Society with limitless competition blamed for low hapiness index
Korea's gross national happiness (GNH) index is quite near the bottom of the 37-member OECD, according to a report from the Korea Development Institute. The country's index averaged 5.85 between 2018 and 2020, ranking it 62nd among the 149 countries surveyed, and 35th in the club of industrialized nations. Only two OECD countries were lower than Korea ― Greece (5.72) and Turkey (4.95).
What could be the reason for such a low GNH index for Korea, one of the world's top-10 economic powers? The state think tank cites various reasons, such as long working hours, suffocating fine dust, the high poverty rate among the elderly, and the living environment. However, these may be the tip of the iceberg. Experts point to extreme political conflict, excessive economic concentration in the handful of family-run conglomerates, and undue educational zeal leading to fierce competition as factors pulling down the quality of life.
Young people feel frustrated with the extreme jobs crunch, as shown by the surging unemployment rate. Middle-aged people are full of despair faced with the collapse of the "ladder for upward mobility" as the income gap continues to widen, however hard they work. Older adults suffer even more, and nothing shows this better than the world's top-level poverty and suicide rates among senior citizens. If anyone wants to see a rise in Korea's GNH ranking in this desperate situation, it will end up as false hope.
There are three conditions for happiness ― livelihood stabilization, enjoyment of family life, and success in work. However, Koreans' living environment is far from this. To improve the situation, society should give "equal opportunities" to young people and provide upward mobility for the middle-aged by narrowing the income gap.
For older adults, the country should implement a positive welfare policy by letting them continue to work instead of remaining content with the welfare that amounts to tiny financial support. Besides, the excessive competition gripping all of society needs to be relaxed and the haves need to be encouraged to share their wealth with the poor.
Psychological factors certainly play a significant role in determining happiness, and money cannot buy happiness ― but neither can poverty.
Korea's gross national happiness (GNH) index is quite near the bottom of the 37-member OECD, according to a report from the Korea Development Institute. The country's index averaged 5.85 between 2018 and 2020, ranking it 62nd among the 149 countries surveyed, and 35th in the club of industrialized nations. Only two OECD countries were lower than Korea ― Greece (5.72) and Turkey (4.95).
What could be the reason for such a low GNH index for Korea, one of the world's top-10 economic powers? The state think tank cites various reasons, such as long working hours, suffocating fine dust, the high poverty rate among the elderly, and the living environment. However, these may be the tip of the iceberg. Experts point to extreme political conflict, excessive economic concentration in the handful of family-run conglomerates, and undue educational zeal leading to fierce competition as factors pulling down the quality of life.
Young people feel frustrated with the extreme jobs crunch, as shown by the surging unemployment rate. Middle-aged people are full of despair faced with the collapse of the "ladder for upward mobility" as the income gap continues to widen, however hard they work. Older adults suffer even more, and nothing shows this better than the world's top-level poverty and suicide rates among senior citizens. If anyone wants to see a rise in Korea's GNH ranking in this desperate situation, it will end up as false hope.
There are three conditions for happiness ― livelihood stabilization, enjoyment of family life, and success in work. However, Koreans' living environment is far from this. To improve the situation, society should give "equal opportunities" to young people and provide upward mobility for the middle-aged by narrowing the income gap.
For older adults, the country should implement a positive welfare policy by letting them continue to work instead of remaining content with the welfare that amounts to tiny financial support. Besides, the excessive competition gripping all of society needs to be relaxed and the haves need to be encouraged to share their wealth with the poor.
Psychological factors certainly play a significant role in determining happiness, and money cannot buy happiness ― but neither can poverty.
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