Is "Sibaltjeom" a Curse? "MZ Generation" Struggles to Understand Textbooks and Literacy [AK Radio]

Declining Student Literacy: Over 90% of Teachers Express Concern
Smartphones and Reduced Use of Sino-Korean Words Identified as Key Factors

On the occasion of Hangeul Day, the debate over literacy in Korean society has once again become a hot topic. In particular, there have been growing concerns about a significant decline in students' literacy skills, with increasing numbers of educators expressing their worries in the field. Literacy is not simply the ability to read and write, but also refers to the capacity to deeply understand the meaning within a text and to develop logical thinking based on that understanding. Therefore, a decline in literacy can directly lead to a decrease in students' learning abilities and, furthermore, impact problem-solving and communication skills throughout society.

The Background and Severity of Declining Student Literacy

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to a survey conducted by the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations with 5,848 teachers nationwide, more than 90% of teachers responded that students' literacy skills have significantly declined compared to the past. While it used to be common for students to understand textbooks appropriate for their grade level, many students today are unable to comprehend even basic textbook content. More than half of the teachers surveyed said that over 20% of students in their classes do not understand the curriculum content. This means that teachers now have to spend more time and energy helping students understand lessons than they did in the past.

This decline in literacy is intertwined with various issues arising in actual educational settings. For example, teachers often witness students becoming confused because they do not understand commonly used terms or sentences. Mistaking 'geum-il' (today) for 'geum-yoil' (Friday), or interpreting 'jokbo' (genealogy) as 'jokbal bossam set' (a set meal of pig's feet and bossam), are typical examples of insufficient understanding of Sino-Korean vocabulary. These cases show that, while students may not lack vocabulary in general, their understanding of specific word groups such as Sino-Korean words has significantly diminished.

The Relationship Between the Digital Age and Literacy

The proliferation of digital media and smart devices has played a major role in the decline of students' literacy skills. In the past, it was common to read and comprehend texts through printed books, but now students primarily encounter text via digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers. When faced with unfamiliar words, instead of flipping through books or consulting dictionaries, students have become accustomed to instantly searching for answers online. This change has reduced the process of deeply understanding texts and thinking in context.

Additionally, the popularity of video content like YouTube and short-form videos has led viewers to focus only on brief and concise information. Since videos are more intuitive and visually engaging than text, students are increasingly losing the ability to read longer passages, infer meaning, or think while considering the overall context. As a result, when students read exam questions or textbooks, they often fail to sufficiently consider the context and instead only grasp the surface-level content.

The Difference Between Literacy and Vocabulary

At the core of the literacy debate is a tendency to conflate vocabulary and literacy. Vocabulary refers to the ability to know the meaning of specific words, while literacy encompasses the ability to grasp the context of entire sentences and understand the topic and logic of a text. Therefore, it is unreasonable to conclude that someone lacks literacy simply because they do not understand difficult words.

In particular, the fact that students struggle with Sino-Korean words does not necessarily mean their literacy is declining, since such words are used far less frequently in daily life today than in the past. For example, the word 'sibaltjeom' (starting point), a compound word including Chinese characters, was commonly used in the past but is now rarely used in spoken language. Thus, judging students' literacy solely by their understanding of such words may overlook generational linguistic changes.

The Seriousness of Adult Literacy Issues

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The problem of declining literacy is not limited to students. Adults also face a range of issues stemming from inadequate literacy skills. According to a survey by the National Institute for Lifelong Education, about 3.3% of adults possess literacy equivalent to that of first or second graders in elementary school, and 8.1% of adults require literacy at the level of first to third graders in middle school. The number of adults lacking basic literacy is by no means small, and this can lead to communication problems at work and difficulties in understanding financial and legal documents.

One of the reasons for declining adult literacy is a lack of exposure to reading or text-based learning from an early age. Those who did not build sufficient reading experience as students tend not to read as adults or lose interest in text altogether, resulting in a natural decline in literacy. Statistics show that about 60% of adults do not read even a single book in a year, further highlighting this issue.

The Importance of Vocabulary Education and Chinese Characters

To improve literacy, the importance of vocabulary education cannot be overlooked. Since approximately 70% of the Korean language consists of Sino-Korean words, an inability to understand these words is considered a major cause of declining literacy. Modern students receive little to no education in Chinese characters, instead spending more time learning English. As a result, they are unable to properly grasp the meaning of Sino-Korean words, which hinders their overall comprehension of texts.

For example, the phrase 'the starting point of an incident' was commonly used in the past, but is now almost unfamiliar to today's students. When such words appear in textbooks or newspapers, students struggle to infer their meaning and have difficulty understanding the overall context. Therefore, it is necessary to help students naturally understand these words through Chinese character education.

The New Language of the Young Generation and Intergenerational Literacy Gaps

On the other hand, the younger generation is creating its own linguistic culture. Their language is formed through abbreviations, neologisms, and a mix of loanwords, which creates a literacy gap with older generations. For example, expressions like 'Aljaldakkalsen' (meaning 'do it well, neatly, and sensibly on your own') are commonly used among young people but are unfamiliar and confusing to older generations. This gap leads to communication difficulties between generations and sometimes causes each side to question the other's literacy.

Such differences in language use between generations cannot simply be seen as a lack of vocabulary, but rather stem from differing cultural backgrounds and experiences. Just as older generations may not understand the neologisms and abbreviations used by young people, it is natural for younger generations to have difficulty understanding Sino-Korean words or traditional expressions used by older generations.

The Importance of Reading for Improving Literacy

One of the most effective ways to improve literacy is through reading. According to the teachers' association survey, over 30% of teachers cited reading activities as the top method for enhancing literacy. Reading is not just about processing text; it plays a crucial role in understanding the overall context, making inferences, and developing critical thinking skills.

However, the low reading rate among adults is a major cause of declining literacy. As previously mentioned, about 60% of adults do not read even one book a year, which serves as a significant barrier to improving adult literacy. If adults do not cultivate reading habits themselves, their children are also likely to drift away from books. This creates a vicious cycle in which declining literacy is repeated across generations.

Digital Literacy: A New Requirement of the Era

Today, literacy is evolving in new ways within the digital environment. While traditional literacy focused on understanding text in printed books, digital-age literacy requires the ability to find, analyze, and critically interpret necessary information from the vast resources available via the Internet and digital devices.

Digital literacy goes beyond simply reading text; it includes evaluating the reliability of information, selectively acquiring what is needed, and solving problems based on that information. This is an essential skill in modern society, especially in a digital environment flooded with fake news and misinformation, where the ability to choose accurate information and think critically is crucial.

The Future of Hangeul and Its Role in the Digital Age

Hangeul itself is regarded as a script well-suited for the digital era. It can easily represent the pronunciation of foreign languages, enabling the expression of a wide range of languages. Thanks to these features, Hangeul has attracted global attention, and Korean content is gaining popularity on global platforms. In particular, Korean-language content is receiving significant interest on global media such as Netflix, helping to raise awareness of Hangeul worldwide.

However, despite the growing status of Hangeul, the use of loanwords and Sino-Korean words within Korean society continues to increase. This mixing of languages can contribute to declining literacy. For example, the excessive use of English in apartment names or store signs can cause confusion in everyday language. Furthermore, the frequent use of foreign words in administrative terms can make it difficult for citizens to understand government documents.

The issue of literacy is emerging as a major challenge for modern society, extending beyond the realm of education. Not only students but also adults are experiencing problems related to declining literacy, which affects individual learning abilities, workplace communication, and even the capacity to solve social problems. To improve literacy, multifaceted efforts are needed, including encouraging reading habits, strengthening vocabulary education, and reducing dependence on digital media.

In particular, we should cherish the beauty and value of Hangeul, strive to reduce the excessive use of loanwords and Sino-Korean words, and promote the use of pure Korean words. On Hangeul Day, such efforts should be further encouraged, and ongoing social attention and action are needed to address the issue of declining literacy.

Editor's NoteThis content is also available on Asia Economy's economic podcast 'AK Radio.' AK Radio is a platform that provides investors with essential information on politics, economy, international affairs, technology, bio, and digital trends. Click the play button in the article to hear the reporter's actual voice. This article is a reorganized version of the content broadcast on AK Radio, summarized using ChatGPT.