With job opportunities becoming increasingly scarce, young Koreans began calling themselves the “Three G Generation” some time ago. 

The “G” was a reference to the three things they had to “give up” in life -- falling in love, getting married and having a child -- because of their low income and high prices.

As the job market became tighter, the nickname changed to the “Five G Generation,” with two additions to the list of sacrifices: getting a job and buying a house. Then emerged the “Seven G Generation” that had to give up two more things: social life and hope.

These days, we are witnessing the advent of the “Nine G Generation” as they give up yet more things: health and college education. As long as things are not getting better, the list of things to “give up” will keep expanding. God knows what more our youngsters will have to give up on.

A few days ago, I met a famous scholar and literary critic who is an internationally renowned celebrity. While conversing about the Nine G Generation, he lamented, “How come these youngsters give up so easily? There are numerous underdeveloped nations on Earth. Even in those destitute countries, young people have never given up. What’s wrong with our young people?”

He added, “Many college students in other countries have part-time jobs in order to make money for a living or to pay tuition. How about Korean college students? Most of them are supported by their parents.” Then he continued, “My generation did not get enough financial support from our parents. Worse, we had to go through catastrophes such as the Korean War and postwar poverty. Yet, we have never given up. We have not only endured, but have also overcome our ordeals.”

Perhaps, then, it is the parents who have raised a Kangaroo Generation that is easily scared, broken and prone to despair on encountering obstacles in life. Like a baby kangaroo in its mother’s pouch, young Koreans are mollycoddled by their parents even until they graduate from college. This soft generation, which may also be called the “Greenhouse Generation,” has been raised in a warm and comfortable environment where there is no fluctuation of temperatures. When they walk out of the greenhouse and into the street, they suddenly find that they have to deal with strong winds and cold temperatures. Naturally, these soft youngsters are easily discouraged and dismayed.

Although their parents, especially their mothers, have played the role of a manager for them, parents cannot be of help when it comes to getting a job. Frustrated, young Koreans begin blaming society for virtually everything, including their unemployment because they think their society has failed them. In disappointment, they label their own country “Hell Joseon,” Joseon being a premodern name for Korea, and openly declare that they want to emigrate. They publicly demand that older people retire early so they can fill the openings. They detest older people who advise them to try harder. In fact, “try harder” has become the G Generation’s most hated words.

The more fundamental problem is the social atmosphere of Korea, in which we constantly compare ourselves with others. We want to be treated equally even though we are different from one another. If someone becomes successful, we tend to dismiss his achievements, saying, “Ah, he is lucky to have an influential father.” Or we justify our failure, saying “Ah, he is from a rich family and I am not. That’s why.” We cannot tolerate it when someone is better than us or moves ahead of us. Everybody should be equal in Korea. 

We also tend to follow the crowd. For example, entering college is fashionable in Korea, so Korean mothers are determined to send their children to college no matter what the cost. As a result, about 80 percent of high school graduates enter college in Korea. Naturally, there are numerous college graduates in Korean society, and they all want a decent office job. Unfortunately, companies cannot accommodate so many college graduates. Consequently, our unemployed young people are frustrated and furious.

It is not an easy thing to create enough jobs when the world economy is in recess. However, it is our politicians’ duty to boost the economy and create more jobs for young people. They should encourage or press big corporations to hire more people. Otherwise, our unemployed youngsters will have to live with their mothers even in their 30s and 40s. 

I can understand young people’s frustration. It would be wrong, however, if they blamed older people or society for their discontent. Older people have gone through the atrocities of the colonial experience, the Korean War, the student revolution, the military coups, not to mention extreme poverty. Yet, they have not only survived but have thrived and succeeded in creating an affluent society.

Watching our young people easily despair and give up, I am disappointed in them. For what is youth without a spirit of daring and adventure?

By Kim Seong-kon

Kim Seong-kon is a professor emeritus of English at Seoul National University and the president of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. — Ed.