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Why Korea Became a Dystopia: Downward Mobility and Collective Frustration in Precarious South Korea

Fri, March 17, 5:15 to 7:15pm, Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Floor: 4th Floor, Davenport

Abstract

Development scholars consider South Korea the most successful case of economic development in modern history. The country is also widely believed to have come through the financial crisis relatively unscathed. However, in contrast to this celebratory perspective on Korean development, many Korean citizens—in particular, younger generations—perceive that living standards have deteriorated and the chances for social mobility have diminished over the years. Analyzing the recent popular discourse on “Hell Chosun” in Korea, this paper tries to explain why Koreans have come to share such a pessimistic, fatalistic view about Korean society. Much attention has been paid to economic changes since the late 1990s, especially job insecurity, a lack of permanent employment opportunities, and increasing social inequality, which together heighten anxiety and produce collective frustration. While neoliberal economic changes contribute to negative views about Korea, I argue that the predominant feelings of pessimism and hopelessness are also due to disenchantment about how Korean society works. A shared sense that the rich and successful achieve their goals through illegitimate means creates a deep-seated sense of unfairness and, ultimately, a dystopian vision of Korea. Through this analysis, I aim to understand how Koreans make sense of increasing social disparities and the current socioeconomic order.

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