[New Wave] Digital Technology Advancement and the New Class Society

A few days ago, I had a local business trip and hurried to Seoul Station to catch a train, where I noticed elderly people lined up at the ticket counter. While it is natural for younger people to comfortably book and pay through applications, the situation clearly revealed that many people still cannot do so. The government emphasizes changes in the environment such as the Digital New Deal and the so-called D.N.A (Data, Network, Artificial Intelligence (AI)) ecosystem, but it is predicted that the number of people who do not benefit from these advancements may increase further due to the COVID-19 situation. In reality, access to digital information and content is very uneven, and the benefits and impact on life may be limited to only a portion of the population.

Professor Robert Reich of the United States has stated that new classes are emerging due to the COVID-19 situation, and consequently, inequality and income gaps between classes will widen. People who can work remotely and are proficient with digital devices gain more free time and work on their laptops at cafes. Along with this, they can increase their income during the COVID-19 situation by holding video conferences and investing in Bitcoin. However, nurses, food delivery workers, police officers, firefighters, and others who are tied to specific essential tasks will not lose their jobs but face increasing labor intensity and a higher risk of COVID-19 infection. Recently, platform workers at logistics centers, who face increased infection risks and brutal labor intensity, have been compared to slaves in ancient Rome. As the digital economy expands, rocket delivery becomes possible, and the use of delivery apps increases, ironically, the quality of life for these workers declines. Industries that cannot adapt to the contactless society are experiencing sharp drops in sales or job losses among workers. Predictions also suggest that with the advent of electric vehicles and the era of autonomous driving, workers in traditional manufacturing sectors such as automobile manufacturers will lose their jobs.

Regarding these phenomena, British economist Guy Standing emphasized a new labor class called the “Precariat,” combining “precarious” and “proletariat.” This term refers to people suffering from labor instability, low wages, and low-skilled labor in situations where securing regular employment is difficult, similar to Japan’s “Freeter.” Platform workers mentioned earlier are representative examples of this group.

Due to technological advances, those who lack high-skilled competitiveness, have low accessibility to digital devices, and lack literacy are inevitably left behind, suffering relative disadvantages in a structure where content enjoyment, jobs, and quality of life are all interconnected. Even as new mobile devices emerge and online video services (OTT) expand, it must be acknowledged that many people still cannot scan QR codes when entering restaurants and continue to write their names manually in ledgers. The important point is to recognize that this is not an individual problem but a structural one, and that more people need to consider where the focus of related policies should be through care for people. Only then will everyone be able to enjoy the benefits of the new world we will encounter after COVID-19. Continuous concern and effort from all are necessary regarding this new class society.

Byungmin Lee, Professor, Department of Cultural Contents, Konkuk University