Korean Epidemic of Excellence
As a Korean, I know that whatever is trending in South Korea is world class = the best of the world.
The best tea, best vitamin, best shampoo, best perfume — all picked with much thought and research from many aspects (the history of the brand, the founder, the global trend, the colors and texture, etc.)
Many people, especially in South Asia admire and look up to Korean culture and trend because of this. They meticulously hand pick the best and bring it to the small peninsula of Korea.
However, I call this an epidemic from war trauma. A national PTSD.
You can see from the numbers:
“South Korea’s suicide rate is the highest among the major advanced countries as nearly 13,000 people committed suicide in 2022, the latest data showed.” — AA News
And we see numerous top stars in Korea committing suicide every year, with the most recent actor Lee Sun Kyun from the Oscar award winning film Parasite.
Fortunately, there was a rise of mental health awareness in South Korea during the Covid Pandemic and the nation has come a long way back to its root, starting from mending the generational gap between the parents generation of having gone through two wars against another country and civil war within themselves, and the younger generation who is navigating this new technology driven era.
I am still in the US after having grown up in Seoul, South Korea having gone through this transition and second hand war trauma myself. Every visit back home in South Korea brings up its own set of issues and triggers for me.
For now, all I can attest to is the effect the pursuit of excellence has on South Korea. It is a mix of superiority and inferiority, neither of which is the best path towards true freedom and healing…
to be continued…
