People wish fairer, safer society in New Year

People gather around a sculpture of the Olympic flag during sunrise at Gyeongpo Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Monday. Gangneung, along with PyeongChang, will host diverse games during the Winter Olympic period from Feb. 9 to 25. / Yonhap

By Jung Min-ho, Kang Jin-koo

The New Year has arrived and, for many, there is a lot to look forward to. Five cub reporters of Hankook Ilbo, the sister paper of The Korea Times, took to the streets to meet people and ask them about their 2018 wishes.

From getting a job to better health, their wishes were diverse. But more than anything else, many wished for a fairer and safer society. We hope all their dreams come true.

“I wish for a more just society,” said Gachon University Professor Kim Mi-ran, 42. “I hope no one gets frustrated just because they can’t afford justice.”

Last year’s news about Chung Yoo-ra, Choi Soon-sil’s daughter who received admissions and grading favors at Ewha Womans University, and a big cronyism scandal involving many public and private firms aroused anger among young people.

Choi Byeong-seon, a 26-year-old jobseeker, does not want to hear such news ever again.

“I hope the government will create an environment where everyone can compete openly and fairly regardless of their backgrounds,” he said.

Moon Jae-in was elected president last year on the promise of a safer society after the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster. Yet many people have since died in tragic accidents that could have been prevented.

“Little has changed since the ferry sinking three years ago. A major fire occurred in Jecheon and another boat capsized off Yeongheung Island,” said Jeong Dong-min, 72. “My biggest wish is to see my country become safer. I urge the government to make more efforts for it.”

Kim Kyung-nam, 58, said she has the same wish. “Too many accidents have occurred lately. I hope nothing like that happens in the New Year. This cannot be achieved by a single man or institution. I think we all should work together to make our society safer.”

Opening a new era of “zero irregular jobs in public institutions” and raising the minimum wage to 10,000 won per hour by 2020 are among President Moon’s key pledges.

Lee Nam-sin, 53, head of the Korean Contingent Workers’ Center, is pinning his hope on those promises.

“I hope for a society where no one has to deal with unfair workplace treatment,” he said. “I hope Moon will fulfill the promises for all workers, not just those with regular positions.”

Many also said they have started new businesses, careers and other things that will mean a lot to their lives in 2018.

Starting this year, Park Chan-hwi, 24, will study theology at Methodist Theological University as a graduate student. “I want to receive a scholarship so I don’t have to work part-time too much to afford the education,” he said.

Kang Won, a 36-year-old jobseeker, worked as a construction worker for most of 2017. “It is difficult to get a job in winter. I hope I can get a more stable position,” he said.

Some people put health before anything else.

“I hope my wife, who had major surgery in 2017, will get well. She is having a tough time as she is trying to recover while going through menopause at the same time. Above anything else, I want to see her healthy again,” said Park Jung-ho, 51.

Kim Seong-ja, 54, who has run a shoe repair shop for 28 years in Seoul, said she also wishes for better health. “A healthy body is necessary for enjoying life. Also, I want my children not to lose hope as they struggle to find jobs,” she said.

Weathercaster Bae Hye-ji, 26, has a simple wish.

“I want to laugh more this year. I hope there will be more days for me to laugh with my family and friends,” she said.

Trainee reporters ― Kang Yu-bin, Park Ji-yoon, Son Young-ha and Hong In-taek ― contributed to this article.