[New Release] 'Sesup Capitalism Generation' Talks About Those Born in the 80s

1980s-born 'Yeongkkeul·Bittou' Generation
Fewer Opportunities to Climb the Social Ladder
'Marriage Impossible Generation' Giving Up on Marriage

Author Ko Jae-seok, born in 1986, emphasizes that those born in the 1980s have painfully experienced the harsh realities of Korean capitalism. He defines this generation as the one that has lost the so-called 'class ladder,' unable to marry, and as losers in marriage and the real estate market, forced to fend for themselves.

They are the 'debt investment generation' and the 'all-in generation' who bought homes by borrowing money. During their school years, they worked hard to build credentials aiming to enter prestigious universities, nurturing their dreams as "the most diligent and sincere generation since Dangun," but unlike their seniors, they did not easily reap the fruits of economic development. Therefore, the author states that those born in the 1980s lost the class ladder, became losers in marriage and the real estate market, entered society during a time of rapidly increasing irregular employment, and painfully experienced the harsh realities of Korean capitalism.

Regarding employment, the 1980s generation views society as one with fewer opportunities. This generation stands at the starting point of the 'Republic of Irregular Employment,' and the scale of irregular employment surged from the time they began entering society. The number of irregular workers in Korea increased sharply from 4.62 million in 2003 to 5.4 million in 2004. It steadily rose to 5.46 million in 2005, 5.46 million in 2006, and 5.73 million in 2007.

On this phenomenon, the author criticizes, "The virtue of Korean capitalism was that many people were given opportunities to climb the class ladder regardless of background, academic credentials, honor, or connections. But now, it is impossible to succeed in social mobility with only the seed money saved from labor. In other words, it is impossible to secure stable housing by saving a salary." He argues that there is no class ladder in our society today, and the economy will no longer grow.

Regarding the rapid increase in those who do not marry or cannot marry, he emphasizes that unemployment, real estate asset inequality, and marriage issues are all intertwined. "People in their 30s who have lost the ladder have become the 'marriage-incapable generation' who give up on marriage. They do not marry because 'being alone is comfortable, house prices have risen too much, there is difficulty finding employment, or they cannot find a spouse,'" he criticizes.

Former National Assembly member Yoo Seung-min said in a recommendation, "This generation, whether conservative or progressive, hates hypocritical and incompetent politics, and what they truly want is a world where they can live decently and humanely without hardship." Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok expressed sympathy with the author's views, saying, "I hope people gain strength by seeing through this book that the worries I have are not mine alone."

■ Who is author Ko Jae-seok?

Born in 1986. He was born and raised in Jeju. He graduated from Kyung Hee University with degrees in History and Political Science and Diplomacy, and earned a master's degree in Visual Communication from Yonsei University's Graduate School of Communication. He is currently a reporter for the Shindonga team at The Dong-A Ilbo. The author considers himself fortunate to have a job where he "earns a salary while writing and meeting people." He is currently enrolled in the doctoral program in Media Studies at Korea University. His works include Twenty Years Old, Speaking of Justice.

Written by Ko Jae-seokㅣInmul-gwa Sasangsaㅣ348 pages | 19,000 KRW