[Voices of the MZ Generation Column] The Era of Secondary Characters: Take Time to Discover Another Self

[Asia Economy] Recently, I published a book on the humanities about love. I felt a bit awkward while releasing the book. This is because I am now working as a lawyer. In the past, I lived as a kind of full-time writer, writing humanities books, but now, living as a lawyer, publishing a humanities book somehow felt out of place. I felt that if I were to publish a book now, it should be a lawyer’s struggle story or a courtroom novel.

However, in a way, confining myself like that might be the more unnatural thing to do. When I think about it, I am not ‘just a lawyer’; rather, being a lawyer is only part of my identity. I live working as a lawyer, but of course, I also love, raise children, and travel. Even now, after work, when my child falls asleep at night, I write every day. There is no need to confine my existence strictly to ‘lawyer.’

Recently, not only I but many people have been ‘multiplying’ their identities. Many office workers create secondary characters as YouTubers, and it is common to be active under new nicknames in various online spaces. Some run newsletters as side projects or receive training every weekend to get a side job. Even web novel writers are more likely to have separate jobs rather than being full-time writers.

The so-called ‘era of secondary characters’ has arrived partly due to technological advancements. For example, I carry a Bluetooth keyboard and write wherever inspiration strikes?on the subway, in the cafeteria, in bed, or in the kitchen. The development of one-person media like YouTube and podcasts goes without saying. Marketing or side jobs through social networking services (SNS) also cannot be explained without technological progress.

Nowadays, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), more efficient side jobs may be possible. For instance, beyond writing while working at a company, one could entrust cover design or printing processes to AI or automation platforms, making it possible to run a one-person publishing company. Currently, a significant portion of YouTube videos are AI-generated, and blog posts can also be created by AI, meaning the range of tasks one person can do is expanding infinitely.

In the past, an individual was closely tied to their physical affiliation. Such affiliations were usually groups like family or company, and individuals found it difficult to extend themselves beyond these physical environments. However, now, even within a company, simply turning on a phone allows one to ‘split’ themselves into a nickname existence within an online community. Although somewhat unethical, it is conceivable that some people change their gender on SNS or online games to have virtual relationships with others.

Personally, I have a passion for writing. Someday, I want to publish children’s books, picture books, or novels. At times, I think being a drama or screenplay writer would be great. While at work, I do my best to search through legal codes and consider phrases to include in opinions, but after work, I can unfold my own world of writing. That is why I somewhat like this era.

Furthermore, I hope many people come to know this freedom. For those wondering what to do after work or on weekends, rather than just simple consumption, why not think about ‘another identity’? It could be good to join a writing group, get a barista certificate, or start a YouTube channel. That is the path our era has opened for us. We live in a time when we can be ‘many people.’

Jung Ji-woo, Cultural Critic