The Aftershocks of South Korea's Materialistic Rapid Growth

• The law of the jungle hidden within a society that emphasizes test-based skills and abilities
• Cultivating talent geared towards individual advancement and success, resulting in the production of individuals corrupted by greed
• The stark reality of parenting in a nuclear family generation – classroom education crumbling
• The loss of genuine human relationships – true friends should be able to share even their innermost thoughts

Elementary, middle, and high school friends are generally encountered during a relatively innocent period of life, leading to a higher likelihood of maintaining friendships into adulthood. However, upon graduating and meeting up decades later, while the initial joy of reunion may be present, it's inevitable to discover that different thoughts and beliefs have solidified over time due to diverse work environments, political cultures, and religious factors.

Overlooking this aspect and attempting to rekindle friendships solely based on childhood innocence can lead to adverse effects. Therefore, as we age, it becomes crucial to foster friendships within a more cautious and thoughtful context.

Today, social networking services (SNS) are thriving, providing virtual spaces for communities, relatives, and friend groups to establish connections and maintain communication. However, genuine communication requires a concerted effort to express one's own thoughts, listen attentively to others' perspectives, and show acknowledgement. Only then can long-separated friends gain insight into each other's thoughts and understand their respective backgrounds and circumstances.

Unfortunately, such scenarios are rarely observed in most encounters. This can be attributed to the lingering effects of Confucian traditions, which prioritize hierarchical social structures, leading to insufficient intergenerational communication within families and schools.

However, even if friends don't meet frequently in person, fostering an environment where they can express their opinions and listen to others in virtual spaces can help maintain positive relationships. Written communication allows for the expression of one's thoughts, and through exchanging short messages, individuals can gradually gain a deeper understanding of each other. Even if disagreements arise, comprehending the underlying reasons can pave the way for a meaningful friendship.

Sometimes, we might not even understand our own inner feelings, but through engaging in sufficient interaction, we can discover individuals we connect with and engage in free and meaningful conversations. At this point, who would dare to envy or obstruct such a relationship?

Humans inevitably gravitate towards those with similar thoughts and preferences, forming friendships based on shared interests. However, when we delve deeper into ourselves, begin to reflect on our existence, and discover our true selves, we can shed our rigid outer layers. From this point forward, we gain access to a world we never imagined before and attain new insights.

In doing so, we may uncover our long-held beliefs and realize that our past pursuits and affections were solely self-centered, neglecting those around us. This realization will inevitably lead to regret. However, this signifies a progression towards a higher level of human maturity – a development that should be celebrated.

While school education and social experiences are important, South Korea has prioritized performance-based achievements, prestigious schools, and career success as paramount life goals during its period of rapid economic growth. However, within these spheres, a system of ranking individuals based on skills and abilities, akin to survival of the fittest, has taken root. A so-called law of the jungle prevails.

Consequently, fundamental human values such as integrity, character, and sharing with fellow human beings have been completely disregarded. This has served as a stumbling block to human growth and the development of a healthy society.

As we witness the regression of democracy and attempts to undermine the rule of law, most citizens are acutely aware that the foundation of South Korean society and the nation is crumbling.

This is likely a consequence of the rapid wave of material growth that swept over the past 30 years. The aftereffects of neglecting moral education and a sense of national identity and history in raising and educating children are being acutely felt by the current generation.