Millennials are getting a lot of flack for their #sorrynotsorry lifestyles, attitudes, and spending patterns – as evidenced by the now-infamous #avocadotoast debate. But in a (post)neoliberal world, where economies, housing markets, and job markets worldwide are still reeling in the aftershocks of the 2008 financial crisis, millennials find themselves living in economic uncertainty and precarity. Indeed, wherever you’re situated, and whatever your so-called millennial “vice” is – be it avocado toast or artisanal coffee beans – there is an undeniable running theme of millennial frustration that we can all relate to. Today's youth are eager to seek out some sort of meaning or escape from societal stresses and burdens, which are oftentimes beyond their control.
While youth around the world are going through a lot of the same struggles, in this episode of The Youth Element, join co-hosts Linda and Justin as they explore every day activities, youth spaces, and even trendy #hashtags to better understand how youth across East Asia are responding to similar socioeconomic pressures in the context of their respective cities – be it through retail therapy, overt political activism, or sharing a collective rant with pals over cake.
Additional Reading:
South Korea
- Se-Woong Koo, Sibal Biyong: Spending Toward Meaning of Life, The Korea Exposé, May 17, 2017.
- Steven Denney, Youth Unemployment at 15-Year High in South Korea, The Diplomat, July 31, 2015.
- Dasl Yoon, Grasping for Hope, US News, September 29, 2017.
- Gwanghyun Pyun, Grasping for Entertainment: The Rise of Claw Machines in South Korea, Korea Economic Institute of America.
- KH Digital 2, Slowing Economy Lures Young Koreans to Claw Machines, The Korea Herald, February 3, 2017.
- Oh Chan-ho, The Dilemma of Defining the ‘880,000-Won Generation’: Why the Voices of the ‘Losers’ Are Inaudible, Moonhwa Gwahak, 2010.
- Seo Eun-kyung and Kim Junghyun, Young South Koreans become the '880,000 Won Generation', Taipei Times, April 12, 2009.
- Anna Joy, Korea’s ‘Give Up’ Generation, KoreaBang, October 14, 2015.
- PLAY BINGO: http://10wontips.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/korean-dirt-spoon-bingo.html
(Alternate version: http://www.hanyangian.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=554)
Taiwan
- Charlie Smith, Postmaterialism takes hold among young in Taiwan and Hong Kong, according to journalist Tieh-chih Chang, The Georgia Straight, September 3, 2016.
- Chen Chao, Indifferent Enthusiasts: Young Taiwanese Voters Do Politics Differently, Sixth Tone, October 12, 2016.
- Dana Ter, Brewing More Than Coffee, The Taipei Times, November 20, 2014.
- Dana Ter, Taiwan’s Cafe Philo debuts in New York, The Taipei Times, September 23, 2014.
- Hong Soon-do, Korea and Taiwan Should Save Youths to Stop Being “Hell Joseon” and “Ghost Island”, Asia Today, N.D.
- Jermyn Chow, Young Workers Face Bleak Future Under '22k Curse', Straits Times, May 26, 2016.
- Lin Hsiang-mei and Jake Chung, Cafe Philo Forum Still Going Strong, The Taipei Times, November 20, 2012.
- Olivia Yang, A New Generation is Reinvigorating Taiwan Activism in the US, International News Lens, June 14, 2017.
- Sarah Mishkin and David Pilling, Taiwan: Time to Change Gear, Financial Times, April 9, 2013.
- The Taipei Times, Searching for ‘a Little Happiness’, March 2, 2014.