The young Koreans pushing back on a culture of endurance - BBC News

“People who don’t have financial stability or live outside of Seoul experience barriers,” Kim Ri-Oh says. “Annual membership fees [to salons] are hard to pay when you’re juggling rent. Commuting to the city to go to these gatherings requires paying for a round trip on the bullet train which can cost almost $100.”

A one-year membership to Chwihyangwan costs 1,200,000 Korean won ($1,033 or £786). Whereas at Don’t Worry Village, residents pay a 500,000-won fee ($430 or £327), although the programme was initially free of charge.

Of course, the sheer idea of taking a break, or not working and having any flow of income, may not be an option for these individuals, especially when youth unemployment is swelling.

Depression is at an all-time high among Korea’s youth. According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, the number of people in their 20s diagnosed with depression has nearly doubled in the last five years. Communities like those found at salons can be seen as spaces for those who are lonely, says Ha Ji-Hyun, a psychiatrist and professor at Konkuk University’s Medical Centre in Seoul.

Ha says that depression has a disparate impact on low-income youth. It requires spending money on commuting, a meal or a movie ticket, for example. In other words, socialising becomes inherently tied to money and can be more of a burden than a pleasure.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Culture - Latest - Google News
January 09, 2020 at 04:01AM
https://ift.tt/2QApGVk

The young Koreans pushing back on a culture of endurance - BBC News
Culture - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/35WC9rk
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update

Bagikan Berita Ini