N-po generation
N-po generation (Korean: N포세대; Hanja: N抛世代; RR: N-posedae; lit. generation that has given up on N things) is a new term for the generation of people who have given up on numerous things in South Korea. It was first attested as the 'Sampo generation', which was then expanded to the 'N-po Generation' who gave up on n number of things. 'Sampo generation' and 'N-po generation' can both to refer to the N-po generations as a whole. In a similar term, Japan refers to the Satori generation.[1]
The Sampo Generation is said to have given up on three (sam) things: dating, marriage, and child-rearing. The Opo Generation has given up an additional two, to make five (o): home ownership and personal relationships. The Chilpo Generation refers to the generation who gave up another two, making seven (chil): their hopes and their careers.[1][2]
Currently, many young people in their 20s and 30s in South Korea are giving up on dating and marriage and putting off having children without a commitment, on the grounds that they cannot afford to care for themselves, let alone a family, due to economic and social pressures, such as soaring prices, tuition fees, job shortages, and home prices.[1]
Origin and expansion of the word[edit]
This is a new term coined by the special task force of Kyunghyang Shinmun's planning series "Speaking a Welfare Country" in 2011. The press team defined "Sampo Generation" as "young people who delay dating, marriage, childbirth or no commitment due to excessive living costs such as unstable jobs, repayment of student loans, preparation for a job without a commitment, and soaring housing prices." It is a term coined to show that the burden of Korean families who have taken on welfare that the state is not responsible for has reached a critical point, eventually reaching a state of disintegration of the traditional family form.[3] From an economic perspective, the term is both economically depressive and, at the same time, the domestic market is shrinking because Korea is heavily dependent on imported goods. This can be defined as a country where stagflation is a common practice due to low economic growth, very low wages, and rising prices due to its unique economic structure, resulting in higher cost of living compared to lower income, leading to the creation of such terms.[4] Since then, it has spread socially through various media, political circles, and the Internet, and has become a symbolic term to reveal the lives of young people and the challenges of our society. Young adults in not only Korea but also the U.S. are becoming more economically dependent on parents due to the recent shortage of jobs, and the reality of Millennials, which was noted until a few years ago, can be seen as similar to Korea's Sampo generation.[5]
Sociological analysis[edit]
The main cause of the word's birth is assumed to be the economic and social pressures of modern society on young people.[6]
- Many young Koreans tend to regard love as a luxury due to being overwhelmed by the social climate of paying back student loans, suffering from excessive housing and living expenses, and pushing them to work toward the best specs, if not part of a first-rate company, because of the social structure that values only large companies.[6]
- The generalization of business-like wedding halls, which carefully assess each other's business specifications instead of romantic ones, and the rapid increase in wedding costs.[6][7]
- It is frustrating to many young people who do not meet the conditions for being legally or socially eligible to marry.[6]
- Even if they are married, they will be burdened with the cost of childcare, and the low birthrate trend caused by these economic pressures and the lack of social consideration for working mothers are significant factors that make young couples hesitate to give birth.[6]
Consequences[edit]
In the modern age, the need for marriage has disappeared, and the sense that marriage is not necessary has spread. Marriage and childcare have shifted from necessity toward individualistic choice. Socially, this can explain the decreasing birthrate, as late or lack-of marriage lifts a burden of childcare, can induce depression and suicide rates, and accelerates an aging society and the absence of a generation responsible for the welfare of the elderly.[2][8]
See also[edit]
- 9X Generation
- Buddha-like mindset
- Freeter
- Hell Joseon
- Spoon class theory
- Working poor
- Sampo generation
- Strawberry generation
- Tang ping
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Yu, Jung-in; Park, Eun-ha (2011-05-18). "[복지국가를 말한다](1부)② 과부하 걸린 한국의 가족" [[Welfare State] (Part 1) ② Korean Family with Overload]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-04-29.
- ^ a b PD Note, MBC. "[PD 수첩] 허니문푸어, 빚과 결혼하다" [[PD Note]'Honeymoon poor'-Marriage with debts]. playvod.imbc.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-06-14.
- ^ Segye news team (2013-06-19). "취업준비생 이별 이유 1위…삼포세대의 비극" [The first reason of job seekers' farewell...Tragedy of Sampo generation]. 취업준비생 이별 이유 1위…삼포세대의 비극 세계일보. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
- ^ Park, Hye-jung (2012-02-01). "20~30대 10명중 4명 "나는 삼포세대"" [4 of 10 twenties~thirties "I am Sampo generation."]. 아시아경제 (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-06-10.
- ^ 백, 민정 (2013-09-24). "Sad Millennials… 美도 '삼포 세대' 졸업＝독립 옛말" [Sad Millennials… Americans are also Sampo generation. Graduation doesn't mean independence now.]. Kukmin Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-04-29.
- ^ a b c d e Jung, Hwan-bo (2011-10-27). "'삼포세대'가 된 'X세대'… 불만의 에너지, 참여로 분출" [X generation became Sampo generation… The energy of dissatisfaction has blown out to Participation.]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-06-10.
- ^ "20~40대 10명 중 6명 '결혼 부담된다'". Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ Jung, Won-sik (2011-05-31). "[표지이야기]연애도 결혼도 출산도 포기한 '삼포세대'". weekly.khan.co.kr (in Korean). 'Sampo generation' who has given up dating, marriage and childbirth. Retrieved 2019-06-10.