodore

      December 15, 2015 at 9:47 PM

      Get out of here Horangih Gomtoki, you crazy Japanese netizen. Your comments don’t deserve replies, they the ramblings of a wierdo. Please, seek mental health where you can find it. Stop spending so much time on the internet bashing Korea. Get a life buddy.

  2. Horangih Gomtoki

    December 15, 2015 at 3:59 PM

    Young Koreans will be more ‘proud’ of Korea if Korea has ‘gay marriage’ and more ‘diversity’. To young Koreans who worship America, a nation only has value when it is more like America.
    Whatever happens in America is good. Whatever prevails in America is good.

    If Korea fills up with lots of ‘diversity’ and if it has homosexual propaganda 24/7, then young Koreans will be so proud.

    That’s how they think. Korea exists only to be be like America and be liked by America.

    A nation of idiot slaves.

    Reply