[New Word Dictionary] Sopeaker (所peaker) - Speaking One's Mind

The emergence of sopickers who express their convictions about even the smallest inconveniences is based on the positive perception of the millennial generation that society can be changed through their opinions. Illustration by artist Oh Seong-su

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Hwang Hyun, a rural youth from Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do in the late Joseon Dynasty, came to Hanyang with great ambitions and competed in literary contests with the prominent figures of his time. As praise and recognition for his writing skills increased, Hwang Hyun gained confidence and began preparing seriously for the civil service examination. However, observing the repeated exam results, he realized that passing the exam was determined not by merit but by wealth. He recorded the situation at the time: “The initial exam tickets were traded at prices ranging from 200 to 300 nyang, but just before the Gap-o year, during several regular exams, prices reached over a thousand nyang without surprising people, and for the final exam, passing was traded for as much as ten thousand nyang.” The problem was that not only the exams but also official appointments were being bought and sold. Hwang Hyun wrote, “The king thought that frequently selling county magistrate appointments would bring money, so officials were replaced quickly within less than a year. Those who bought their appointments knew this and immediately began exploiting their posts upon arrival.” Soon after, Hwang Hyun decided to return to his hometown, saying, “I do not want to become a madman in a goblin’s land.”

The term "Sofiker" combines the Chinese character 所 (so, meaning “place” or 小 (so, meaning “small”) with the English word Speaker, referring to the millennial generation who express their convictions about even the smallest inconveniences. Hwang Hyun, a Sofiker of the Joseon era, continued to record his thoughts in writing whenever he heard precarious news about the country while living in seclusion in Gurye, Jeollanam-do. When the Eulsa Treaty was announced, he fasted and wept for days, and upon hearing of the patriotic martyr’s suicide, he composed the Five Lamentations Poem (O-ae-si) to honor his spirit. Within Hwang Hyun’s anguished cries, written sincerely amid the nation’s downfall, was there hope that the world could be changed? According to a 1934 generation value survey, 60% of millennial Sofikers hold a positive belief that they can change society through their convictions. The day when Sofikers change the world is approaching.

Example

A: Two iced Americanos, please.
B: Hey, why didn’t you bring straws?
A: Here, a gift. Silicone straws. After watching the sea turtle video, I can’t use plastic straws anymore.
B: Ah, right. I saw that video too. We have to take the lead and make small changes. Thanks for the straws!
A: Yeah. Sofikers change the world slowly but steadily. Let’s start practicing ourselves.