Both Catholic Weeklies reported on the event and the hope they have for the future. An interview with the bishop who was the committee head for the Korean Youth Day (KYD) mentions the situation of the young people in Korea. Words and phrases which have spread widely express the frustrations of the young having to give up: courtship, marriage, childbirth, job, home ownership, relationship etc. Briefly, they no longer have the hopes that the previous generation enjoyed.
An old Korean proverb: "From a stream, a dragon rises" meaning from rags to riches, a reality now rarely seen. The best of efforts in the eyes of many young people are of little avail in our society. Even during the struggles for democracy courtship and hope for a job were present. Today's college students don't have the time for romance and love but are busy getting the necessary qualifications to apply for jobs that are not there.
The workplace has been inundated with artificial intelligence, mechanization, and digitization, decreasing the jobs available, says the bishop. Capitalism has met many limitations. This requires a new way of looking at society and the need to accommodate.
In this kind of milieu where romance and love are missing, they have to find a place for spirituality and God.
The bishop is not asking them to lower their horizons but if they follow the dictates of society in attempts to find happiness they will face unlimited competition and conflict. One has to compete with another to find happiness. A new standard of values are necessary to replace the ones they have followed.
A new frame of reference is required. Following the worldly standard, they may find success, money but it will not bring true happiness. They have to find a different set of values and this says the bishop was the aim of the KYD.
This year different from the previous KYDs was the change in the age requirements. They took the example from the other national youth meetings in other countries and this year accepted those from 16 to 39. The bishop found that the impact on teenagers was far greater than on the older young people. The program was meant to show that not only is the head important but the person's whole being was a primary aim of the three days.
This year the numbers were lower than was expected. The participants were hosted by the local families who volunteered. In conclusion, the bishop wants pastoral workers not only to work with those who are coming to church but to go out to them where they are.
