'Lone lamb' in Korea

By Oh Jung-hun

Since the horrific Boston marathon bombing, the term “lone wolf” ― a person alienated from the mainstream of society ― has become prominent.

Two brothers, who emigrated from Chechnya, allegedly plotted this catastrophic attack. According to an interview, even their aunt living there was astonished at what made them perform such an irreparable, unpardonable and condemnable act because she had seen their innocence in childhood. The motive of their crime was derived from the self-radicalization through religious doctrine.

In contrast, there are “lone lambs” in Korea, people who internalize their helplessness and end up self-radicalizing to commit suicide. A lone wolf might have experienced racial discrimination or barriers, while a lone lamb may have experienced the continual ordeal of economic unfairness and an unstable life.

When one imagines whose burden is heavier to shoulder, the latter seems as harsh as the former with regards to survival.

Dating back to about three decades ago when the aspiration of political democratization in Korea swept across the country, some of the self-radicalized youngsters were sacrificed by the transitional vortex of an era.

Since then, the IMF’s bailout has brought about more momentous changes in the economic infrastructure. As a result, many small- and medium-sized companies went bankrupt. A number of dismissed employees fell into irregular worker status overnight. The consciousness of losers has also run parallel with such a radical change. They think that the gulf between the rich and the poor is now wider than ever.

What is worse, the animosity against the nouveau riche and simmering dissatisfaction with economic unfairness, at first develops into an antisocial sentiment, and them hardens into self-pity or self-depression.

Unable to get out of the long dark tunnel, many lone lambs commit suicide under the weight of a burdensome livelihood. It is no longer news that Korea’s suicide rate is one of the highest in the world. Considering how many Korean lone lambs will appear in the near future, and the numerous reoccurrence of suicides here, I have to ask why we can’t halt such a miserable reality.

The more diverse a society gets, the more its members are likely to be treated in an irrelevant and inhumane way. We often see greedy entrepreneurs treat employees as a mere means of producing profits. We also see some selfish politicians manipulate the consensus of the masses to divert their disadvantages into advantages by revealing groundless facts. The predatory practices of ruthless owners result in public outcry, while helpless subcontractors are swallowing what the franchise operators inordinately demand.

Such inequality and unfairness in markets have been taken for granted without question until some politicians recently came to realize the importance of a more “democratized economy.”

The injustice and unfairness of the market deepens the alienation of social and economic underdogs. Although there are some fair players who strive not to overstep or encroach upon others’ domains, most entrepreneurs still seem unconscious of the seriousness of these pending issues.

They not only turn a deaf ear to subcontractor’s pleas but press them down with abusive language. The reality is too harsh for the lone lamb. An undemocratic market drives them into a corner.

All of these unjustifiable practices make lone lambs spread the bleak view of their lives. I hope that proper government policies and timely intervention will take them get out of harsh reality.

The government should not leave these underdogs as minorities alienated from Korean society, but encourage them to grow as a majority contributing to society.

The writer is a high school teacher in Bucheon, Gyonggi Province. His email address is dicapripk@hanmail.net.