"We were born without a reason and we need to keep living without a reason" are words used by some to console in our modern society. Sad is the way the loss of belief in God is not seen as a reason for the agony of many and the loss of meaning in life.
In the Catholic Peace Weekly, the recent editorial comments on the need to have concern for the hardships of life and the despair that so many have to endure. This shows in the number of those taking their own lives and the lives of family members.
Suicide remains the number one cause of death among young people in South Korea. Overall Korea has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world. Despite the efforts of the government to tackle the problem, the suicide rate among the elderly is high. The amount of poverty among the elderly is a prominent reason for despair.
One of the sad aspects of this situation is the tragedy of parents committing suicide after killing their children. The editorial reacts to the recent example of a family of three found dead in their apartment. Since September of last year, there have been 10 similar cases reported in the press. Outwardly everything in society seems to be going well but internally there are many wounded and crying for help and not heard.
Reports by the police and experts show two major reasons for parents to make these extreme decisions. One is emotional problems such as family discord and depression, divorce and separation; the other is the sudden change in economic conditions due to poverty, debt or business failure.
In particular, the economic situation worsened in the middle class and the lower levels of the higher class where there are no state or local government support. Attention needs to be paid to the lower-level members of the higher class, considered to be about 940,000 people. They are now in the welfare blind spots, they need to be found and helped.
Nevertheless, we should not consider suicide and the killing of children as inevitable because of economic problems. The 15 children who have died since September never chose to commit suicide. They are victims of crimes, murder by mothers and fathers with an unhealthy understanding of family relationships.
The church must be more active in preventing these kinds of tragedies. Good use of the parish structure, which is divided into villages and districts, can help find neighbors in trouble and avoid these extreme choices.
WHO estimates that about 1 million people die each year from suicide. It is difficult to understand what drives a person to take their own life but the pain is so great that they see no other way. They are looking for other ways to relieve their pain but they can't find it. Society doesn't make it easy for those with pain to find the extra strength to overcome their problems and search for answers in the community in which they live. Our individualistic lifestyle makes this difficult but not impossible; we need to be messengers of meaning to those who have lost it.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Like the Flow of a River
In the Peace Column of the Catholic Peace Weekly, the writer tells the readers he has reached his
60th birthday. The traditional 60-year lunar calendar would end a 60-year cycle and begin a new cycle with the new year. At age 60 you began a new cycle celebrating longevity and a new beginning.
Also, at 60 you understand the real intention of people and have an obedient ear. In his case, he doesn't see this happening. Rather afraid that he is becoming more intolerant and stubborn. He sees the many regrets, and anger which he hasn't been able to overcome and continues to groan about the past. He continues to be scared and aloof from the world and far from where he wants to be.
What's different about the New Year? The earth only traveled one more time around the sun. There is no substantial difference between 2019 and 2020. There is no starting line or finish line in outer space. The time of eternity flows silently, ignoring human naming and counting-- neither happy nor sad. It's just another year to live. What is the meaning of time? Looking back, life at times seemed long and on the other hand, it passed in the blink of an eye. One is not able to grasp time.
At the end of the year, we can hear the lamentation: "It's already December." "Time goes by really fast." "One year has passed like lightning." Why do humans miss the absolute time and measure the time with clocks?
Time is not flexible. Time does not flow evenly throughout the universe. Since Einstein, science has broken down the absoluteness of time. Slow on the flat ground and fast on the top of the mountain. Einstein's theory of relativity states that time and space are not as constant as everyday life would suggest. Time can run faster or slower depending on how high you are, and how fast you are traveling. The uniqueness, independence, universality, continuity, and direction of time all fell apart.
I am filled with many doubts as the lunar New Year approaches. Does time exist? Man wrestles before time, draws pictures of gold in the air as they count the passing of time. "Teach us to count how few days we have and so gain wisdom of heart" (Psalm 90,12). God's way of counting is different from human counting. "To you, a thousand years is a single day"(Psalm 90,4).
Maybe time is an illusion. It may be an optical illusion that change makes. Man who lives in the moment does not understand eternity and absoluteness. You just fall into a memory trap and struggle to get out. You and my time are different There is no common present. There is only each person's time standing alone before the Creator.
Today becomes yesterday. Tomorrow is today again. So there is only today. The past has passed away into His arms, and the future has not yet been laid. So 'present' and 'gift' have the same meaning.
As you get older, you have to bow your head, but the neck is getting stiffer. More things to be thankful for, to share and relinquish but one doesn't know-how. He is full of pride and stingy in forgiveness and love. He has more things to discard.
“My grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness”(2 Cor 12: 9). He understands this faintly. Wow, grace can be found in weakness. When we are weak the opportunity is there to become strong.
Twilight is visible far away. I will not be afraid. I will flow along like a river. I will reveal my weakness and ask for help. "Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything" (St. Therese of Avila).
60th birthday. The traditional 60-year lunar calendar would end a 60-year cycle and begin a new cycle with the new year. At age 60 you began a new cycle celebrating longevity and a new beginning.
Also, at 60 you understand the real intention of people and have an obedient ear. In his case, he doesn't see this happening. Rather afraid that he is becoming more intolerant and stubborn. He sees the many regrets, and anger which he hasn't been able to overcome and continues to groan about the past. He continues to be scared and aloof from the world and far from where he wants to be.
What's different about the New Year? The earth only traveled one more time around the sun. There is no substantial difference between 2019 and 2020. There is no starting line or finish line in outer space. The time of eternity flows silently, ignoring human naming and counting-- neither happy nor sad. It's just another year to live. What is the meaning of time? Looking back, life at times seemed long and on the other hand, it passed in the blink of an eye. One is not able to grasp time.
At the end of the year, we can hear the lamentation: "It's already December." "Time goes by really fast." "One year has passed like lightning." Why do humans miss the absolute time and measure the time with clocks?
Time is not flexible. Time does not flow evenly throughout the universe. Since Einstein, science has broken down the absoluteness of time. Slow on the flat ground and fast on the top of the mountain. Einstein's theory of relativity states that time and space are not as constant as everyday life would suggest. Time can run faster or slower depending on how high you are, and how fast you are traveling. The uniqueness, independence, universality, continuity, and direction of time all fell apart.
I am filled with many doubts as the lunar New Year approaches. Does time exist? Man wrestles before time, draws pictures of gold in the air as they count the passing of time. "Teach us to count how few days we have and so gain wisdom of heart" (Psalm 90,12). God's way of counting is different from human counting. "To you, a thousand years is a single day"(Psalm 90,4).
Maybe time is an illusion. It may be an optical illusion that change makes. Man who lives in the moment does not understand eternity and absoluteness. You just fall into a memory trap and struggle to get out. You and my time are different There is no common present. There is only each person's time standing alone before the Creator.
Today becomes yesterday. Tomorrow is today again. So there is only today. The past has passed away into His arms, and the future has not yet been laid. So 'present' and 'gift' have the same meaning.
As you get older, you have to bow your head, but the neck is getting stiffer. More things to be thankful for, to share and relinquish but one doesn't know-how. He is full of pride and stingy in forgiveness and love. He has more things to discard.
“My grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness”(2 Cor 12: 9). He understands this faintly. Wow, grace can be found in weakness. When we are weak the opportunity is there to become strong.
Twilight is visible far away. I will not be afraid. I will flow along like a river. I will reveal my weakness and ask for help. "Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything" (St. Therese of Avila).
Friday, January 10, 2020
Idée fixe (Fixed Idea) in the Church
In the Eyes of the Believer's Column of the Catholic Weekly, a priest gives the readers his opinion on girl servers at the altar.
Recently he expressed his thoughts on the subject to a group of parishioners. "Girls may be altar servers until they graduate from elementary school but when they enter middle school should stop." One of the believers answered: "Isn't that discrimination against women?" The priest had always considered himself proud that he had always treated the men and women the same and was sorry by what he had said.
In his former parish, all servers were boys and he reorganized so the girls could serve. It was not only that. On Holy Thursday for the liturgy of the washing of the feet which only the men participated, he changed it to half men and half women. Discrimination continues to appear when there is no reason.
Since then, at the Mass of the Last Supper, men and women have come to the altar and sat in chairs to participate in the ceremonies.
In fact, gender role stereotypes are deeply rooted in the church and are ongoing. In the parish, for example, the pastoral council president and pastoral members are largely male. In particular, the pastoral president is regularly a male. Where the parish pastoral policy is discussed and determined, unconsciously the patriarchal way of thinking that women are inferior to men dominates. Fortunately, if there is a parish where a woman presides as president it often is recognized as a woman president which in its own way is showing discrimination.
Gender discrimination in the church has long been a chronic problem because of insensitivity to sexism. We need to ask ourselves whether there are areas we need to adapt to in this rapidly changing society.
Moreover, these days, if the 'Me-too' movement is spreading in society, and hate crimes against women are widespread, the church needs to be conscious of the way it is perceived by society. Some positions have to be maintained but others do not. For the church to evangelize the world, self-evangelization must first take place. Self-evangelization means self-renewal and change.
Society is very sensitive to sexism. The first issue received by the National Human Rights Commission was about color discrimination. A complaint submitted by a civic group suggests that distinguishing between products for girls and boys according to color violates the human rights of children.
Pink products are introduced for girls and blue products are introduced for boys. The classification of products by gender is a human rights violation according to many in society that enforces gender role stereotypes. In this way, society has come to a situation where it is necessary to sharply point out and even correct unconscious sex discrimination rooted in everyday life.
In this age where travel abroad is easy when Koreans go to a Catholic church, they will compare it with their home church. There are many differences, but the one that stands out is at the communion you have both men and women helping the celebrant to dispense the Eucharist.
In Korea, only men are allowed. When you have programs on sacramental education, only men gather. Someone who participates in a Sunday Mass in a foreign country and has received the Eucharist from a female would ask: "Why does the Korean Church only allow men to dispense the sacrament?'
Recently he expressed his thoughts on the subject to a group of parishioners. "Girls may be altar servers until they graduate from elementary school but when they enter middle school should stop." One of the believers answered: "Isn't that discrimination against women?" The priest had always considered himself proud that he had always treated the men and women the same and was sorry by what he had said.
In his former parish, all servers were boys and he reorganized so the girls could serve. It was not only that. On Holy Thursday for the liturgy of the washing of the feet which only the men participated, he changed it to half men and half women. Discrimination continues to appear when there is no reason.
Since then, at the Mass of the Last Supper, men and women have come to the altar and sat in chairs to participate in the ceremonies.
In fact, gender role stereotypes are deeply rooted in the church and are ongoing. In the parish, for example, the pastoral council president and pastoral members are largely male. In particular, the pastoral president is regularly a male. Where the parish pastoral policy is discussed and determined, unconsciously the patriarchal way of thinking that women are inferior to men dominates. Fortunately, if there is a parish where a woman presides as president it often is recognized as a woman president which in its own way is showing discrimination.
Gender discrimination in the church has long been a chronic problem because of insensitivity to sexism. We need to ask ourselves whether there are areas we need to adapt to in this rapidly changing society.
Moreover, these days, if the 'Me-too' movement is spreading in society, and hate crimes against women are widespread, the church needs to be conscious of the way it is perceived by society. Some positions have to be maintained but others do not. For the church to evangelize the world, self-evangelization must first take place. Self-evangelization means self-renewal and change.
Society is very sensitive to sexism. The first issue received by the National Human Rights Commission was about color discrimination. A complaint submitted by a civic group suggests that distinguishing between products for girls and boys according to color violates the human rights of children.
Pink products are introduced for girls and blue products are introduced for boys. The classification of products by gender is a human rights violation according to many in society that enforces gender role stereotypes. In this way, society has come to a situation where it is necessary to sharply point out and even correct unconscious sex discrimination rooted in everyday life.
In this age where travel abroad is easy when Koreans go to a Catholic church, they will compare it with their home church. There are many differences, but the one that stands out is at the communion you have both men and women helping the celebrant to dispense the Eucharist.
In Korea, only men are allowed. When you have programs on sacramental education, only men gather. Someone who participates in a Sunday Mass in a foreign country and has received the Eucharist from a female would ask: "Why does the Korean Church only allow men to dispense the sacrament?'
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Norwegian And Korean Peace
In the Catholic Peace Weekly, a university professor gives the readers some thoughts on Norwegian and Korean Peace.
He introduces us to the book Open Society and Its Enemies by Karl Popper. During World Win II in his book, Popper considers the political philosophy of Plato Hegel and Marx and their historicism (the theory that social and cultural phenomena are determined by history) as helpmates to the Nazi totalitarianism. At the same time being enemies of the open liberal society of much of the West.
He shocked the existing academia by reinterpreting the enemy of the 'open society' in a democracy. Like the enemies of an open society, many facts we take for granted can be distorted and deliberately reconstructed by politics, intellectual, and industrial powers without our knowledge, and eventually transformed into 'enemies'.
Only the outcome of what we can understand directly and socially agree upon should be acknowledged as 'social facts'; proposals not agreed upon, introduced without filtration from outside, pose a danger of turning into enemies of an open society.
Depending on how much peace thinking has been internalized and closely coupled with the daily lives of its citizens, peace can be a true ally, an object of sustainable policy. The degree of internalization of peace is an important measure in the difference between Norwegian and Korean peace thinking.
Norway, with its natural modifiers as a 'peaceful country' is one of the leading countries in peace and democracy in the international community. The reason is universal welfare, democracy, and neutrality. These were agreed upon with intense consultation within civil society.
Instead of emphasizing peace externally, Norwegian citizens support respecting the internal value of peace and pursuing foreign policy under the spirit of peace, creating an atmosphere of peace that permeates all of society and is the basis of their domestic and foreign policy.
Korean peace can be understood in an opposite way To say peace in Korean society is forced by foreign powers is easily understood. We are accustomed to using the word peace because of the structural condition that exists in the nation, but because of the disparateness in the country, we can't say that peace has become the norm of everyday life or understood as the citizens of Norway.
Even the conservative camp, the mainstream of society, isn't united in the way we should go about on the domestic level in efforts for peace. Unless we have a consistent link between domestic and international peace policies on the Korean Peninsula, we can emphasize peace diplomacy and talk about the peace process but it will not be persuasive.
Norway was a small country that had no power or foreign policy in 1904 when it became independent from Sweden, but is now a model country for peace, leading the international peace discourse and policy. South Korea must first publicize its discourse within Korean society, based on the experience of democratization and the efforts to overcome the division of the country. The citizens need to work towards a consensus that will become the Korean model of peace presented to the world.
When Korean society is reborn as a peaceful country, it will be able to lead the road map of peace on the Korean Peninsula to the international community. Peace discourses and solutions given from outside are in danger of turning into enemies in the open society of Korea.
Monday, January 6, 2020
Zero-Waste Lifestyle
This is the time of year when we look over the past so that we can live the future with greater hope. Looking over what we have amassed during the year we have more than we need. Throwing it out difficult, but the chances of it being used are slight. A member of the Bishops' Committee on the Environment in the Catholic Peace Weekly gives the readers some interesting thoughts on the subject.
Is it possible for us to live during this new year lighter and with simplicity? She introduces us to Bea Johnson and her family who are dedicated to living a Zero Waste Lifestyle. Bea Johnson was recently here in Korea. Her practice of zero-waste can be summarized with the five Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot. She shatters misconceptions, proving that waste-free living can not only be 'stylish', but also lead to significant health benefits, and time and money savings.
Refuse what is not needed; Reduce what is used; Reuse, avoid using disposable items; Recycle (only when it can't be reused; Rot, put in the compost pile. Last year what the family of four needed to dispose of fitted into a small jar.
The first key to solving the rubbish problem is to reduce the volume itself. The decision to reduce little by little is the most important and it starts with me. Reduce free plastic bags, shopping bags, paper business cards, and wet wipes, courier boxes and disposable food containers.
Every January, overseas training is planned for global eco-leaders who have practiced eco-life for one year and have a good influence on their family, friends, and neighbors. These elementary, middle school students gave up the use of disposable items such as paper cups and plastic bags, giving hope to the older generation.
Next, there's a way to cycle thrash so it can be used by those who need it. A family in Australia who visited this year said they bought a new home and bought the used goods in the house of the past owners. They also sell or donate what they don't want to bring to the new house on SNS, or donate it to OP SHOP (Opportunity shop). It is hoped that such transactions and donations will become part of our Korean culture.
Anything thrown-out should be properly separated helping the recycling process. Remove tapes from taped cardboard boxes, and rinse food delivery containers with water which will require a little more attention.
In the past, when the economy was not doing well we had the habit of being frugal. In the new year let us remember that we are borrowing the earth and should want to preserve it for future generations. Let us get started.
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Dreaming of A Revolution of Love
The Catholic Peace Weekly in the Peace column gives the readers a heartwarming article proper for the Christmas season. A 30-year-old unemployed father was caught stealing food with his young son at a large market.
The owner of the market, recalling the Jean Valjeans of the world, keeping tears from his eyes, had no problem with the hungry father. A policeman on duty took the father and son to a restaurant for a meal; a man seeing what was going on, withdrew 200 dollars from the ATM and went to the restaurant to give it to the father. Other citizens in their own way joined the parade to the father and son.
The good deeds of the participants were a sign of their compassion. Compassion can be translated as sympathy or pity. Compassion is far from cheap sympathy. It is also the opposite of indifference. It is the desire that springs up in our hearts to give help.
The goods of the world keep growing day by day, and the poor continue to increase, what is going wrong? Their sighs of despair are not diminishing. Wealth and poverty are very difficult problems. The Fourth Industrial Revolution does not have any quick answers.
This is not the kind of problem that is easy to deal with. Reckless efforts to bring about equality of possessions will give rise to dilemmas difficult to imagine. The last century witnessed the error in the cheers and failures of the communist-socialist revolution. That one-dimensional method is not the answer. A society that is equally owned and lived without the rich and poor appears in Thomas More's Utopia.
But in our society, if you try to compete freely and live to the fullest, you'll face even greater contradictions. Modern capitalist societies are in terrible conflict because of the irrationality of the neoliberal economic system, where lions and rabbits compete for survival in the same pasture. Look back at history. The principles and traditions of the revolution that rocked the world were not great. One can no longer witness the poor eaten up by the lions and expect the rabbits to do nothing. We have the start of a revolution; what was regarded as insignificant was the start. Socio-economic contradictions arise from human desires and result in conflicts that rupture at reaching the critical point.
Pope Francis also cautioned against the danger by citing Father Primo Mazzolari a few months ago in a talk on the Third World Day of the Poor. The marginalization painfully experienced by millions of persons cannot go on for long. Their cry is growing louder and embraces the entire earth. In the words of Father Primo Mazzolari: "the poor are a constant protest against our injustices; the poor are a powder keg. If it is set on fire, the world will explode."
The solution is in the gospel where the rich and the poor live together. To do this, the rich man must not turn away Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31), who waits at the door to fill his hungry stomach, even if it's the food that falls from the table. The face of the Lord is found in the hungry, thirsty, and naked. Only then can the solution be seen. We need to act like the market owner and police. Compassion for the poor and giving them what you have so you can live well together. The wise see this as mutual help the 'poverty of conviviality'.
The writer dreams about the 2020 year as one of sharing and doing good; a love' that will bring peace and joy of life. There is no shortage of food, clothing, and places to sleep. Our efforts to satisfy our greed is the problem. As he hung the new calendar on the wall he kept on repeating the words: "Give them food" (Mk 6:37).
The owner of the market, recalling the Jean Valjeans of the world, keeping tears from his eyes, had no problem with the hungry father. A policeman on duty took the father and son to a restaurant for a meal; a man seeing what was going on, withdrew 200 dollars from the ATM and went to the restaurant to give it to the father. Other citizens in their own way joined the parade to the father and son.
The good deeds of the participants were a sign of their compassion. Compassion can be translated as sympathy or pity. Compassion is far from cheap sympathy. It is also the opposite of indifference. It is the desire that springs up in our hearts to give help.
The goods of the world keep growing day by day, and the poor continue to increase, what is going wrong? Their sighs of despair are not diminishing. Wealth and poverty are very difficult problems. The Fourth Industrial Revolution does not have any quick answers.
This is not the kind of problem that is easy to deal with. Reckless efforts to bring about equality of possessions will give rise to dilemmas difficult to imagine. The last century witnessed the error in the cheers and failures of the communist-socialist revolution. That one-dimensional method is not the answer. A society that is equally owned and lived without the rich and poor appears in Thomas More's Utopia.
But in our society, if you try to compete freely and live to the fullest, you'll face even greater contradictions. Modern capitalist societies are in terrible conflict because of the irrationality of the neoliberal economic system, where lions and rabbits compete for survival in the same pasture. Look back at history. The principles and traditions of the revolution that rocked the world were not great. One can no longer witness the poor eaten up by the lions and expect the rabbits to do nothing. We have the start of a revolution; what was regarded as insignificant was the start. Socio-economic contradictions arise from human desires and result in conflicts that rupture at reaching the critical point.
Pope Francis also cautioned against the danger by citing Father Primo Mazzolari a few months ago in a talk on the Third World Day of the Poor. The marginalization painfully experienced by millions of persons cannot go on for long. Their cry is growing louder and embraces the entire earth. In the words of Father Primo Mazzolari: "the poor are a constant protest against our injustices; the poor are a powder keg. If it is set on fire, the world will explode."
The solution is in the gospel where the rich and the poor live together. To do this, the rich man must not turn away Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31), who waits at the door to fill his hungry stomach, even if it's the food that falls from the table. The face of the Lord is found in the hungry, thirsty, and naked. Only then can the solution be seen. We need to act like the market owner and police. Compassion for the poor and giving them what you have so you can live well together. The wise see this as mutual help the 'poverty of conviviality'.
The writer dreams about the 2020 year as one of sharing and doing good; a love' that will bring peace and joy of life. There is no shortage of food, clothing, and places to sleep. Our efforts to satisfy our greed is the problem. As he hung the new calendar on the wall he kept on repeating the words: "Give them food" (Mk 6:37).
Thursday, January 2, 2020
100 Year Old Era and the Baby Boomers
In the Catholic Peace Weekly, a professor at a Catholic University writes about the generation between 1946 and 1964 called the baby boomers. 6.5 million baby boomers in Korea began more than a decade ago to retire and live as seniors for the next 30 years.
Most of the baby boomers received higher education, are prepared for retirement, have accumulated assets, and have homes. A generation with family-centered values but aware of their own needs as individuals and are prepared for psychological reasons to maintain a certain distance from married children.
What is the 'silver market' situation for baby boomers, who will be the main consumers for the next 30 years? According to various data, the baby boomers' market use is still very weak. Currently, the capacity of the baby boomers, whose wealth compared to other generations is the largest, the market still has no visible evidence of their participation.
Consider the age groups of consumers in their 20s and 30s, where department stores, shopping complexes, underground shopping malls, subways, cinemas, and cafes are crowded. Even the premium durable goods market, the travel industry, and the leisure sports market target young consumers.
Baby boomers have assets, but they can't open their wallets because of different burdens and concerns. First of all, the double burden of supporting parents and children— financial support for marriage and housing of an adult child and helping older parents.
In this situation, the blessing of a long life in the 100-year-old era is burdensome. In fact, statistics show that spending in the 70s households (the percentage of total disposable income spent on consumption) has continued to decline over the past 20 years and is currently the lowest of all ages.
In addition, our society is a worrying society. According to Hofstede, a cultural psychologist, Korea belongs to a culture that is concerned not only about the current problems but also about the future, about the future of children and grandchildren, and even about life after death. It is also a society in which money is more closely linked to the concept of security. Growing up in a worrying culture, baby boomers tend to seek excessive economic and social safeguards for their future. In this situation, no matter how good a product or service, it is hard to open one's wallet.
The activation of the market may not be a concern at all for baby boomers who believe in the value of saving and moderation. However, as the aging society progresses, the recession in the 'silver market' is likely to lead to the recession of the entire market and industry.
The recession of the entire market can turn into a boomerang that threatens the security of life and pensions. Baby boomers know how to save money, but they also need to learn how to spend their money properly. Without changing the values of life and family, consumption patterns will not change. The vitalization of the 'silver market' should begin with serious consideration of what is a happy and meaningful life.
Most of the baby boomers received higher education, are prepared for retirement, have accumulated assets, and have homes. A generation with family-centered values but aware of their own needs as individuals and are prepared for psychological reasons to maintain a certain distance from married children.
What is the 'silver market' situation for baby boomers, who will be the main consumers for the next 30 years? According to various data, the baby boomers' market use is still very weak. Currently, the capacity of the baby boomers, whose wealth compared to other generations is the largest, the market still has no visible evidence of their participation.
Consider the age groups of consumers in their 20s and 30s, where department stores, shopping complexes, underground shopping malls, subways, cinemas, and cafes are crowded. Even the premium durable goods market, the travel industry, and the leisure sports market target young consumers.
Baby boomers have assets, but they can't open their wallets because of different burdens and concerns. First of all, the double burden of supporting parents and children— financial support for marriage and housing of an adult child and helping older parents.
In this situation, the blessing of a long life in the 100-year-old era is burdensome. In fact, statistics show that spending in the 70s households (the percentage of total disposable income spent on consumption) has continued to decline over the past 20 years and is currently the lowest of all ages.
In addition, our society is a worrying society. According to Hofstede, a cultural psychologist, Korea belongs to a culture that is concerned not only about the current problems but also about the future, about the future of children and grandchildren, and even about life after death. It is also a society in which money is more closely linked to the concept of security. Growing up in a worrying culture, baby boomers tend to seek excessive economic and social safeguards for their future. In this situation, no matter how good a product or service, it is hard to open one's wallet.
The activation of the market may not be a concern at all for baby boomers who believe in the value of saving and moderation. However, as the aging society progresses, the recession in the 'silver market' is likely to lead to the recession of the entire market and industry.
The recession of the entire market can turn into a boomerang that threatens the security of life and pensions. Baby boomers know how to save money, but they also need to learn how to spend their money properly. Without changing the values of life and family, consumption patterns will not change. The vitalization of the 'silver market' should begin with serious consideration of what is a happy and meaningful life.
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