Hell Joseon a.k.a. Hell Korea
The reality of South Korea beyond K-pop & K-dramas.
K-pop. Korean skincare routine. Hyundai. Kimchi. Swooning K-dramas. Oppa. Samsung. Squid Game. Seoul. Korean barbecue. North Korea. BTS.
These are the things that you might associate South Korea with.
Unemployment. Inhumane working hours. Sexism. Socioeconomic inequality. Chaebol. Obligatory military service. Inescapable & unavoidable poverty.
And this is what South Koreans, particularly the younger generation, think of their nation.
Hell Joseon, Hell Korea, or Hell Chosun. In 2015, these terms were widely used to mock and criticize socioeconomic circumstances in South Korea. These terms were used to convey one simple message-
South Korea is a hellish, hopeless society.
The term gained popularity among the young people who were discontent, unhappy, and most impacted by the South Korean ways.
Unemployment is a major reason for the dissatisfaction and depression in South Korean youth. Academic criteria and the importance of “having connections” are both perverted in various ways in South Korea. Additionally, the hours put in to make ends meet are brutal and unimaginable.
