More Koreans frustrated by 'broken social ladder'

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By Lee Hae-rin

A growing number of Koreans in the low- and middle-income brackets are becoming increasingly frustrated by the so-called broken social ladder, as chances to ascend in the hierarchical structure of society continue to diminish amid a widening gap between the haves and the have-nots.

Kim Jae-sung, 26, a university graduate in Seoul, is one such Korean who sees no chance of climbing the societal ladder. He is about to enter the job market, but sees little hope because his estimated income and debt augur a continuation of tough living conditions in the future. "I have to work all my life but won't ever be able to afford a house," is what he and his friends often tell each other these days.

"My friends and I feel that monthly income cannot even guarantee our near future. There is no chance of a rags to riches story anymore," Kim told The Korea Times. "Without hitting the jackpot in cryptocurrency, the stock market, or on YouTube, turning my life around seems impossible."

Kim Jeong-seok, 41, an engineer from Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, also shared with his friends and colleagues the difficulties he faces in overcoming social inequality.

"I feel like it's getting more and more difficult to achieve a better living standard out of individual effort, compared to the past when I was in my 20s. The inequality seems to get stronger especially as financial income from investments far surpass earned income in all classes," Kim said.

According to a survey released by Statistics Korea, Nov. 17, six out of 10 adults here believe there is little chance of them improving their socioeconomic status. Only 25.2 percent of 36,000 respondents answered that individual effort can improve their socioeconomic status.

The lack of hope in climbing the social ladder was stronger among people who considered themselves to be in the low-income bracket. Among respondents who ranked themselves in the high-income level, 55.9 percent answered that their generation has a high chance of climbing the social ladder. But this dropped to 14.9 percent among those who ranked themselves in the low-income group.

"We need to understand that this discourse on a lack of upward social mobility reflects reality. Social classes and the inheritance of wealth are becoming more permanent due to a lack of factors in the education and employment sectors which could push people up toward the upper part of the ladder," Lee Byoung-hoon, a professor of sociology at Chung-Ang University told The Korea Times.

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Hong Seul-ki, 30, a freelance marketer from Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, says she has experienced discrimination in her career based on her academic background.

"I think it is evident that my generation's college entrance and employment is largely dependent on the economic power of their parents. What is worse is that there is a social atmosphere that justifies such discrimination," Hong said to The Korea Times.

Members of a civic group hold a press conference in front of Cheong Wa Dae, in this Sept. 10, 2019, photo, calling on then-Justice Minister Cho Kuk to step down over allegations that he used his status and influence to help his children gain admission into prestigious universities. Korea Times file

A 2019 scandal involving former Justice Minister Cho Kuk showed a part of that reality. In the scandal where Cho and his wife allegedly used their status and influence to help their children receive academic advantages, it was found that socially and financially influential parents at prestigious high schools offered internship opportunities to each other's children to help them gain admission into prestigious universities.

"It is common all over the world that parents tend to educate their children and maintain or elevate their status. However, their far-reaching influence on the job market and individual assets is a structural problem in Korean society, which leads to social inequality," Lee at Chung-Ang University said.

Another factor affecting social mobility in Korea is real estate, which accounts for a major proportion of household assets. As housing prices surge, the wealth gap between those who have a house and those who don't is widening to the point where the latter almost cannot catch up.

"In terms of assets, the gap between those who own real estate in the capital area and those who don't has become very wide over the last 10 years. It can't be overcome in a short period of time, so moving upward in the social class without real estate is unlikely," said Park Mun-su, a 31-year-old program developer.

A global report also showed Korea ranked relatively low in social mobility compared to its economic status.

In the Global Social Mobility Index 2020 from the World Economic Forum, Korea ranked 25th out of 82 countries, while its economic power ranked 12th.

The report states: "As a result (of lack of social mobility), an individual's opportunities in life remain tethered to their socio-economic status at birth, entrenching historical inequalities."

Experts point out that government must ramp up efforts to narrow the gap between the rich and poor to overcome inequality.

"The social gap puts people at different starting points, and the gap will only widen without active intervention by the government in the public sector. Public education must be strengthened, and individuals must be evaluated and employed based on their competence, rather than their social (class) status," Lee said.

"Some claim that individual effort can lead to winning the competition, but they sound like a privileged few on the upper regions of the ladder. Most people who are in a neglected social group can barely make their voices heard on inequality and that is why a public approach is necessary," the professor concluded.