Inter-generation grand contract sorely missed
Facebook is abuzz with a for-and-against discourse over "Hell Joseon," a nickname for Korea used by its young people lamenting a lack of opportunities, a tight job market and no hope of social mobility.
It was triggered by KAIST professor Lee Byung-tae, who departed from the usual apologetic tone of parents and on Facebook scolded the younger generation for whining while having achieved nothing on their own.
Then, Park Chan-un, a law professor from Hanyang University, countered and pulled no punches, accusing Lee of insensitivity and arrogance shown by a member of the happiest generation of the nation's "5,000-year history" toward pitiful young ones who fight for leftover crumbs from people like him.
The tit-for-tat, long overdue, begs for an inter-generational debate at the national level where the up-and-coming and prevailing generations talk frankly about their problems and expectations in hopes of reaching a grand contract. There is an urgent need for such a societal compromise, considering our fast-aging society. In it, a dwindling number of young people will have to take the burden of supporting a soaring number of old-timers. Thereby, an adequate portion of opportunities should be earmarked for the young. Currently, their seniors are given an enormous advantage in the ongoing inter-generational battle _ pitting parents against children _ for a bigger piece of the pie.
Prof. Lee's assertion acted as a powerful first salvo for this frank and emotive exchange.
He dared young adults to feel a pang of conscience for their failure to appreciate their parents' hard work and attempt to jump on their coattails. "Do you know what the preceding generations have done _ being summoned for an endless daily list of housework after school such as gathering wood for fuel, helping in farming and feeding cattle?"
He also dared them to empathize with the sadness of a grandmother who had to send her 12-year-old daughter as a maid to a family they barely knew. Or did they know, Lee asked, how their seniors went to the scorching Middle East to earn oil dollars that served as seeds for today's Korean Inc. Calling the past experiences a "survival struggle," Lee said, "I get angry with your childishness when you complain about the lack of opportunities. Opportunities are what you make for yourselves."
In contrast, Park, who guessed Lee was from the same generation that attended college in the 1970s as he was, was vitriolic, pointing out that the old generation enjoyed high returns on investment _ going to college at a time when the nation's economy grew 10 percent per year over a sustained period of time. He argued that the young people of today have access to a fraction of the chances their parents had "even if they study overseas and speak English like a native."
Missing in this discourse are the voices of the young generation stating their position. For this reason alone, a national debate is called for. Perhaps President Moon Jae-in could emcee the generation-to-generation cooperative talks.
Facebook is abuzz with a for-and-against discourse over "Hell Joseon," a nickname for Korea used by its young people lamenting a lack of opportunities, a tight job market and no hope of social mobility.
It was triggered by KAIST professor Lee Byung-tae, who departed from the usual apologetic tone of parents and on Facebook scolded the younger generation for whining while having achieved nothing on their own.
Then, Park Chan-un, a law professor from Hanyang University, countered and pulled no punches, accusing Lee of insensitivity and arrogance shown by a member of the happiest generation of the nation's "5,000-year history" toward pitiful young ones who fight for leftover crumbs from people like him.
The tit-for-tat, long overdue, begs for an inter-generational debate at the national level where the up-and-coming and prevailing generations talk frankly about their problems and expectations in hopes of reaching a grand contract. There is an urgent need for such a societal compromise, considering our fast-aging society. In it, a dwindling number of young people will have to take the burden of supporting a soaring number of old-timers. Thereby, an adequate portion of opportunities should be earmarked for the young. Currently, their seniors are given an enormous advantage in the ongoing inter-generational battle _ pitting parents against children _ for a bigger piece of the pie.
Prof. Lee's assertion acted as a powerful first salvo for this frank and emotive exchange.
He dared young adults to feel a pang of conscience for their failure to appreciate their parents' hard work and attempt to jump on their coattails. "Do you know what the preceding generations have done _ being summoned for an endless daily list of housework after school such as gathering wood for fuel, helping in farming and feeding cattle?"
He also dared them to empathize with the sadness of a grandmother who had to send her 12-year-old daughter as a maid to a family they barely knew. Or did they know, Lee asked, how their seniors went to the scorching Middle East to earn oil dollars that served as seeds for today's Korean Inc. Calling the past experiences a "survival struggle," Lee said, "I get angry with your childishness when you complain about the lack of opportunities. Opportunities are what you make for yourselves."
In contrast, Park, who guessed Lee was from the same generation that attended college in the 1970s as he was, was vitriolic, pointing out that the old generation enjoyed high returns on investment _ going to college at a time when the nation's economy grew 10 percent per year over a sustained period of time. He argued that the young people of today have access to a fraction of the chances their parents had "even if they study overseas and speak English like a native."
Missing in this discourse are the voices of the young generation stating their position. For this reason alone, a national debate is called for. Perhaps President Moon Jae-in could emcee the generation-to-generation cooperative talks.
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