Biggest issue is the centralization of Korea's population into Seoul (over 50%). Excess demand over limited supply of housing, which greatly inflates housing prices. They need to spread out the population, as well as employment opportunities, all through the country.
Exactly. Every developed country has it's oligarchy who owns everything, every developed country has a kind of hopelessness in many of their young people for similar reasons, every developed country has the capitalism that means that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, with very little getting out of that. Welcome to the world of developed countries, Korea. This is it. We all have capitalism to thank for that, it's getting worse, and it will continue to get worse because the capitalists are the ones who have the money and power, and thus no interest whatsoever of solving these problems so that everyone has opportunities for a great and comfortable life. That's against their interests. They have no intention of changing that direction. This is in every country. South Korea is just now catching up to what is has been normal for a few decades now in the west, sadly.
I feel like we're all ants in a suicidal death march. Civilization is a god-like creation capable of revolutionizing any aspect of life through innovation. It can make death and suffering irrelevant, it can create 'heaven', it can increase your lifespan. It can create new ways of life. And we need new ways of life, the current ones are so unhealthy and don't have much imagination
@@fransmith3255 What you're describing isn't a problem with capitalism; they're problems associated with centralization of power and wealth. Every developed Western nation is a hybrid centralized capitalist system moving more and more socialist with bigger and more powerful governments. In a pure capitalist economic model, corporations would not exist and everything would be more de-centralized.
Same in India Salary is stagnant since 2014 But Inflation got doubled People have no Savings, just earning for everyday food and no growth. Politicians are just brainwashing people and saving Religion/country from Invisible enemy. Daily Basic life is becoming extinct.
Europe is even worse nowadays, on average the entire western world has the same problem, from the same source and it will pop somewhere, eventually, hopefully, otherwise we perish while the wealthy few juwt change passports.
Yep. Sadly is just a consequence of capitalism growing more and more unchallenged, allowing corporate greed to take priority over people's basic survival needs. :( It's probably worse in SK though, as corporations are (believe it or not) even more deeply embedded into their government. Add to that the extreme pressure in South Korea (like with many Asian societies) for people to be "successful" (rich professional) and have family. There's a much higher stigma on the poor in East Asian countries, and public rarely helps poor over there, compared to USA (as bad as USA is, the society is slightly nicer to homeless like strangers more likely to give beggars some money, donating to poor being a bigger thing in US culture, etc). Basically, being homeless in East Asia is almost like a death sentence... Myself and many others my age are in the same boat of having to live with parents, and that's for those who are lucky to even have still a relationship with their parents... Even my brother who he and his wife both work, they have kids and can't afford to move out of my parents' house. I noticed they have bad spending habits (possibly shopping addiction?) and I sometimes worry it's because of things like this, that they maybe gave up trying to find another home, so they use the money on things that they feel make them happy in the moment. But also, it's sad how many kids in USA get disowned (which I believe is one reason homelessness is so common here vs Asia), I had befriended 2 homeless people my age too and it's sad because they both were victim to abandonment by their parents just for being gay or transgender, could only survive due to being lucky enough to be placed in youth homeless shelters. They basically have to start from scratch, and with no wealth or life skills to begin with, it's extremely difficult for them, especially when the short-term "solution" tends to be alcohol or drugs and abusive relationships, which tend to lead to addiction as it's their crutch to mentally trudge through difficult life.
Same in my country Algeria and my country is a third world country. A lot of people are immigrating because dollar and euro is a lot here. With 20k you can buy a house. But visa is hard so people immigrate illegally. Unfortunately some dies in sea. Some have sick parents here.
Seems like young people dropping out, no job, no family, no house is becoming a worldwide phenomenon. I am beginning to think something different will be born. A new way of being in the world. I hope a beautiful new reality.
Universal basic income, also this is happening because they want us ready for when the robots steal our jobs, they want it to be a smooth transition, they'll make it so we all want it that way
@@jaz4591when you working 60 hours a week studying, even after graduation cant find a good job barely affording your food, why bother. Most people will give up. There’s no point in working hard if you’re not gonna earn anything in return.
@@Batkhuyag1300 slow money is better than no money and sure beats being broke and miserable because that's your only other option if you don't have faith. Imagine being broke and miserable in your 20s and being in the same state in your 50s. That is true hell...
Yep. South Korea is just catching up with the status quo in other developed countries. There is nothing different here. This is completely normal in developed countries.
In Spain, you have the Ni-Ni (not studying, not working) since 2010, the result. the young people who go to the university is reduced by 50%, and the people who have jobs can not afford a family. Usually, they live with their parents, and if they have children, they still live with their parents.
how can that be such a worldwide problem,in brazil they sare called nem-nem,dont study,dont work,and also building a family and having kids is impossible with a regular job,people lately cant even afford rent,when they pay it they have little to eat at home
It's simply more extreme/advanced over there. Something we should be studying and talking about more worldwide, as it is basically what our future could look like or is in the process of currently heading towards, if nothing is done to curb extreme late-stage capitalism. In USA we're also seeing things like the incel and 4B movements which are even more extreme/advanced in South Korea, becoming more and more prevalent here too. Also cosmetic surgery, face-shaping filters, and fillers becoming a bigger and bigger thing with young people even in USA is concerning, since it also seems to mirror South Korea's obsession with appearances and cosmetic procedures that has been an extreme issue for a much longer time over there.
Very interesting, especially for Russians. So different. People in Russia think that South Koreans are happy people living in prosperity and freedom. All my friends dream of going to South Korea.
hows the war there for the youth? are you guys being recruited or are the adult men trying to get out of the country to avoid being enlisted? just curious bro
@hansantonio110 because; No rent, No Utilities. Together those are the largest expenses. You cut those out and you effectively double you're available money month by month. Car payments have gone insane in recent years though, as much or more than rent was 10 years ago, which makes it harder. Unless you have an older, reliable, payed off car, which you learn to do routine maintenance on yourself(super easy with youtube). Then all you've really got is food, gas, car insurance, and mobile phone bills to pay each month. All of those together generally amount to less than half of what rent would cost. Even if you just rented a single room/bathroom in a house, in many places you'll be paying upwards of 800 a month. I live in NW Montana currently and know a group of 5 friends who rent a house together and they each have to pay 800 a month I think. Me, I work summers driving busses(CDL) for a Rafting Company, living summer months in a shed in the woods for $50 a month, then rent a cabin (family who owns the Raft company rents out to tourists in the summer) for 450 a month from November thru March. Work my ass off during the summer and save as much as I can, then take most of the winter off and snowboard as much as I can. You can find ways to live cheap and do the things you love in the U.S. still, but I think I'm fairly lucky to have found this situation. The family who owns the Raft company is trying to sell, and I suspect when they do I will have to move on. Probably go into long haul trucking for a few years, save a shit ton of money, then move somewhere in the world where it's super cheap to live a minimalist lifestyle and spend my time doing more things I enjoy rather than slaving away in the rat race.
@@hansantonio110 Americans have huge rents so with other costs it is harder to get that 2000 dollar/ month apartment in that area where theres work to pay of their plus 100K student loans by mcdonalds job while not affording that luxury of fast food themselves etc. Some call that american dream but Id say it's modern day slavery.
i love hearing people in brazil,saying how good and rich usa is,they all dream of finding a way to go over there,let their hear about having to live on their cars
In Spain we have the same situation. Young people feel very anxious about this issue. The cost of living is rising and it doesn't seem to stop anytime soon. We're all very stressed
One correction: Diamonds are not valuable because they're rare. They're not particularly rare - comparable to semiprecious stones like amethysts. Rubies and emeralds are much rarer. Diamonds are so valuable because the DeBeers diamond monopoly limits the supply and drives demand by marketing.
Yes, the rarity of diamonds in the market is largely created through artificial control, and the demand is driven up through clever marketing as well. Put together, they create the illusion of diamonds being more valuable than they inherently are.
There is one common thing amount all. Every developed economy faces the same problem and that is young ones being forced to compete for resources with the capital that was accumulated over the years of development. The tool used for that competition is credit and the capital accumulated over generations and is forcing people entering into adult life into insanely unfavourable conditions for living for the sake of it's own safety and benefits. That's about it - we've overoptimized the life of average human being which ends up in a disaster we are seeing right now.
amen. It is also a dynamic that nobody can stop. it has to find it's natural conclusion. i bet on biophysical limitations of the planet to make the "market correction".
So u want to sa normal or poor class have to serve rich just like now what is happening Is that right No that not solutions U cant majored feling And money in any measures If u have money u can not be unhappy but u cna ntk be happy to Yah but they realy push so far that we can't be recollect or restructure The mess that over period o time And realy its pain in ass Im from India 23 yers old Here same just poor class is not give bullshit about this price hike and unimployme They f rabbit aur factor taht give birth bihar And MP Im so pissed when i see these stupid U know what going on hre maharastra im poor class only way to earn money is work if i dont work I don't have money to food even But but they ce here from that long and work 12hr Even for low pay And they dot know What is called sucked or overworking when i talk to Some they say Im marred have 4 kisd 3 kids Here i come to earn in up One time full dinner is Like haif of haif Man what thye doing like Chicken raised in poultry Well whatever want you can im not gona do same If i cant provide decen life to child so why marry In last u gona be opd and die Its natural and universal truth If u born i have to die after tume comes Well yah just 2 thing Parents well i have sis If i die early let's say 25 so my sis can Marry decent man Then rest assets property is gona be sis amd amount is not badd intrest is very good But my parent not hona give me when i alive Its bitter truth of indian family's They like dead persone and remeber every yers than alive Sis can take care for money at least well it's like im poor and weak yep im But what can i do in jobplace 12hr work pychicsl work 1 2 amd night ship are destroyed me over 4 yers Im not wamt to live if im gona live like this miserable 2 yep when pigs don't mate give birth to cuffs its problem of owner not the pings Well im not suporting to die but what i can do like work 996 Even don't have money to start something new Or even one medical situation wioed my 4 yers saving up to 60%
Capitalism is the issue. Back until the 80s, capitalism was kept in touch by the threat of communism. But since the fall of the wall, capitalism went full TINA and since then the wealth gap has widdened. Leading to the current late stage capitalism era that is a sort of technofeudalism. You are either born rich or a serf, and will have no opportunity to escaoe your birth caste.
In Finland, we are fed propaganda that the life and the size of the apartment described at the beginning of the video is what Korean and Japanese young people willingly want and are satisfied with, and therefore Western young people like Finns should also want and be satisfied as the same. So far, no one believes it (which is probably good because life should be humane, i.e. not torturing and not burdensome in order for people to stay sane and not depressed), even though they try to repeat the same thing over and over again to make people believe it. However, the worst are the construction companies that use housing prices and living costs as a counter-tactic when justifying why people want to live in mini-apartments similar to/inspired by small capsule hotels, and for this reason the construction of super-mini-apartments should be granted a deviation permit, because otherwise they would violate the provisions of the Finnish Building Act regarding the minimum living space (which is 20 square meters for one person).
Then you have the converse of that in the USA where home builders refuse to build smaller, more affordable homes because they're less profitable. In the USA, the average home square footage in 2024 is over 2100 sq. ft. (195 square meters). In 1980, the average new construction square footage was under 1600 sq. ft. The combination of unnecessarily expensive new construction and general lack of new units being made (coupled with corporate rental companies buying up properties for lease) has driven home prices to a point that young people really don't have any reasonable expectation of homeownership until well into their 30's at best.
@@saldiven2009 I feel like this too. I'm poor and accept that I'll always be poor... so given this circumstance, I really do wish they did have more smaller cheaper studio apartments or even SROs for rent. I literally only need space for a desk or two (for partner) and bed, and am used to living with shared bathroom/kitchen. I can only live in dense big cities due to disability and I can't drive, so moving to cheaper rural areas which in USA basically means no public transit, is a death sentence for me (I've tried it, rural Texas, cheap housing but not even any buses, I was 100% dependent on landlord to drive me everywhere and never went outside except monthly groceries). Sadly tiny apartments/SROs are very rare and usually just all occupied forever with even any waitlists blocked off due to the sheer amount of people who also try to apply for these. My bf's current place is about $1000/mo small bedroom in shared home, but in San Francisco that is considered extremely cheap, but there is no other place in this price range, everything else is at least $1500+/mo for even worse living conditions (basically SROs) and that's probably deceptive price advertising.
This will be cool to have in the US so that young people can learn to be independent and live on their own. I will live in one of these apartments provided that there is no noise around and no deranged neighbors. In South Korea, young people are focused on their studies and people are reserved and not loud so it works. However, in the US, people are loud and inconsiderate and housing is driven by profit not by right to have housing throughout your life.
@@LilReezy_1437 aye, even if people are "individualist" but they secretly brainwashed into all wanting the same thing... is that really individualism? maybe western media is just better at hiding the fact they are secretly brainwashing people
@@TattooMyBonesHow would you know? Do you even know people who live there? Besides, that supposedly dystopian society goes all over the world looking to trade while a highly esteemed western power just sells military weapons. And call China an invader despite China not having 800 military bases around the world. And hold countries like SK, Japan, Philippines etc as pawns.
And gen Z is still having it better than millenials, who in turn will have it better than alphas, who will have it better than betas. Climate change, ressource scarcity, and late stage capitalism will compound one another to make things going worse with time...
Wow a young man that looks at the broader over all picture. It's refreshing. The Japan, Taiwan, and especially Korea are facinating to study. Ultra capitalism suddenly slapped on top of ancient Confucianism. Korea is condensed and accelerated from medieval to ultra modern all in my lifetime. There are many lessons for the world here if we only pay attention and do something with it............
'Peers who won the genetic lottery fly by while you're stuck in place' Damn, that hits hard as I see my peers receive inherit/given real estate and businesses while I'm stuck having to take care of my elderly parents and fixing their financial situation.
It's the same here. Property prices make no sense, young people cannot buy without large help from family and two people working a full time job. Low wages, cost of living, and rent is astronomical;... rent price getting close to hotel price. I keep hearing this saying: 'you will own nothing and be happy'.
Subscribed: I enjoy your train of thought, and I can see how this situation is happening around the globe in one way or another. Cheers from Pasadena, CA.
My advice to young men is to live a minimalist lifestyle. It doesn't mean exactly what some think, like not having a phone at all, but instead of buying a new expensive phone every year or two, you buy a more robust cheap phone that can last you for at least 5 years and that you do not pay monthly for. It means that your hobby should be something that benefits you in some way. if you work sitting at the computer for 10 hours a day, then your hobby should be hiking, or running or swimming (if you can do it at the seaside without paying expensive swimming pool tickets or monthly fee or service). If you work construction or manual labor, you are better of doing something like reading books, or learning to program or, graphical design in your free time. As for the phone similar goes for clothes. You cannot go around naked, but you shouldn't be buying fancy extravagant clothes, or fragile non-sturdy items. Good quality shoes are never cheap, but again when you buy a pair of good quality shoes they should last you if used properly. And if you have cheap "disposable" footwear for occasions when you do not need better. Living with family and avoiding rent if at all possible is a good way to save a lot of money. If a job opportunity leads you to temporarily rent an apartment, calculate if it is worth in the long run. Will that temporary situation of like 6 months or a year turn into 3 years, 5 years, perpetual long term renter? Similar to this is getting married or going monk mode and temporary avoiding women all together. Is the temporary year or two without spending any resources and time on chasing women something you can do. Can you do it without it going on into a perpetual thing where you cannot ever go back to the scene and chase again... Is there a woman you would be satisfied with that can live a minimalist lifestyle next to you.
I am 59 and think it was very wise, honest speach. I was listening with big pleasure your/s story. I am sorry for your struggle too. Enjoy your life, health, free time, discover yourselves - live good life... Greating from Poland.
There should a balance between collectivism and individualism. Like anything else, it's when things become too excessive (over one side over the other), when it becomes toxic.
3:50 Diamonds aren't rare. The supply of diamonds was tightly controlled by a few companies for a very long time. And now they can be manufactured which is why jewelery companies shifted from advertising the qualities of their diamonds to the cut of their diamonds. College degrees were not valuable for the skills they gave you (with the exception of degrees that give specific skills such as engineering or medical). They were valuable as a way to filter for class. If you had the leisure time to get a degree, you and your family must have been of a certain level of affluence. Now that this is no longer true, the degree becomes useless.
It's interesting that he starts the video talking about how broken the society system is, about the oligopoly of the Chaebols and etc. And then, how the youth supposedly is becoming more individualistic in a society that was traditionally collectivist. But really? Who became individualist first? How were the Cheabols collectivist when they bottle-necked the country's economy? Weren't the elites (government, corporations, universities) individualistic when they decided to squeeze the rest of society to profit more? The most well-educated generation ever can't find a job, must work low paid jobs, can't make ends meet, can't start a business cause big corporations will crush small business. And the young poor youth take the blame for societal issues? Where is the responsibility of the decision makers, the powerful people who actually have the means to real change? Obviously, these issues aren't exclusivity of South Korea, or even most developed countries. Similar situations are taking place in Latin America and other parts of the world. The cost of living is soaring everywhere, house prices are bubbling. In Brazil a common joke is that every uber driver is an engineer nowadays, this was a profession worthy of social status and high paying jobs years ago. I've meet lawyers graduated from prestigious universities, in their late 30's, experts in their fields with years of experience who can't afford living in the city and need to find a roommate like they were college undergrads. There are lots of couples who both spouses have a degree and work full-time jobs, still they have to live in the parents' house because they can't afford their own place. Meanwhile, I saw a video last week here on YT of an interview with Bill Gates commenting that if he lost 99% of his fortune he'd still be a billionaire, and he isn't the richest guy anymore. That means that if he was allowed to keep only 1% of his known wealth, he'd still be rich in a level beyond comprehension for most people on the planet. If we take into account how long he has been alive, in an hour of his sleep he earns more than a life-time of hard labor of several folk combined. I mean I have no problem with people being rich, I really don't. If someone managed to amass a fortune through their talent and skill, kudos for them. But once you secure a life of privilege for you and your family, once you ensure the well being of your kids. After you get a mansion and another mansion and other properties, if you get a collection of cars, a private jet, a yacht, a bigger yacht for you yacht, etc. You traveled the world, you've been to places, you've met people and you're still filthy rich to extreme levels, then I think that at some point it starts to become imoral.
How about when you use your resources to control the govt. Using bribes to make sure no one else ever has the opportunities you did???? Is that immoral?
i always knew about degree inflation, in Austria u get more being a handyman honestly. i dont have a degree only work manual labour jobs half the year and live in southeast asia or other countries during winter. i got a good life without being in the rat race.
I am gen x, and have started living this way. I have a degree, that has gotten me nowhere. Still owe on it. I work at a group home, cleaning, cooking and passing meds. Just got a home at 40. A fixer upper that continues to need things. I don't make enough to cover all of my bills and extra stuff like copay, medical, home maintenance issues...keeps going on credit card. At same time I, somehow have to figure out how to save for retirement. I don't spend money on frivolous things. So, I have given up on a lot of goals. I am near 50. Health issues all ready, and government is talking of raising retirement age, again. So, I am learning to be content with what I do have. 15.00 gym membership that I use and 15.00 audible to listen to books while at the gym. That is my entertainment. I shop at Aldis, and try not to buy more than 40.00 a week of groceries. Bought a used little car 6 years ago, 33mpg. No vacations...ever, but I have plenty to do here. Btw, I was 25, married with 2 little kids. No house. Couldn't even get a 25.00 Christmas tree that year. Always low on food. The older you get, you see that things come and go, and there are always hardships. Wasn't even able to get a house until my kids were almost grown. I had to move in with my mom 3 years. It's just best to focus on virtues, being a decent person, small gifts in life you do have and can appreciate.
China does have its own version of young people 'giving up' called TangPing (躺平) and BaiLan (摆烂). It’s pretty interesting and might be worth a deeper dive in a future video! I’m not sure if something similar is happening with Japanese youth, but it definitely sounds like something interesting to look into further.
@@TheLouisZhao I think the western concept of "mgtow" (men going their own way) is similar, since it is about men turning their backs on society, romantic relationships, and career (which mostly benefits society) and instead focus on self actualization as described in Maslows hierarchy of needs (to become the most complete and authentic version of ourselves).
Japan and China have similar problems. What differentiates them from Korea is the Japanese, and the Chinese are not putting themselves in massive debt.
Great video! This is one of the first times I’ve seen a video on a topic related to young people giving up that actually had a positive spin on that. It’s way too easy to come away from these videos feeling cynical
This young man later spoke of an optimistic way of reacting to what are unhappy life circumstances. Enjoying a sunset and nature. Enjoying music, art, or seeking friendships with others in a similar plight. One benefit of a college education is the broader perspectives one gains. I think that South Korea is well positioned to form societal changes that lead to greater personal fulfillment in its population.
Same here bro and I live in Boston 😅 they made it too hard bro! Masters degree 130k in debt jobs are paying 25 an hour with 3k rents I have tow work 70 hours to have a basic life and feel burnt out after 6 months of it 😅
Interesting topic! A very similar trend is happening here in the USA amongst the younger generations. But I will say this.. I believe most people in their teens and early 20’s feel a sense of rebellion and not wanting to conform to societies “rules”. But as time goes on, most of them start to find themselves, start to save a little money and begin to fall into society. It happens. This time may be different because like you said, things are changing faster than ever before. I grew up in the Silicon Valley, California and you see some of the richest people living near some of the poorest people. I moved about an hour away and finally bought a house with my girlfriend and our 7 year old son. We are simple people. We want a home, good food and time with our family. The basic necessities have become so expensive but with hard work and focus we were able to get our home. I almost gave up. I did not come from a wealthy family. In fact, my upbringing was not easy. But I was fortunate to have been born in a country with jobs and opportunities. If I didn’t have my girlfriend and our 7 year old son, I definitely would be living a different lifestyle. I would be working part time and traveling. Lol So far, I’ve reached many of the goals I set for myself. Next, bring my expenses down as much as possible so I can spend more time with my family and things I love Doing.
The Government made its decision to destroy the family over 100s of years ago 😂. The men will adapt soon to find a greater Path than the society that gave up on them 😂
Great video. Not just South Korea though, it's everywhere, although it looks like South Korea is further down the dystopian rabbit hole than other countries. They're not far behind though.
You are an incredibly articulate young man! I have had a lot of experience with young Koreans as I have taught in the international English programs in Vancouver, and I have to say Koreans have always been my favorite students. You are the "Italians" of the Asian world! I wish the young people of Korea the very best and hope they find their way in a very hard world. Having said that, what you described about the work world and university for young people is the same here in Canada.
THE problem is that College was NEVER meant to be anything other that a way to separate the "Ruling Class" from the "Working Class". It's where the rich network with other future leaders of industry. So when "common people" began to pursue a higher education, it upset the balance and lead us to where we are now. Everyone wants to live their dreams, and no one wants to do the dirty work. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, I'm just stating the facts that got us here.
This sounds very similar to how it is here in America now 😞 It seems like no matter where you are in the world, the agenda remains the same. To keep younger generations down as much as possible while the older ones/elite continue to flourish or enjoy their retirement in peace. If I truly didn't know any better I would say that this was a war on younger adults to keep them as serfs forever. I know I sound like a crazy conspiracy theorist, but what else am I supposed to think when you got so many people in the same generations around the world sharing similar experiences of giving up and bed rotting because they realized their adult lives became a meaningless cesspool of scams and lies? At this point people can't keep brushing it off as a matter of Gens Y and Z being lazy. Not anymore. Not with this many damning stories coming to light.
@sheridansherr8974 but where, only Russia and China seem to be doing well. Russia won't accept me because ♿️ Chinas not interested because I'm American/white
While there are plenty of houses for 10 USD in the countryside. The wages are lower of course but the expenses are as well. Half of the country lives in Seoul, so they have crazy prices there.
For everyone saying "this is happening everywhere", while you're not wrong, there is a reason South Korea stands out. In 4 generations, at the current birth and death rate, the population faces a 90-95% population decline, that is insane! I don't know of any country that faces this crisis like South Korea does.
Isn't SKorea the country with the most suicidal rate? This explains a Lot. I already gave up too, depression ifnot kill you literally it destroys everything
5:14 - This is how things were since forever. The more wealth you have, the easier it is to create more wealth and, if you have kids, the easier it is for them to have doors opened to all sorts of opportunities along with money from their parents, which will give them an advantage in comparison with the average population or poor population.
I was 15 in 1995 when my Dad said to me "Your generation will have a lower standard of living than mine." I couldn't understand it at the time, but now I find myself thinking the same when meet gen z people compared to even my generation. Things are not going to get better, and no one wants to hear that getting by with less is going to be the new life hack to get anywhere. That was the west, but I see this even in Korea these days amoung my Uni students, some seem to be going minimalist mainly to make a statement, or save money for that phone/thing they want. But I don't think that is going to apply to much beyond getting a job. The birthrate is likely going to slip to .3 in the next 10 years, and housing prices are not going to come down in Seoul unless the government can get a train to Busan in 1 hour that is affordable, and even then we all know it won't move the needle. The future is likely going to be finding lifelong roommates to share a place with. Perhaps someday when there is only 15 million Koreans left will prices come down, I saw estimates it could be around the year 2100, but that is beyond our lifetimes so what does it matter really.
Gen X here as well. A lot of our generation got caught between changing culture and changing generations. A lot of hardship all throughout life. You just gotta keep plodding along. What else are we gonna do?
You need 5 "P"s to solve the problem "Philosophy, Plan, People, Politics, Power". "The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth" - African proverb African's are right we build states and laws for the people not the other way around. I hope you can solve it and show how it is solved to other nations as well.
Society as we know it is fundamentally sick, structurally rigged, and in practice is a machine of great misery. Young people around the world are not going to play a rigged game they can’t afford in the first place. In my country I’m honestly expecting things to get violent in the next few years
This isn't a rich vs poor problem. This is a young vs old issue. The old don't want the cost of living to go down since it directly benefits them and their accumulation, whereas the young need it to go down to reach certain milestones. The solution to housing was to always build more houses, but the old don't want that because for most their only asset is their house. This also applies to social safety programs that help the old, primarily causing inflation that hurts the young. The politicians don't care since the old are the biggest voting block, especially considering shrinking birthrates. The solution is simple, but the young haven't felt enough pain to implement it. At the end of the day the young have an overwhelming advantage against the old that the old seem to have forgotten in this time of peace.
So, what would you propose? Kick the elderly to the streets so that you can move up? Good god, stop generalizing. My parents NEVER had money or wealth. I think it's more of an attitude of hatred, misplaced anger, lack of empathy that is the problem. Open your eyes a little wider. There are many elderly people struggling. You'd probably have no issue with kicking your own grandparents to the curb to get what you want. The elderly have worked for many more years than you ever had. Way before you were a twinkle in your parent's eyes. I have struggled all of my life. This is not a young vs old problem. This is a problem with greedy world leaders and politicians.
@@Intelligentbydesign Are your parents living off tax dollars? If they are then yes. Look at all the politicians they all are extremely old, simply because that reflects the electorate. At the end of the day, the young will win, and it is time for old people who can't pull their weight to take the smith and Wesson retirement.
Maybe you need to look down that barrel for your own retirement plan. 'd be careful about making such explicit threats on social media. Anyway, you sound like a troll. Maybe you could get a job instead of spending so much time throwing around such hate. Do you need a hug?
@@samjones9600and for the record, they have been pulling their weight as well as yours. You have just began pulling your own weight. You're just pissed because now you have to work for what you want. Time to wake up. Your fantasy life based on social media platforms and influencer culture doesn't exist. Never has.
@@Intelligentbydesign For the record I'm 43 and a small business owner. Since I am not an employee I will get next to 0 government assistance when I retire and will have to depend on savings and my kids, even though I pay a boatload in taxes every year. No one cares about past contributions only future profits. If your parents are getting by without the government I don't care, but if they are leeching off government assistance that is unacceptable. Either save money or be prepared for a miserable retirement.
Theoretically how viable would it be to establish yourself in a depopulated part of the country while learning a trade that is in demand in the area? Like an electrician/welder/baker/carpenter and live in a town of less than 50000 people? Because this still works in high cost countries in Europe. It sounds like part of the problem is that everyone needs a high education and high paying job to afford to live in Seoul, only to have an insane competition and housing price because everyone in the country moves to the capital.
I came across this opinion from another channel: South Korea has everything concentrated in one city Seoul. If govt managea to decentralize it, lot of these problems would become less severe. Besides that, i would love to know if there were think tanks finding reasons and solutions to SK's problems, mainly related to youth.
This is a bit of an exaggeration: a tiny apartment in central Seoul can be expensive if you're a young enthusiastic workaholic person. But an hour away by subway, you can get a 100+ square meter house for the same price.
God bless the people of South Korea. I don’t wish this upon any of them. But this is a worldwide phenomenon. We are becoming corporations instead of nations. greed is the biggest motivator for everything today it’s all about dollars and cents, therefore many of us, human beings, living in this type of environment, have given up on all of the beautiful things in life. It is not your fault, it is the fault of the elites that we allow to rule this world.
It's not giving up on future. It's realistic expectations of it. Sure, it can be "to early" for doing this, but if nothing changes in economy and society, there wouldn't be any motivation to try and achieve anything if don't belong to very few and very specific groups of people.
Leave the big cities and go into the country - there are always opportunities to find a job that makes you happy. Go out of your mental comfort zone. Try to think about the unthinkable! Fighting!
My apartment is only 2.4 x 7 meters which is all the space I could ever need for one person who has no intention of living with anyone ever again, however I built it to my exact needs and used the space as efficiently as possible. I guess what Im saying is a small space can be fantastic if everything else around it suits you like the location and cost, in my case its on a truck that I built for 45 grand so cheap and the location is wherever I want it do be :) It also allows me to have lots of free time yet enjoy a modest but comfortable life... Our society is cooked practically requiring a mental illness to participate in it.
I dont find it beautiful at all its just sad, monopolys and corrupt politics ruin our generation to the point only rich people have the privilege of having children of having a legacy, this sucks dont romanticized please
Inflation rate is so high to the point what they earn can't be use to buy any landed house or decent car or having decent live with family. This happened around the world unfortunately. I get that feeling because I am one of them.
I agree that perhaps the one good thing that is going to come out of all of this is young people are changing the landscape and changing the rules about what it means to be happy and fulfilled. We're tired of playing a game that's been rigged for us to lose so we're not playing at all. Why should we continue trying to maintain a system that has been so detrimental for so long? Economically, politically, socially, we're realizing our power and those with the most power, money and authority won't be able to ignore it.
I don't think this phenomenon is anything new. The previous generation went through their struggles we don't have today. The Biggest problem is a problem that you are still facing, all the problems in the past is just a good story.
Try to compete with robotisation and AI in work fields 😅. P.S. People speaking that the construction trades will not be robotised, forget about the fact that people who loses their jobs due innovation, will add competition to job spots in all fields
China’s youth unemployment rate in August rose to the highest level since the new system of record-keeping began in December, driven by an economic slowdown and restrictive hiring policies, according to analysts. The jobless rate for people in China ages 16 to 24, and not in school, rose to 18.8% last month, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Friday. That’s up from 17.1% in July, and 13.2% in June
1) Goshiwon, one room and affordable. Some less than $300. 2) I stepped into a convenience store in Incheon this year and there one poor guy working in there. He had to do everything: 1) Man the cash register 2) Stock the shelves 3) Clean the store. Allt this for $6 to 😮$7 per hour. S. Korea is sometimes called as "Joesen Hell".
It's a common problem where property prices keep going up. Every country, every nation have the same problem.
When was this not an issue, though... The Percentage of Home owners vs Renter haven't really changed much.
Biggest issue is the centralization of Korea's population into Seoul (over 50%). Excess demand over limited supply of housing, which greatly inflates housing prices. They need to spread out the population, as well as employment opportunities, all through the country.
Exactly. Every developed country has it's oligarchy who owns everything, every developed country has a kind of hopelessness in many of their young people for similar reasons, every developed country has the capitalism that means that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, with very little getting out of that. Welcome to the world of developed countries, Korea. This is it. We all have capitalism to thank for that, it's getting worse, and it will continue to get worse because the capitalists are the ones who have the money and power, and thus no interest whatsoever of solving these problems so that everyone has opportunities for a great and comfortable life. That's against their interests. They have no intention of changing that direction. This is in every country. South Korea is just now catching up to what is has been normal for a few decades now in the west, sadly.
I feel like we're all ants in a suicidal death march.
Civilization is a god-like creation capable of revolutionizing any aspect of life through innovation. It can make death and suffering irrelevant, it can create 'heaven', it can increase your lifespan.
It can create new ways of life. And we need new ways of life, the current ones are so unhealthy and don't have much imagination
@@fransmith3255 What you're describing isn't a problem with capitalism; they're problems associated with centralization of power and wealth. Every developed Western nation is a hybrid centralized capitalist system moving more and more socialist with bigger and more powerful governments.
In a pure capitalist economic model, corporations would not exist and everything would be more de-centralized.
This isn't just a problem in Korea, but all over the world. In the U.S. we have the same exact problem as I can speak on that personally.
Same in India
Salary is stagnant since 2014
But Inflation got doubled
People have no Savings, just earning for everyday food and no growth.
Politicians are just brainwashing people and saving Religion/country from Invisible enemy.
Daily Basic life is becoming extinct.
Europe is even worse nowadays, on average the entire western world has the same problem, from the same source and it will pop somewhere, eventually, hopefully, otherwise we perish while the wealthy few juwt change passports.
Yep. Sadly is just a consequence of capitalism growing more and more unchallenged, allowing corporate greed to take priority over people's basic survival needs. :(
It's probably worse in SK though, as corporations are (believe it or not) even more deeply embedded into their government. Add to that the extreme pressure in South Korea (like with many Asian societies) for people to be "successful" (rich professional) and have family. There's a much higher stigma on the poor in East Asian countries, and public rarely helps poor over there, compared to USA (as bad as USA is, the society is slightly nicer to homeless like strangers more likely to give beggars some money, donating to poor being a bigger thing in US culture, etc). Basically, being homeless in East Asia is almost like a death sentence...
Myself and many others my age are in the same boat of having to live with parents, and that's for those who are lucky to even have still a relationship with their parents... Even my brother who he and his wife both work, they have kids and can't afford to move out of my parents' house. I noticed they have bad spending habits (possibly shopping addiction?) and I sometimes worry it's because of things like this, that they maybe gave up trying to find another home, so they use the money on things that they feel make them happy in the moment.
But also, it's sad how many kids in USA get disowned (which I believe is one reason homelessness is so common here vs Asia), I had befriended 2 homeless people my age too and it's sad because they both were victim to abandonment by their parents just for being gay or transgender, could only survive due to being lucky enough to be placed in youth homeless shelters. They basically have to start from scratch, and with no wealth or life skills to begin with, it's extremely difficult for them, especially when the short-term "solution" tends to be alcohol or drugs and abusive relationships, which tend to lead to addiction as it's their crutch to mentally trudge through difficult life.
Bai lan in china
Hikikomori in japan
Neet in europe
Nem nem in Brazil
Same in my country Algeria and my country is a third world country.
A lot of people are immigrating because dollar and euro is a lot here.
With 20k you can buy a house.
But visa is hard so people immigrate illegally. Unfortunately some dies in sea. Some have sick parents here.
Seems like young people dropping out, no job, no family, no house is becoming a worldwide phenomenon. I am beginning to think something different will be born. A new way of being in the world. I hope a beautiful new reality.
Scaling back consuming is a good start, rejecting most norms that are outdated and resource draining.
Giving up despite the difficulty is cowardly. These young people going to regret not becoming or doing anything meaningful with their lives...
Universal basic income, also this is happening because they want us ready for when the robots steal our jobs, they want it to be a smooth transition, they'll make it so we all want it that way
@@jaz4591when you working 60 hours a week studying, even after graduation cant find a good job barely affording your food, why bother. Most people will give up. There’s no point in working hard if you’re not gonna earn anything in return.
@@Batkhuyag1300 slow money is better than no money and sure beats being broke and miserable because that's your only other option if you don't have faith. Imagine being broke and miserable in your 20s and being in the same state in your 50s. That is true hell...
This is happening all over the world actually!
Yep. South Korea is just catching up with the status quo in other developed countries. There is nothing different here. This is completely normal in developed countries.
@@fransmith3255 normal?
This is not the word you should use
In Spain, you have the Ni-Ni (not studying, not working) since 2010, the result. the young people who go to the university is reduced by 50%, and the people who have jobs can not afford a family. Usually, they live with their parents, and if they have children, they still live with their parents.
They call this NEET in the English speaking world
lol in Chile a 28% study and the fascist part of the government still complain that economy is lacking in lower rank jobs (badly paid).
University reduced by 50% ???
That’s crazy 😮
Wall Street is the reason. Financial capitalism is destroying Western Civilization and any nation occupied by the US.
how can that be such a worldwide problem,in brazil they sare called nem-nem,dont study,dont work,and also building a family and having kids is impossible with a regular job,people lately cant even afford rent,when they pay it they have little to eat at home
This isn't just a problem in Korea.
It's everywhere.
It's simply more extreme/advanced over there. Something we should be studying and talking about more worldwide, as it is basically what our future could look like or is in the process of currently heading towards, if nothing is done to curb extreme late-stage capitalism.
In USA we're also seeing things like the incel and 4B movements which are even more extreme/advanced in South Korea, becoming more and more prevalent here too. Also cosmetic surgery, face-shaping filters, and fillers becoming a bigger and bigger thing with young people even in USA is concerning, since it also seems to mirror South Korea's obsession with appearances and cosmetic procedures that has been an extreme issue for a much longer time over there.
agree, to some degree Japan in that regard is the most "advanced". They already adapted with robots (not androids!!) support in healthcare.
Good
I think about that everytime is see an "Immigrate" post 😢
@@necococo I think it seems to most severe in Japan.
Very interesting, especially for Russians. So different. People in Russia think that South Koreans are happy people living in prosperity and freedom. All my friends dream of going to South Korea.
Oh interesting! I didn't know that about Russia
hows the war there for the youth? are you guys being recruited or are the adult men trying to get out of the country to avoid being enlisted? just curious bro
rich high tech asian countries are known to have a toxic working culture and expensive housing costs
I also thought so ...my south korean communist friend showed me reality of south korean society
It’s like japan…or, well, most places really. Great to visit, hell to live through
Here in the USA, we have millions living and working out of their cars.
why? they can live in room
@hansantonio110 because; No rent, No Utilities. Together those are the largest expenses. You cut those out and you effectively double you're available money month by month. Car payments have gone insane in recent years though, as much or more than rent was 10 years ago, which makes it harder. Unless you have an older, reliable, payed off car, which you learn to do routine maintenance on yourself(super easy with youtube). Then all you've really got is food, gas, car insurance, and mobile phone bills to pay each month. All of those together generally amount to less than half of what rent would cost. Even if you just rented a single room/bathroom in a house, in many places you'll be paying upwards of 800 a month. I live in NW Montana currently and know a group of 5 friends who rent a house together and they each have to pay 800 a month I think.
Me, I work summers driving busses(CDL) for a Rafting Company, living summer months in a shed in the woods for $50 a month, then rent a cabin (family who owns the Raft company rents out to tourists in the summer) for 450 a month from November thru March. Work my ass off during the summer and save as much as I can, then take most of the winter off and snowboard as much as I can. You can find ways to live cheap and do the things you love in the U.S. still, but I think I'm fairly lucky to have found this situation. The family who owns the Raft company is trying to sell, and I suspect when they do I will have to move on. Probably go into long haul trucking for a few years, save a shit ton of money, then move somewhere in the world where it's super cheap to live a minimalist lifestyle and spend my time doing more things I enjoy rather than slaving away in the rat race.
@@hansantonio110 Americans have huge rents so with other costs it is harder to get that 2000 dollar/ month apartment in that area where theres work to pay of their plus 100K student loans by mcdonalds job while not affording that luxury of fast food themselves etc. Some call that american dream but Id say it's modern day slavery.
@@hansantonio110With these rent prices? Hell no they can’t.
i love hearing people in brazil,saying how good and rich usa is,they all dream of finding a way to go over there,let their hear about having to live on their cars
In Spain we have the same situation. Young people feel very anxious about this issue. The cost of living is rising and it doesn't seem to stop anytime soon. We're all very stressed
One correction: Diamonds are not valuable because they're rare. They're not particularly rare - comparable to semiprecious stones like amethysts. Rubies and emeralds are much rarer. Diamonds are so valuable because the DeBeers diamond monopoly limits the supply and drives demand by marketing.
Yes, the rarity of diamonds in the market is largely created through artificial control, and the demand is driven up through clever marketing as well. Put together, they create the illusion of diamonds being more valuable than they inherently are.
Diamonds are a girls best friend...said Debeers.
Diamonds are valuable only to people been brainwashed to believed so, mainly young women thinking is a requirement for marriage!
Interesting. l never knew that.
The Chinese flooded the market with artificial diamonds indistinguishable from natural ones a decade ago.
These young Koreans gradually making their Way to becoming Taoists. Salute. Keep it simple. Keep it natural. Keep it modest. You're already there.
There is one common thing amount all. Every developed economy faces the same problem and that is young ones being forced to compete for resources with the capital that was accumulated over the years of development. The tool used for that competition is credit and the capital accumulated over generations and is forcing people entering into adult life into insanely unfavourable conditions for living for the sake of it's own safety and benefits.
That's about it - we've overoptimized the life of average human being which ends up in a disaster we are seeing right now.
amen. It is also a dynamic that nobody can stop. it has to find it's natural conclusion. i bet on biophysical limitations of the planet to make the "market correction".
So u want to sa normal or poor class have to serve rich just like now what is happening
Is that right
No that not solutions
U cant majored feling
And money in any measures
If u have money u can not be unhappy but u cna ntk be happy to
Yah but they realy push so far that we can't be recollect or restructure
The mess that over period o time
And realy its pain in ass
Im from India 23 yers old
Here same just poor class is not give bullshit about this price hike and unimployme
They f rabbit aur factor taht give birth bihar And MP
Im so pissed when i see these stupid
U know what going on hre maharastra im poor class only way to earn money is work if i dont work I don't have money to food even
But but they ce here from that long and work 12hr
Even for low pay
And they dot know
What is called sucked or overworking when i talk to
Some they say
Im marred have 4 kisd 3 kids
Here i come to earn in up
One time full dinner is
Like haif of haif
Man what thye doing like
Chicken raised in poultry
Well whatever want you can im not gona do same
If i cant provide decen life to child so why marry
In last u gona be opd and die
Its natural and universal truth
If u born i have to die after tume comes
Well yah just
2 thing
Parents well i have sis
If i die early let's say 25 so my sis can Marry decent man
Then rest assets property is gona be sis amd amount is not badd intrest is very good
But my parent not hona give me when i alive
Its bitter truth of indian family's
They like dead persone and remeber every yers than alive
Sis can take care for money at least well it's like im poor and weak yep im
But what can i do in jobplace 12hr work pychicsl work
1 2 amd night ship are destroyed me over 4 yers
Im not wamt to live if im gona live like this miserable
2 yep when pigs don't mate give birth to cuffs its problem of owner not the pings
Well im not suporting to die but what i can do like work 996
Even don't have money to start something new
Or even one medical situation wioed my 4 yers saving up to 60%
Well said.
exactly!
Capitalism is the issue.
Back until the 80s, capitalism was kept in touch by the threat of communism.
But since the fall of the wall, capitalism went full TINA and since then the wealth gap has widdened. Leading to the current late stage capitalism era that is a sort of technofeudalism.
You are either born rich or a serf, and will have no opportunity to escaoe your birth caste.
In Finland, we are fed propaganda that the life and the size of the apartment described at the beginning of the video is what Korean and Japanese young people willingly want and are satisfied with, and therefore Western young people like Finns should also want and be satisfied as the same. So far, no one believes it (which is probably good because life should be humane, i.e. not torturing and not burdensome in order for people to stay sane and not depressed), even though they try to repeat the same thing over and over again to make people believe it. However, the worst are the construction companies that use housing prices and living costs as a counter-tactic when justifying why people want to live in mini-apartments similar to/inspired by small capsule hotels, and for this reason the construction of super-mini-apartments should be granted a deviation permit, because otherwise they would violate the provisions of the Finnish Building Act regarding the minimum living space (which is 20 square meters for one person).
Then you have the converse of that in the USA where home builders refuse to build smaller, more affordable homes because they're less profitable. In the USA, the average home square footage in 2024 is over 2100 sq. ft. (195 square meters). In 1980, the average new construction square footage was under 1600 sq. ft. The combination of unnecessarily expensive new construction and general lack of new units being made (coupled with corporate rental companies buying up properties for lease) has driven home prices to a point that young people really don't have any reasonable expectation of homeownership until well into their 30's at best.
Live in ze pod and eat ze bugs
20 square meters is very small for an apartment
@@saldiven2009 I feel like this too. I'm poor and accept that I'll always be poor... so given this circumstance, I really do wish they did have more smaller cheaper studio apartments or even SROs for rent. I literally only need space for a desk or two (for partner) and bed, and am used to living with shared bathroom/kitchen. I can only live in dense big cities due to disability and I can't drive, so moving to cheaper rural areas which in USA basically means no public transit, is a death sentence for me (I've tried it, rural Texas, cheap housing but not even any buses, I was 100% dependent on landlord to drive me everywhere and never went outside except monthly groceries). Sadly tiny apartments/SROs are very rare and usually just all occupied forever with even any waitlists blocked off due to the sheer amount of people who also try to apply for these. My bf's current place is about $1000/mo small bedroom in shared home, but in San Francisco that is considered extremely cheap, but there is no other place in this price range, everything else is at least $1500+/mo for even worse living conditions (basically SROs) and that's probably deceptive price advertising.
This will be cool to have in the US so that young people can learn to be independent and live on their own. I will live in one of these apartments provided that there is no noise around and no deranged neighbors. In South Korea, young people are focused on their studies and people are reserved and not loud so it works. However, in the US, people are loud and inconsiderate and housing is driven by profit not by right to have housing throughout your life.
Same thing in China, and it's growing social dynamic in the west as well
At least the West embraces individualism and freedom compared to the East's stigma on conformity and expectation.
@@WenryWenPossessive individualism is kinda the problem.
@@LilReezy_1437but guess what's crazy . U can have a balance china wont let u have balance
@@LilReezy_1437
aye, even if people are "individualist" but they secretly brainwashed into all wanting the same thing... is that really individualism? maybe western media is just better at hiding the fact they are secretly brainwashing people
@@TattooMyBonesHow would you know? Do you even know people who live there? Besides, that supposedly dystopian society goes all over the world looking to trade while a highly esteemed western power just sells military weapons. And call China an invader despite China not having 800 military bases around the world. And hold countries like SK, Japan, Philippines etc as pawns.
The entire Gen Z of the world is cursed lmao.
(I am also gen z but the absurdity of sitution everywhere is so bad that its funny)
And gen Z is still having it better than millenials, who in turn will have it better than alphas, who will have it better than betas.
Climate change, ressource scarcity, and late stage capitalism will compound one another to make things going worse with time...
Is it really cursed? Or maybe blessed?
Wow a young man that looks at the broader over all picture. It's refreshing.
The Japan, Taiwan, and especially Korea are facinating to study.
Ultra capitalism suddenly slapped on top of ancient Confucianism.
Korea is condensed and accelerated from medieval to ultra modern all in my lifetime.
There are many lessons for the world here if we only pay attention and do something with it............
Thank you!
And great point about these East Asian countries being good case studies.
'Peers who won the genetic lottery fly by while you're stuck in place'
Damn, that hits hard as I see my peers receive inherit/given real estate and businesses while I'm stuck having to take care of my elderly parents and fixing their financial situation.
Because they were selfish and never thought of the future. This is what happens when you are raised by narcissistic and immature parents.
Merit and humanity doesn't exist in a capitalist jungle.
Nor does it exist in any other ideology. Human nature.
I don't have to imaging it. This was my reality for almost 2 years.
It's the same here. Property prices make no sense, young people cannot buy without large help from family and two people working a full time job. Low wages, cost of living, and rent is astronomical;... rent price getting close to hotel price. I keep hearing this saying: 'you will own nothing and be happy'.
True. "own nothing and be happy" sounds like a legitimate spiritual teaching but in our current context it sounds rather sad.
Yes, I have this book! Need to read it. And, I do believe that time is coming.
Subscribed: I enjoy your train of thought, and I can see how this situation is happening around the globe in one way or another.
Cheers from Pasadena, CA.
Hey thank you! 🤗
My advice to young men is to live a minimalist lifestyle.
It doesn't mean exactly what some think, like not having a phone at all, but instead of buying a new expensive phone every year or two, you buy a more robust cheap phone that can last you for at least 5 years and that you do not pay monthly for.
It means that your hobby should be something that benefits you in some way. if you work sitting at the computer for 10 hours a day, then your hobby should be hiking, or running or swimming (if you can do it at the seaside without paying expensive swimming pool tickets or monthly fee or service).
If you work construction or manual labor, you are better of doing something like reading books, or learning to program or, graphical design in your free time.
As for the phone similar goes for clothes. You cannot go around naked, but you shouldn't be buying fancy extravagant clothes, or fragile non-sturdy items. Good quality shoes are never cheap, but again when you buy a pair of good quality shoes they should last you if used properly. And if you have cheap "disposable" footwear for occasions when you do not need better.
Living with family and avoiding rent if at all possible is a good way to save a lot of money.
If a job opportunity leads you to temporarily rent an apartment, calculate if it is worth in the long run.
Will that temporary situation of like 6 months or a year turn into 3 years, 5 years, perpetual long term renter?
Similar to this is getting married or going monk mode and temporary avoiding women all together.
Is the temporary year or two without spending any resources and time on chasing women something you can do.
Can you do it without it going on into a perpetual thing where you cannot ever go back to the scene and chase again...
Is there a woman you would be satisfied with that can live a minimalist lifestyle next to you.
One thing though: DON'T skip on footwear, especially if you walk a lot. It can break joints sooner than you think.
Ahhh the old WEF mantra you will own nothing and be happy. Keep licking the boots I'm sure the asset class appreciates your free labor.
I agree, minimalism is the key to having more freedom and avoiding the traps of society
I am 59 and think it was very wise, honest speach. I was listening with big pleasure your/s story. I am sorry for your struggle too. Enjoy your life, health, free time, discover yourselves - live good life... Greating from Poland.
Lovely discussion, reject the societal norms
There should a balance between collectivism and individualism. Like anything else, it's when things become too excessive (over one side over the other), when it becomes toxic.
3:50 Diamonds aren't rare. The supply of diamonds was tightly controlled by a few companies for a very long time. And now they can be manufactured which is why jewelery companies shifted from advertising the qualities of their diamonds to the cut of their diamonds. College degrees were not valuable for the skills they gave you (with the exception of degrees that give specific skills such as engineering or medical). They were valuable as a way to filter for class. If you had the leisure time to get a degree, you and your family must have been of a certain level of affluence. Now that this is no longer true, the degree becomes useless.
It's interesting that he starts the video talking about how broken the society system is, about the oligopoly of the Chaebols and etc. And then, how the youth supposedly is becoming more individualistic in a society that was traditionally collectivist. But really? Who became individualist first? How were the Cheabols collectivist when they bottle-necked the country's economy? Weren't the elites (government, corporations, universities) individualistic when they decided to squeeze the rest of society to profit more?
The most well-educated generation ever can't find a job, must work low paid jobs, can't make ends meet, can't start a business cause big corporations will crush small business. And the young poor youth take the blame for societal issues? Where is the responsibility of the decision makers, the powerful people who actually have the means to real change?
Obviously, these issues aren't exclusivity of South Korea, or even most developed countries. Similar situations are taking place in Latin America and other parts of the world. The cost of living is soaring everywhere, house prices are bubbling. In Brazil a common joke is that every uber driver is an engineer nowadays, this was a profession worthy of social status and high paying jobs years ago. I've meet lawyers graduated from prestigious universities, in their late 30's, experts in their fields with years of experience who can't afford living in the city and need to find a roommate like they were college undergrads. There are lots of couples who both spouses have a degree and work full-time jobs, still they have to live in the parents' house because they can't afford their own place.
Meanwhile, I saw a video last week here on YT of an interview with Bill Gates commenting that if he lost 99% of his fortune he'd still be a billionaire, and he isn't the richest guy anymore. That means that if he was allowed to keep only 1% of his known wealth, he'd still be rich in a level beyond comprehension for most people on the planet. If we take into account how long he has been alive, in an hour of his sleep he earns more than a life-time of hard labor of several folk combined.
I mean I have no problem with people being rich, I really don't. If someone managed to amass a fortune through their talent and skill, kudos for them. But once you secure a life of privilege for you and your family, once you ensure the well being of your kids. After you get a mansion and another mansion and other properties, if you get a collection of cars, a private jet, a yacht, a bigger yacht for you yacht, etc. You traveled the world, you've been to places, you've met people and you're still filthy rich to extreme levels, then I think that at some point it starts to become imoral.
Sociopaths and psychopaths don't care about immorality. They lack the cognitive faculties for empathy.
How about when you use your resources to control the govt. Using bribes to make sure no one else ever has the opportunities you did???? Is that immoral?
i always knew about degree inflation, in Austria u get more being a handyman honestly. i dont have a degree only work manual labour jobs half the year and live in southeast asia or other countries during winter. i got a good life without being in the rat race.
Wow that's a great strategy!
This was a very interesting video. I didn't know much about Korean society.
Thanks!
Finding success and gratitude in the small things in life is better than pursuing grandiose goals. Kudos to the new generation.
I am gen x, and have started living this way. I have a degree, that has gotten me nowhere. Still owe on it. I work at a group home, cleaning, cooking and passing meds. Just got a home at 40. A fixer upper that continues to need things. I don't make enough to cover all of my bills and extra stuff like copay, medical, home maintenance issues...keeps going on credit card. At same time I, somehow have to figure out how to save for retirement. I don't spend money on frivolous things. So, I have given up on a lot of goals. I am near 50. Health issues all ready, and government is talking of raising retirement age, again. So, I am learning to be content with what I do have. 15.00 gym membership that I use and 15.00 audible to listen to books while at the gym. That is my entertainment. I shop at Aldis, and try not to buy more than 40.00 a week of groceries. Bought a used little car 6 years ago, 33mpg. No vacations...ever, but I have plenty to do here. Btw, I was 25, married with 2 little kids. No house. Couldn't even get a 25.00 Christmas tree that year. Always low on food. The older you get, you see that things come and go, and there are always hardships. Wasn't even able to get a house until my kids were almost grown. I had to move in with my mom 3 years. It's just best to focus on virtues, being a decent person, small gifts in life you do have and can appreciate.
a very good uplifting interpretation, good view.
"The best is yet to be"
“If you’re not born into a wealthy family” loool that’s in all of the world. You won the game then already
Isn't this a bit like Japan and China's younger generation?
China does have its own version of young people 'giving up' called TangPing (躺平) and BaiLan (摆烂). It’s pretty interesting and might be worth a deeper dive in a future video! I’m not sure if something similar is happening with Japanese youth, but it definitely sounds like something interesting to look into further.
@@TheLouisZhao I think the western concept of "mgtow" (men going their own way) is similar, since it is about men turning their backs on society, romantic relationships, and career (which mostly benefits society) and instead focus on self actualization as described in Maslows hierarchy of needs (to become the most complete and authentic version of ourselves).
I believe it is happening in japan. The marriage rate is plummeting etc. @TheLouisZhao
Japan and China have similar problems. What differentiates them from Korea is the Japanese, and the Chinese are not putting themselves in massive debt.
chyna is worse, much worse
Glad i found your channel, i appreciate your intelligence, just subscribed
Thank you my friend! 🤗
Not only SK...all developed countries...no matter democratic or authoritarian, Western or Eastern. We have built a system that we hate.
Thank you! Very well said my friend.
Thank you my friend!
Great video! This is one of the first times I’ve seen a video on a topic related to young people giving up that actually had a positive spin on that. It’s way too easy to come away from these videos feeling cynical
Thanks! I was pleasantly surprised when I realized the positive twist in this phenomenon during my research too
This young man later spoke of an optimistic way of reacting to what are unhappy life circumstances. Enjoying a sunset and nature. Enjoying music, art, or seeking friendships with others in a similar plight. One benefit of a college education is the broader perspectives one gains. I think that South Korea is well positioned to form societal changes that lead to greater personal fulfillment in its population.
Guess I’m a South Korean now even tho I live in NY
😂
Same here bro and I live in Boston 😅 they made it too hard bro! Masters degree 130k in debt jobs are paying 25 an hour with 3k rents I have tow work 70 hours to have a basic life and feel burnt out after 6 months of it 😅
Incredibly insightful and well-said. keep up the good work
Thank you!
Interesting topic! A very similar trend is happening here in the USA amongst the younger generations. But I will say this.. I believe most people in their teens and early 20’s feel a sense of rebellion and not wanting to conform to societies “rules”. But as time goes on, most of them start to find themselves, start to save a little money and begin to fall into society. It happens. This time may be different because like you said, things are changing faster than ever before. I grew up in the Silicon Valley, California and you see some of the richest people living near some of the poorest people. I moved about an hour away and finally bought a house with my girlfriend and our 7 year old son. We are simple people. We want a home, good food and time with our family. The basic necessities have become so expensive but with hard work and focus we were able to get our home. I almost gave up. I did not come from a wealthy family. In fact, my upbringing was not easy. But I was fortunate to have been born in a country with jobs and opportunities. If I didn’t have my girlfriend and our 7 year old son, I definitely would be living a different lifestyle. I would be working part time and traveling. Lol So far, I’ve reached many of the goals I set for myself.
Next, bring my expenses down as much as possible so I can spend more time with my family and things I love
Doing.
What an inspiring story. Thanks for sharing!
The Government made its decision to destroy the family over 100s of years ago 😂.
The men will adapt soon to find a greater Path than the society that gave up on them 😂
Not just Korea unfortunately, everywhere is having similar 4th turning problems probably. It's the same in the US too.
very well made video. enjoyed every second.
Thank you very much!
Great video.
Not just South Korea though, it's everywhere, although it looks like South Korea is further down the dystopian rabbit hole than other countries. They're not far behind though.
They are more advanced than most, apparently - in everything.
Honestly it's not worth working anymore...
Exactly, putting in that much time and effort needs to yield results or is not worth it
It's not worth getting a degree because you'll end up unemployed or working a job that doesn't require a degree.
@ even worse, you’re ended up with -60k of student loans on your back.
You are an incredibly articulate young man! I have had a lot of experience with young Koreans as I have taught in the international English programs in Vancouver, and I have to say Koreans have always been my favorite students. You are the "Italians" of the Asian world! I wish the young people of Korea the very best and hope they find their way in a very hard world. Having said that, what you described about the work world and university for young people is the same here in Canada.
Could you please do more on these topics? I find this fascinating to learn 🖤
Oh thanks! Just uploaded a video on the Chaebols actually.
@@TheLouisZhao Thank you, just subscribed. Keep up the good work! 👏👏
❤️❤️
В РФ давно такую штуку наблюдаю , но я думаю будет ещё рецикл ценностей жизни
Beautiful person with beautiful accent 🤗 and great points made 👌
Aww thank you!
In the US it's similar, so many people can barely afford to live these days, and are dropping out of society. Great video 👍
I enjoyed this structur of content ! Keep it up #Subbed!
Awesome, thank you!
THE problem is that College was NEVER meant to be anything other that a way to separate the "Ruling Class" from the "Working Class". It's where the rich network with other future leaders of industry. So when "common people" began to pursue a higher education, it upset the balance and lead us to where we are now. Everyone wants to live their dreams, and no one wants to do the dirty work. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, I'm just stating the facts that got us here.
9:48 I love sohwakjaeng so much more than. YOLO. it's the small things that we overlook that can bring joy. Be grateful basically
Very true. Be present. Be grateful.
This sounds very similar to how it is here in America now 😞 It seems like no matter where you are in the world, the agenda remains the same. To keep younger generations down as much as possible while the older ones/elite continue to flourish or enjoy their retirement in peace. If I truly didn't know any better I would say that this was a war on younger adults to keep them as serfs forever.
I know I sound like a crazy conspiracy theorist, but what else am I supposed to think when you got so many people in the same generations around the world sharing similar experiences of giving up and bed rotting because they realized their adult lives became a meaningless cesspool of scams and lies? At this point people can't keep brushing it off as a matter of Gens Y and Z being lazy. Not anymore. Not with this many damning stories coming to light.
i'm workin 14 hours a day, can barely effort a Rent.. i'dont know what to do. i'm scared, i'm verry stressed.
Try to chsnge the country. Try to emmigrate. Not everywhere is a rat race.
Only two choices really, take another job, or move to another town 😢
@sheridansherr8974 but where, only Russia and China seem to be doing well. Russia won't accept me because ♿️ Chinas not interested because I'm American/white
While there are plenty of houses for 10 USD in the countryside. The wages are lower of course but the expenses are as well. Half of the country lives in Seoul, so they have crazy prices there.
Ya, hopefully remote work can balance things out a bit
For everyone saying "this is happening everywhere", while you're not wrong, there is a reason South Korea stands out.
In 4 generations, at the current birth and death rate, the population faces a 90-95% population decline, that is insane! I don't know of any country that faces this crisis like South Korea does.
I've seen a half dozen shows this year, looks horrible 😢
Believe it or not it's even worse here in Greece..
Isn't SKorea the country with the most suicidal rate? This explains a Lot. I already gave up too, depression ifnot kill you literally it destroys everything
And the lowest fertility rate.
Great video man!
Thanks man!
5:14 - This is how things were since forever. The more wealth you have, the easier it is to create more wealth and, if you have kids, the easier it is for them to have doors opened to all sorts of opportunities along with money from their parents, which will give them an advantage in comparison with the average population or poor population.
I was 15 in 1995 when my Dad said to me "Your generation will have a lower standard of living than mine." I couldn't understand it at the time, but now I find myself thinking the same when meet gen z people compared to even my generation. Things are not going to get better, and no one wants to hear that getting by with less is going to be the new life hack to get anywhere. That was the west, but I see this even in Korea these days amoung my Uni students, some seem to be going minimalist mainly to make a statement, or save money for that phone/thing they want. But I don't think that is going to apply to much beyond getting a job. The birthrate is likely going to slip to .3 in the next 10 years, and housing prices are not going to come down in Seoul unless the government can get a train to Busan in 1 hour that is affordable, and even then we all know it won't move the needle. The future is likely going to be finding lifelong roommates to share a place with. Perhaps someday when there is only 15 million Koreans left will prices come down, I saw estimates it could be around the year 2100, but that is beyond our lifetimes so what does it matter really.
Good video mate
Thanks mate!
Funny how this mirrors my life history. I'm gen x just turned 59. No decent past except for childhood, no decent future except for...
Gen X here as well. A lot of our generation got caught between changing culture and changing generations. A lot of hardship all throughout life. You just gotta keep plodding along. What else are we gonna do?
Btw, I will be 49 in January 2025
I must be loosing some screws I'm 49 not 59. Still a long road to tread.
Thankfully, there are people who are willing to walk away from the system. ❤
You need 5 "P"s to solve the problem "Philosophy, Plan, People, Politics, Power". "The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth" - African proverb African's are right we build states and laws for the people not the other way around. I hope you can solve it and show how it is solved to other nations as well.
Great take regarding the 5 "P"s!
I was just on my way out 🔥🔥🔥 😊
7:14 That's the spirit! Never kneel to those that hate you. Its a shame that they can't just go elsewhere and get what they do want though.
Society as we know it is fundamentally sick, structurally rigged, and in practice is a machine of great misery. Young people around the world are not going to play a rigged game they can’t afford in the first place. In my country I’m honestly expecting things to get violent in the next few years
This isn't a rich vs poor problem. This is a young vs old issue. The old don't want the cost of living to go down since it directly benefits them and their accumulation, whereas the young need it to go down to reach certain milestones. The solution to housing was to always build more houses, but the old don't want that because for most their only asset is their house. This also applies to social safety programs that help the old, primarily causing inflation that hurts the young. The politicians don't care since the old are the biggest voting block, especially considering shrinking birthrates. The solution is simple, but the young haven't felt enough pain to implement it. At the end of the day the young have an overwhelming advantage against the old that the old seem to have forgotten in this time of peace.
So, what would you propose? Kick the elderly to the streets so that you can move up? Good god, stop generalizing. My parents NEVER had money or wealth. I think it's more of an attitude of hatred, misplaced anger, lack of empathy that is the problem. Open your eyes a little wider. There are many elderly people struggling. You'd probably have no issue with kicking your own grandparents to the curb to get what you want. The elderly have worked for many more years than you ever had. Way before you were a twinkle in your parent's eyes. I have struggled all of my life. This is not a young vs old problem. This is a problem with greedy world leaders and politicians.
@@Intelligentbydesign Are your parents living off tax dollars? If they are then yes. Look at all the politicians they all are extremely old, simply because that reflects the electorate. At the end of the day, the young will win, and it is time for old people who can't pull their weight to take the smith and Wesson retirement.
Maybe you need to look down that barrel for your own retirement plan. 'd be careful about making such explicit threats on social media. Anyway, you sound like a troll. Maybe you could get a job instead of spending so much time throwing around such hate. Do you need a hug?
@@samjones9600and for the record, they have been pulling their weight as well as yours. You have just began pulling your own weight. You're just pissed because now you have to work for what you want. Time to wake up. Your fantasy life based on social media platforms and influencer culture doesn't exist. Never has.
@@Intelligentbydesign For the record I'm 43 and a small business owner. Since I am not an employee I will get next to 0 government assistance when I retire and will have to depend on savings and my kids, even though I pay a boatload in taxes every year.
No one cares about past contributions only future profits. If your parents are getting by without the government I don't care, but if they are leeching off government assistance that is unacceptable. Either save money or be prepared for a miserable retirement.
Theoretically how viable would it be to establish yourself in a depopulated part of the country while learning a trade that is in demand in the area? Like an electrician/welder/baker/carpenter and live in a town of less than 50000 people? Because this still works in high cost countries in Europe. It sounds like part of the problem is that everyone needs a high education and high paying job to afford to live in Seoul, only to have an insane competition and housing price because everyone in the country moves to the capital.
I came across this opinion from another channel: South Korea has everything concentrated in one city Seoul. If govt managea to decentralize it, lot of these problems would become less severe.
Besides that, i would love to know if there were think tanks finding reasons and solutions to SK's problems, mainly related to youth.
excellent content. thank you.
I'm glad, thank you!
This is a bit of an exaggeration: a tiny apartment in central Seoul can be expensive if you're a young enthusiastic workaholic person. But an hour away by subway, you can get a 100+ square meter house for the same price.
God bless the people of South Korea. I don’t wish this upon any of them. But this is a worldwide phenomenon. We are becoming corporations instead of nations. greed is the biggest motivator for everything today it’s all about dollars and cents, therefore many of us, human beings, living in this type of environment, have given up on all of the beautiful things in life. It is not your fault, it is the fault of the elites that we allow to rule this world.
Wow. This is NOT the image we get of South Korea in the West. This is sooooooooooooooooo different to what we hear.
If people suffer and still don't embrace Antinatalism philosophy, is suffering in vain.
I am a Russian gen z and too in a N-Po club. Everything you said can he applied to me.
Thank you for detailed and interesting video!
Thanks for sharing! I was pleasantly surprised to see this video resonating with many people in Russia. I'd like to learn more about the country
I understand your analogy, but diamonds are neither rare nor should be as expensive as they are. Thematically, though, kinda makes sense. :)
New sub! You're impressively eloquent and well-spoken! Everything was well said.
Thank you!
Its happening in the U.S. as well and will only get worse with the Trump administration.
Aren't dems pushing inflation higher?
This is absolutely a world wide problem. This is the top 1% against the 99%. The sooner we all realize this, the better.
Pretty sure this is happening in the US also, I feel your pain.
It's not giving up on future. It's realistic expectations of it. Sure, it can be "to early" for doing this, but if nothing changes in economy and society, there wouldn't be any motivation to try and achieve anything if don't belong to very few and very specific groups of people.
Leave the big cities and go into the country - there are always opportunities to find a job that makes you happy. Go out of your mental comfort zone. Try to think about the unthinkable! Fighting!
Excellent video. The F-bomb had me laugh so hard! Cheers!
Haha thanks!
This is good
I really appreciate you making this video. This is happening eveywhere, by the way, but some countries are on an accelerated path to collapse.
11:18 i thought the problem was they didn’t have money/jobs.
I wander if it is so bad to live out of Seul, in a smaller where rent or cost of living is more affordable,
Going YOLO on luxuries when you are broke is stupid.
My apartment is only 2.4 x 7 meters which is all the space I could ever need for one person who has no intention of living with anyone ever again, however I built it to my exact needs and used the space as efficiently as possible. I guess what Im saying is a small space can be fantastic if everything else around it suits you like the location and cost, in my case its on a truck that I built for 45 grand so cheap and the location is wherever I want it do be :) It also allows me to have lots of free time yet enjoy a modest but comfortable life... Our society is cooked practically requiring a mental illness to participate in it.
It is happening in Brazil too.
I dont find it beautiful at all its just sad, monopolys and corrupt politics ruin our generation to the point only rich people have the privilege of having children of having a legacy, this sucks dont romanticized please
its bad all over ...housing in canada is even unaffordable
Depopulation is happening in every developed country.
@@gaskoart-tm5bv and developing countries having more population
Even in Puerto Rico.
Inflation rate is so high to the point what they earn can't be use to buy any landed house or decent car or having decent live with family. This happened around the world unfortunately. I get that feeling because I am one of them.
I agree that perhaps the one good thing that is going to come out of all of this is young people are changing the landscape and changing the rules about what it means to be happy and fulfilled. We're tired of playing a game that's been rigged for us to lose so we're not playing at all. Why should we continue trying to maintain a system that has been so detrimental for so long?
Economically, politically, socially, we're realizing our power and those with the most power, money and authority won't be able to ignore it.
Very true!
I don't think this phenomenon is anything new. The previous generation went through their struggles we don't have today.
The Biggest problem is a problem that you are still facing, all the problems in the past is just a good story.
Try to compete with robotisation and AI in work fields 😅.
P.S. People speaking that the construction trades will not be robotised, forget about the fact that people who loses their jobs due innovation, will add competition to job spots in all fields
China’s youth unemployment rate in August rose to the highest level since the new system of record-keeping began in December, driven by an economic slowdown and restrictive hiring policies, according to analysts. The jobless rate for people in China ages 16 to 24, and not in school, rose to 18.8% last month, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Friday. That’s up from 17.1% in July, and 13.2% in June
Same as the us
Interesting, but given your last Chinese name, I was wondering how does Korean youth giving up compare with Chinese youth giving up?
Denmark here - been living out of my car for 3 years working full time.
1) Goshiwon, one room and affordable. Some less than $300. 2) I stepped into a convenience store in Incheon this year and there one poor guy working in there. He had to do everything: 1) Man the cash register 2) Stock the shelves 3) Clean the store. Allt this for $6 to 😮$7 per hour. S. Korea is sometimes called as "Joesen Hell".
Its insane how Korea is like this; most people I know want to move there over more than any other nation