[MZ Column] The Era When Close Things Disappear

[Asia Economy] I watched a video of neighbors rescuing a child who was trapped in a semi-basement during the heavy rain in Seoul. The neighbors called out the child's name, who was alone and trapped, reassuring them that they would soon be rescued and telling them to stay calm. Eventually, one of the neighbors broke the window glass with a fire extinguisher and rescued the child.

The neighbors hugged the child as they came out, comforting them and saying it was okay for a long time. Watching the video on the subway, I found it hard to hold back tears. I tried to understand why I felt like crying. It was probably because of the presence of neighbors. The uncle who lives nearby knowing the child's name, the effort to rescue the child, and the heartfelt embrace after saving the child?all of these moved me deeply.

We live in an era where neighbors are disappearing. When I was young, everyone in the neighborhood was someone you knew, a neighbor adult, acquaintances who greeted each other warmly. But nowadays, it is an awkward time where you hardly know your neighbors, even those in the same apartment or next door. The people who form our lives in close proximity have rapidly disappeared. Instead, what remains are ‘distant’ relationships.

For example, the feed of someone you have never met in person fills your social networking service (SNS). They are mostly at some hotel or cafe, displaying luxury goods or successful businesses. We feel envy or jealousy toward them and maintain only indirect relationships. Direct relationships in daily life are decreasing, and distant and indirect relationships fill our lives. Instead of people ‘beside’ us, it is those who are not beside us, people far away, whose appearances on variety shows, jokes on YouTube, and displays of happiness on SNS occupy our everyday lives constantly.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find neighbors who solidly fill our lives. People who sincerely share the troubles of our hearts, help each other in difficult times, and sometimes share happiness and joy by our side are becoming harder to meet. Conversely, things that shake our lives from afar are increasing. For example, the voices of the world telling me I am living wrongly grow louder. News or articles seen on the internet criticize me for not investing in certain real estate or stocks, for the job I chose, or for whether I am married or not. We have no shield to block these.

Perhaps the tears I shed after watching that video condensed the feelings of living in such an era. If a neighbor’s child were in trouble, I would want to run over, rescue, and hug them. If my child were in danger, I would want someone next door to run over, call their name, and help. I want to share my life with someone in the neighborhood, and for that someone to also share their life with me. I think those feelings were mixed in that moment.

Furthermore, I felt fortunate that neighbors still remain in some corners of our society. I was grateful for the existence of humanity that remains between people, between neighbors. It is fortunate that there is a side of society that genuinely worries about and acts for others, rather than a society where everyone prioritizes their own interests and is busy blaming and hating each other. And I hoped that such feelings remain in me as well. I wanted to still be a part of such a society.

Jung Ji-woo, Cultural Critic & Writer