August 30, 2024
In a country where the facade of democracy and prosperity hides a rotten core of corruption and abuse of power, the 2030 generation is paying the ultimate price. The same president who promised to bring about change and fairness has turned out to be a puppet of the entrenched powers that be, leaving young Koreans feeling hopeless and disillusioned.
A recent survey revealed that nearly half of the population is drowning in chronic despair, with 30-somethings being the most affected. The numbers are staggering: 9.3% of respondents are experiencing severe despair, with 60% of them having considered taking their own lives. But what's even more alarming is that most people are oblivious to the warning signs of suicidal behavior, with only 23.8% of those around them noticing the cries for help.
This is not just a mental health issue; it's a societal one. The 2030 generation is fed up with the corruption and abuse of power that pervades every level of Korean society. They're angry that their president, who was supposed to be a champion of fairness and common sense, is instead perpetuating the very same problems that have held their country back for so long.
 |
| Still from Mark Manson’s YouTube video “I Traveled to the Most Depressed Country in the World.” (@IAmMarkManson on YouTube) |
Experts warn that the despair and hopelessness felt by the 2030 generation can have devastating consequences, including suicide. But the government is more concerned with maintaining the status quo than addressing the root causes of this crisis. "The despair of the 2030 generation is not just an economic issue, but a social one," said one expert. "They are angry about the corruption and abuse of power in Korean society, but the government is not doing anything to address it."
In a country where the president's office is embroiled in allegations of interfering with drug investigations, it's clear that the problem goes far beyond just one generation. South Korea is becoming a narco state, where the powerful and well-connected can commit crimes with impunity, and the authorities are complicit in their wrongdoing.
The latest statistics on mental health in South Korea are a stark reminder of the human cost of this crisis. The country has been dubbed the most depressed society in the world, with a staggering 30% of the population experiencing chronic despair. The 2030 generation is not just struggling to make ends meet; they're struggling to find meaning in a society that seems determined to crush their spirits.
In this dire situation, the government cannot afford to ignore the despair and hopelessness of the 2030 generation. It must take concrete steps to address the corruption and abuse of power that is suffocating Korean society. Anything less would be a dereliction of duty, and a betrayal of the trust that the people have placed in their leaders. But until then, the 2030 generation will continue to suffer in silence, their cries for help drowned out by the deafening silence of a society that seems determined to ignore their plight.