Korea is a country of contrasts—where economic success meets deep societal pressures. Before exploring what it means to grow up there, let’s see why Korea captivates and defies definition.
These are all the issues I have incorporated into my Korean Media & Pop Culture class. I jokingly said, “If we (Koreans) set our minds on something, we could become No. 1 in the world,” which sadly includes low birth rates and highest suicide rates. I believe most Koreans are traumatized by social pressures and competitiveness. I look forward to reading more of this series. Thank you for writing it!
Dr. Kelsey! Unni 😊 It’s both an honor and a bit nerve-wracking to know that an expert like you is reading this 😅
I’d love to hear your thoughts as I continue this series—please don’t hesitate to point out anything I might be missing! Thank you so much for reading and for sharing your perspective. 🙏✨
Thank you for sharing. It’s so difficult to grasp the complexities of a society from the outside, but so important. I’ve been thinking of what made Cloud Bread so distinctive in tone - and of course I’m missing a whole history of storytelling… but I’d like to learn.
Sasha, thank you so much for your kind words and for your curiosity about these nuances. It truly means a lot when someone takes the time to engage with a culture beyond the surface.
I also believe that stories are shaped by cultural values, emotions, and even unspoken traditions. That’s why I think it’s so important to read stories from writers of diverse backgrounds—it broadens our perspective in ways we might not even realize.
I’d love to share more along the way, and I truly appreciate your openness to learning. Thank you again for reading and for your thoughtful reflection! 😊
Thank you for the concise summaries in this piece and I look forward to reading further. I don't have much of value to add, but was interested in your thoughts about the self-reinforcing nature of things like the academic pressure in Korea? E.g. a friend of mine was quite candid that he felt it was bad for his children and he didn't like watching them have to study effectively all-day, everyday, but that he felt there was no other option than pushing them to do so for their futures. That seems fair in the sense that one person or family can't really change a system, but I always wondered how accurate his perception was (i.e. without reaching academic heights, is it really that difficult to get a good job and eke out a reasonable standard of living in Korea? Or is it perhaps just a stuck-on idea that people are understandably just unwilling to risk deviating from for their own kids). Thanks again and look forward to your future pieces on this and other topics.
Thanks so much for reading and for taking the time to share your thoughts!
You’re absolutely right—there are always people who carve out their own paths and find happiness without following the conventional academic grind. But Korea is undeniably a high-pressure society. With a dense population competing for limited opportunities, the competition for prestigious schools and jobs can be relentless.
Academic background still heavily influences employment prospects, and salary differences between professions can be quite significant. For many, getting into a top university feels like the only viable route to stability. Lately, becoming a doctor has become the ultimate goal for many students, with families going to extreme lengths to make it happen.
I’ll be covering this topic in more depth later in my series, so stay tuned for a deeper dive. Thanks again for your thoughtful comment—I really appreciate it!
These are all the issues I have incorporated into my Korean Media & Pop Culture class. I jokingly said, “If we (Koreans) set our minds on something, we could become No. 1 in the world,” which sadly includes low birth rates and highest suicide rates. I believe most Koreans are traumatized by social pressures and competitiveness. I look forward to reading more of this series. Thank you for writing it!
Dr. Kelsey! Unni 😊 It’s both an honor and a bit nerve-wracking to know that an expert like you is reading this 😅
I’d love to hear your thoughts as I continue this series—please don’t hesitate to point out anything I might be missing! Thank you so much for reading and for sharing your perspective. 🙏✨
Thank you for sharing. It’s so difficult to grasp the complexities of a society from the outside, but so important. I’ve been thinking of what made Cloud Bread so distinctive in tone - and of course I’m missing a whole history of storytelling… but I’d like to learn.
Sasha, thank you so much for your kind words and for your curiosity about these nuances. It truly means a lot when someone takes the time to engage with a culture beyond the surface.
I also believe that stories are shaped by cultural values, emotions, and even unspoken traditions. That’s why I think it’s so important to read stories from writers of diverse backgrounds—it broadens our perspective in ways we might not even realize.
I’d love to share more along the way, and I truly appreciate your openness to learning. Thank you again for reading and for your thoughtful reflection! 😊
Please keep sharing! It's so important!
Thank you for the concise summaries in this piece and I look forward to reading further. I don't have much of value to add, but was interested in your thoughts about the self-reinforcing nature of things like the academic pressure in Korea? E.g. a friend of mine was quite candid that he felt it was bad for his children and he didn't like watching them have to study effectively all-day, everyday, but that he felt there was no other option than pushing them to do so for their futures. That seems fair in the sense that one person or family can't really change a system, but I always wondered how accurate his perception was (i.e. without reaching academic heights, is it really that difficult to get a good job and eke out a reasonable standard of living in Korea? Or is it perhaps just a stuck-on idea that people are understandably just unwilling to risk deviating from for their own kids). Thanks again and look forward to your future pieces on this and other topics.
Thanks so much for reading and for taking the time to share your thoughts!
You’re absolutely right—there are always people who carve out their own paths and find happiness without following the conventional academic grind. But Korea is undeniably a high-pressure society. With a dense population competing for limited opportunities, the competition for prestigious schools and jobs can be relentless.
Academic background still heavily influences employment prospects, and salary differences between professions can be quite significant. For many, getting into a top university feels like the only viable route to stability. Lately, becoming a doctor has become the ultimate goal for many students, with families going to extreme lengths to make it happen.
I’ll be covering this topic in more depth later in my series, so stay tuned for a deeper dive. Thanks again for your thoughtful comment—I really appreciate it!