Korea’s Disappearing Middle Class

By Michael Stevens

Unfortunately for many in Korea, we have become too complacent, often struggling through our own daily routines with our hands over our ears, eyes and mouths while others continue to lose their jobs, savings and personal security.

The Korean economy is still in trouble as foreign investors continue to swoop down like vultures. Now, the middle class is in serious trouble.

While we sit back in our recliners watching our flat screen televisions, the ultra-rich conglomerates within Korea dictate their personal agendas in order to control members of the Cabinet and those in the National Assembly.

Gradually, Koreans continue to sell out their country to the highest bidder, often choosing money over morals. This leads me to the question: Who in this government is actually looking out for the average middle class person living and working in Korea?

Koreans need to start demanding that their politicians start listening to the average person and not the almighty won. These large industries shouldn't be forming policies behind closed governmental doors.

The Lee administration did the right thing when the prosecutors' office started investigating former President Roh Moo-hyun and other political figures for bribery, even though some said that it was politically motivated.

However, in my opinion it was a necessary evil that must still be done in order to clean up house ― those in government must not be above the rule of law and this includes presidents.

These large Korean manufacturers and conglomerates are squeezing out the middle class. Given the fact that they are putting profit margins and their own personal wealth over their employees ― not concerned about giving a wage that is fair or providing job security.

Often, they leave the country in order to maximize profits and all the while their own countrymen suffer with unemployment and snowballing debt.

Many people are very concerned about the future of this country, and not without reason. To be certain, due to the global economic recession ― for many hard working people ― everything has changed and there is no doubt that we can expect far wider and more sweeping changes to emerge before this is all through.

Taking into account the numerous articles about the widening gap between the rich and the poor and in addition the various articles about raising unemployment rates; clearly, the middle class is disappearing within this country, slowly becoming the poor.

The major reason for this is because workers are regarded as being unimportant in our society. Often disrespected instead of being respected as one of the key components of Korea's current and future prosperity, they are treated like rubbish and as soon to be trash.

Regrettably, Korea's throw-away society mentality has extended to this key group of people.

Once there was a thriving economic level where the businessman and the average worker had a stable income with job security and were able to maintain a relatively high standard of living.

However, due to the reasons stated above and because of the higher cost of living, higher taxes, and inflated housing costs, the three classes in Korea right now seem to be the homeless, the working poor and the rich.

Although, the working poor may have jobs typically categorized as being middle class work, in terms of money they are essentially poor.

Whenever it takes all money earned to pay bills, including credit card payments, and we are still millions of won in debt, doesn't that make us poor? Unless Korea comes up with viable solutions, and soon, we can be very sure a day of reckoning is forthcoming

Michael Stevens is a student of biblical studies residing in Guri, Gyeonggi Province. He can be reached at eslcity@gmail.com.