"When Are You Getting Married?" 2030 Generation Expresses Stress Due to Holiday Phobia

Increase in 2030s Avoiding Holidays
6 out of 10 Adults Report Stress Before Holidays
Experts Say "Related to Generational Differences... A Problem That Can Be Overcome"

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] "I hate holidays because of nagging disguised as well-wishes."

Office worker A (28) expressed a negative reaction to the Lunar New Year holiday, saying this. She added, "I am single, but I get stressed having to explain myself to every relative I meet," and "Even though they are relatives, we only see each other a few times a year, but when we meet, it just ruins my mood."

She continued, "It would be so nice if we could just meet after a long time, laugh and have fun together," and "When I say I’m not getting married, I hear all kinds of comments like 'Those people die sooner,' 'Think about your future,' and 'You’re at the perfect age for marriage, what are you talking about?'"

It has been found that many people in their 20s and 30s are experiencing so-called holiday phobia. They cited excessive attention from elder relatives as the main cause.

Holiday phobia is a compound word combining 'holiday' and 'phobia.' Those who suffer from holiday phobia avoid holidays and complain of excessive stress. Experts analyze that this phenomenon is related to generational differences and is a problem that can be sufficiently overcome.

According to a survey conducted by the job portal Saramin on the 18th targeting 3,507 adult men and women about whether they feel stress during the Lunar New Year holiday, 58.3% responded that they do feel stressed. This means that 6 out of 10 adults complain of stress.

The causes of holiday stress were also found to be diverse. Among unmarried people, both men and women ranked 'I don’t want to hear nagging from elders' (women 59.7%, men 55%) and 'I dislike excessive interest in my recent situation' (48.9%, 42%) as the first and second reasons. Following that, women cited 'worry about many expenses such as pocket money and gifts' (31%), and men cited 'feeling sorry to parents' (41.8%) as other reasons.

Photo by Asia Economy DB

Office worker B (30) said, "When I meet relatives during the holidays, I don’t have a partner, but I have to endure nagging about getting married," and "Even if I say I have no intention of marrying, it only lasts for that moment. Then another elder comes and says the same thing," she complained. She added, "Friends who are unmarried around me all hear similar things," and "Anyone in their 20s or 30s who is single would empathize."

C (27), who has been married for three years, said, "I got married relatively early, but looking at my friends around me, I feel envious," and "After getting married, I don’t see the necessity of marriage. In my case, with a strong individualistic tendency, life after marriage is actually very difficult."

She continued, "The problem is social perception. Thinking back to when I got married, I felt pressured by elders around me and was in a hurry to marry while I was still young," and "Marriage rates are declining, but social perceptions like 'marriageable age' and 'if not now, then never' still remain. These outdated ways of thinking need to disappear," she pointed out.

Experts advised that communication efforts by the younger generation and active understanding by the older generation are necessary.

Professor Kwak Geumju of the Department of Psychology at Seoul National University said, "Young people feel burdened that they cannot give the answers the older generation wants to their questions. Because of this, the number of people in their 20s and 30s who avoid holidays is increasing," and analyzed, "This is because they feel all questions as burdens and want to avoid them."

She added, "On the other hand, the older generation asks about well-being as an expression of interest or because they have nothing else to talk about during the holidays. They also do not realize how burdensome these questions are to the younger generation."

Professor Kwak advised, "For the younger generation, preparing answers to questions before the holidays and other various methods can be good ways to overcome this. If you keep avoiding it, a vicious cycle of growing distance and discomfort will repeat," and "For the older generation, since times have changed, active understanding of the youth is necessary."