"No Money and No Job..." The 'Big Baby' Living Off Parents, Parents Worldwide Under Pressure [Cheongchun Report]

Economic Hardships and Job Shortages
'Kangaroo Generation' Giving Up Independence
'Kangaroo Generation' Increasing Overseas Too

As high inflation continues, the so-called 'Kangaroo Tribe'?young adults who live off their parents without becoming independent to save on housing and living expenses?is increasing. Originally, the term 'Kangaroo Tribe' referred to adult children who, despite being of an age to become independent, remained dependent on their parents due to unemployment. However, recently, there has been a notable rise in the 'Littleroo Tribe' (Return + Kangaroo Tribe), referring to those who became independent but, overwhelmed by financial burdens, returned to live with their parents.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Half of Seoul's Youth Live in 'Poverty'... "Receiving Living Expense Support from Parents"

[Image source=Getty Images Bank]

According to the '2022 Seoul Youth Panel Basic Analysis Report' recently released by Seoul City and the Seoul Institute, the asset poverty rate among Seoul youth was 55.6%, and the personal income poverty rate was 37%. This survey was conducted last year among 5,083 young people aged 19 to 36 residing in Seoul.

27.7% of the youth reported experiencing a shortage of living expenses. The most common solution was "receiving free support from parents" (41.2%). Following that were "withdrawing savings or canceling deposits" (17.7%) and "loans from primary financial institutions" (11.0%). Notably, 10.4% responded that they could not resolve the issue at all. Ultimately, it appears that when facing financial difficulties, young people tend to seek help from their parents rather than first utilizing personal resources.

Analyzing household types, 47.5% of Seoul youth responded that they live with their parents. Single-person households accounted for 34.4%, and other household types made up 6.9%. The average expected age of independence for youth living with parents was 30.6 years. However, by age group, those aged 19?24 expected independence at 27.4 years, 25?29 at 30.8 years, 30?34 at 35.3 years, and 35?36 at 39.0 years, showing a tendency for the expected age of independence to be delayed as age increases.

'Kangaroo Tribe' Is a Global Phenomenon... China's 'Full-time Children' Where Parents Become Employers

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The phenomenon of needing economic support from parents is not limited to Korea. While Koreans call those who rely financially on their parents the 'Kangaroo Tribe,' in Japan they are called 'Parasite Singles,' and in France, 'Tanguy.' In Italy, they are referred to as 'Bamboccioni,' meaning 'big babies,' and in the UK, they are called 'Keepers' because they drain their parents' retirement pensions. In the United States, this in-between generation is sometimes called 'Twixters.'

The reason young people worldwide fail to become independent from their parents is linked to the current economic situation. Amid a global economic downturn, living with parents makes it easier to cover monthly rent, food, and utility bills. Ultimately, for financially tight youth, being part of the Kangaroo Tribe is an economically rational choice.

Meanwhile, in China, which is experiencing the worst employment crisis in history, a new term 'Full-time Children' has emerged. This refers to children without jobs who take full responsibility for household chores such as cleaning and cooking while receiving a monthly salary from their parents. Full-time Children typically receive about 720,000 to 1,000,000 KRW per month while doing housework at their parents' home after graduating from university. Considering that the average monthly wage for urban workers in China last year was about 1,000,000 KRW, this is a significant amount. They receive a salary from their parents rather than just an allowance.

However, the perception of Full-time Children is not entirely positive. Critics argue that Full-time Children are merely a temporary refuge. Local media have pointed out that "since parents' retirement pensions could be depleted at any time, this is an unstable position" and that "it is essentially a way to alleviate the anxiety of being unemployed and is not sustainable."

Parents Tired of Supporting the 'Kangaroo Tribe'

[Image source=Pixabay]

As the generation dependent on parents increases, conflicts between parents and children continue. This is because the burden of supporting children persists even after parents retire, preventing them from properly preparing for old age.

In some cases, parents have even resorted to lawsuits to evict their Kangaroo Tribe children. In October, a 70-year-old mother in Italy won an eviction lawsuit against her two sons in their 40s. The sons were 42 and 40 years old, respectively. Although both had jobs, they did not contribute to living expenses and did not do any household chores.

The court ruled, "Initially, the men were protected under the 'parents' obligation to provide support,' but considering that they are over 40 years old, this can no longer be justified."

The mother of the two sons told the UK Guardian, "I persuaded my sons several times to find a more independent lifestyle, but they did not listen."

Regarding this Kangaroo Tribe phenomenon, the Guardian analyzed, "Unlike in the past when multiple generations living under one roof was culturally common worldwide, recently, due to worsening employment difficulties, the number of young people unable to become independent is increasing."