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   Final message from Jeju Air passenger: 'A bird struck the wing, should I make
   a will?'

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   179 killed in Muan airport plane crash, 2 rescued

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   Muan Airport crash survivor asks, 'What happened?'

 * 7
   
   Muan airport control tower warned of bird strike, pilot's mayday call came
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 * 9
   
   Families of plane crash victims mourn, voice frustrations

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   Muan Airport crash involved 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 with prior accident
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   Jeju Air plane flew relentlessly before tragedy with minimal maintenance

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   Why instant cup noodles are selling fast in Korea

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   28 dead as jet carrying 181 people crashes while landing in S. Korea's Muan

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   Jeju Air flight returns after takeoff over similar landing gear issue found
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   Landing gear malfunction likely caused Muan plane crash during crash landing
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   PHOTOSPlane crash at Muan airport

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Tue, December 31, 2024 | 14:26


Jason Lim
Into the new world … separately?
Posted : 2024-12-29 12:28
Updated : 2024-12-29 15:30


   
   
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By Jason Lim



According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Korea has officially
become a super-aged society with 20 percent of its population aged 65 or older.
If the current trend continues, Korea could have the highest proportion of older
adults in the world by 2045, with 37.3 percent of its population over 65. This
demographic trend isn’t changing any time soon since Korea also suffers from the
lowest birthrate in the world with 0.72 births per woman in 2023, far below the
population replacement rate of 2.1.

Another interesting metric to note in Korea’s whirling demographic trends is the
out-of-wedlock birthrate, which hit a historical high of 4.7 percent in 2023.
However, compare this to the average rate of out-of-wedlock births in OECD
countries, which is 42 percent. In short, it’s possible to infer that women in
Korea are not having babies because they are not getting married.

Numbers bear this out. In 2023, Korea recorded one of the lowest numbers of
marriages since 1981, with only 193,657 couples getting married. The trend of
shunning marriage has been particularly noticeable in recent years, with the
number of marriages drastically decreasing by over 40 percent compared to 10
years ago.

A seemingly unrelated trend is the gender bifurcation of the Gen Zers
participating in the recent political protests against President Yoon Suk Yeol
over his short-lived imposition of martial law that has now plunged Korea into a
political morass. Many have observed that the most visible protest group are
women in their 20s and 30s, waving their K-pop light sticks and, ironically,
singing along to “Into the New World” by the Girls' Generation. The girls have
certainly come of age. In contrast, young men seem to be missing in action,
especially compared to the leading role that men have taken in Korea’s long
history of political activism.

This polarization is not surprising. It’s a continuation of the last
presidential election. With skyrocketing housing prices, a fiercely competitive
job market and stagnant wages, both genders face significant challenges in
achieving financial stability. However, the way these pressures manifest differs
markedly. For Gen Z women, economic insecurity often intersects with systemic
gender discrimination. Women in South Korea still earn significantly less than
their male counterparts, with the country consistently ranking at the bottom in
gender pay equity among OECD nations. Sexual harassment and a lack of
opportunities for career advancement further exacerbate these challenges. As a
result, young women increasingly view feminist activism as essential not only
for achieving equality but also for securing a fair shot at economic stability.

For Gen Z men, economic insecurity is often framed through a lens of perceived
competition. Many young men believe they are unfairly burdened by societal
expectations, such as mandatory military service, while women, in their view,
benefit from policies designed to level the playing field. This perception of
“reverse discrimination” has fueled resentment and driven some young men to
oppose feminist movements, which they see as contributing to their own loss of
status and security.

Social media and online forums amplify the gender divide, serving as both
platforms for activism and arenas for conflict. Feminist campaigns like #MeToo
and #DontBuyMyLabor, which encourage women to withdraw from unpaid emotional and
domestic labor, have gained significant traction online. Activists use platforms
like Instagram and social platform X to organize protests, share stories and
build solidarity.

On the other hand, young men dominate male-centric forums like Ilbe and DC
Inside, where discussions often spiral into hostility toward feminism. These
online spaces are fertile ground for the spread of antifeminist rhetoric and
misinformation, which fuels the backlash against feminist movements. The
anonymity of these platforms allows users to express grievances and frustrations
that might not be socially acceptable in public, further entrenching the divide.

Coming back to the marriage and birth issue again, it’s pretty apparent that the
primary underlying cause of the low marriage rate and birthrate is not just the
high costs of housing and raising children. It’s a sociopolitical chasm that has
opened up between men and women of marrying age. They see the world in
fundamentally different ways, both feeling victimized and aggrieved by each
other. No wonder they are choosing to not get married. They can barely stand
each other.

Money doesn’t work. Since 2021, the government has spent $270 billion to fund
its plan for an aging society and population to raise the birthrate, to no
avail. A fundamentally new leadership is required. The gender divide in Gen Z
activism in Korea is symptomatic of deep-seated tensions within a rapidly
changing society. While young women fight against systemic discrimination and
patriarchal norms, young men grapple with feelings of alienation and unfairness
in a society that seems to overlook their struggles. Bridging this divide
requires empathy, dialogue and a shift toward more inclusive activism that
addresses the shared challenges of a generation. Only then can Korea move toward
a more equitable and united future.

And have more babies.

Jason Lim (jasonlim@msn.com) is a Washington-based expert on innovation,
leadership and organizational culture. The views expressed in this article are
the author’s own and do not reflect The Korea Times’ editorial stance.




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Top 10 Stories

1Jeju Air plane flew relentlessly before tragedy with minimal maintenance

2New Year countdowns canceled after Muan airport crash

3Jeju Air crash sparks blame game between airline and Boeing

4Firefighters describe Jeju Air crash 'truly unbearable'

5Questions raised on concrete wall at airport of Jeju Air crash

6Investigation begins to find cause of deadly plane crash

7Detention warrant issued for Yoon over martial law, 1st issuance for sitting
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8Jeju Air passengers cancel flight tickets en masse following deadly crash

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