College Student Councils Changing Once Again

Jin Hyun-joo

Shin Hae-in. 2005. “The 20s Generation, Less Ideological.” The Korea Herald, February 15, 2005.

Following is the first in a three-part series about the 20s’ generation in Korea. ㅡ Ed.

ociologists were presented with a new subject to analyze after the 2002 presidential elections ㅡ the generation in their 20s had suddenly become enough of a force to alter the social and political makeup of the nation. Although this group appeared to form a progressive circle, supporting President Roh Moo-hyun and his reform goals, they were noticeably different from the democratic radical forces of the older generation to be defined truly as “progressive.”

“We are a bunch that can have a cup of Starbucks coffee right after chanting ‘anti-America, Yankees go back home’ on the streets,” said 25-year-old sociology student Kim Tae-ho. “Does this seem like an absurd definition?” he asked. “But it explains plenty. For us, opposing the government’s pro-Americanism and enjoying Starbucks coffee has nothing to do with each other. Why should ideology or faith hold one back from a good cup of coffee?”

Only a few years back, the center-stage of the public’s political participation belonged to people in their 30s and above. The 20s were still in college or had just stepped into society and regarded as too inexperienced to have much if any influence.

But after Roh got elected with a big boost from Nosamo ㅡ the pro-Roh civil organization formed through the Internet with people mostly in their 20s ㅡ the nation realized the 20-somethings were not a force to be overlooked. The younger generation’s use of the Internet for communication was the difference. For example, one Internet opinion column wielded much more immediate influence than hundreds of people staging a demonstration on the streets, and the Internet 20s crowd showed the ability to form groups quickly and express and spread their opinions. Realizing that the 20s generation strengthened their political base, more and more politicians made efforts to keep in close contact by running Internet homepages or Web logs (blogs).

While appearing content with their new influence, the 20s crowd seemed unsure ㅡ until recently ㅡ where they stood and how to define and develop their power. No longer. Several people in their 20s interviewed by The Korea Herald were able to clearly define their views, signaling they had matured over the past few years and now understand more clearly their role and power in society.

A poll taken by The Herald Business at the end of last year showed more than 85 percent of 200 adults in their 20s felt that attaining personal happiness was far more important than striving for a conservative or radical ideology. Only 0.4 percent chose ideology as the most important value of life while an overwhelming majority chose health and self-development, showing ideology was no longer regarded important to these youngsters.

“If I had to choose just one, I would say that I am one of the progressives, but to be frank my ideology is very flexible,” said 28-year-old office worker Cho Hyun-jae. The reason he regarded himself as a progressive right now was because he favors repealing the anti-communist National Security Law, he said. “I cannot agree with the unreasonable conservatism that opposes the repeal for anachronistic reasons,” he said. “But what angers me more is that the debate on the security law seems to depend on ideology, rather than the present circumstances.” “Sometimes I feel bad because I often go along with this whole idiotic notion of ideology in order to make up my mind. Why can’t the nation abandon such unpractical things?” he asked.

Yoon Jung-mi, 23, said she was almost afraid to tell people that she was a conservative ㅡ although she favored stability and slower changes ㅡ because the standard of national conservatism stands too much to the right. “Because the radicalism of the nation appeared a countermeasure to this extreme right wing, the struggle between the two sides seems more tense ㅡ even though the circumstances have changed and he two can now overlap and coexist,” she said.

A 25-year-old law major, Ahn Ji-hyun, also said she was closer to the right wing but did not feel the need to clearly put herself in line with the conservatives or the progressives. “I feel stuffed by the speculation that the left and the right wing of the nation have to be divided right into half,” she said.

A recent poll by the Korea Research Center showed more of 20s generation considered themselves moderates. Among the 1,000 of 20s surveyed nationwide, about 47 percent said they were moderates, against 38 percent progressives and 15 percent conservatives. In a poll last year by the same group, only about 30 percent called themselves moderates. While most of this age group are reluctant to define themselves as progressives or conservatives, they appeared to be enjoying the growing political power they have through the Internet, and felt it was an encouraging phenomenon.

Choo Hyun-soo, 26, said he regarded the “online political participation” of his generation as a good start to “new” politics, and thought it was encouraging for the future pillars of society to be preparing themselves in advance. “The Internet press such as Oh My News appeared as a counterforce to the conservative papers, and people used to line themselves up on the right or the left wing due to these two circles of the press,” he said. “But things have changed. Now we can participate without feeling the pressure of having to decide our positions. We can express out opinions online but we don’t necessarily support a particular ideology or a politician.”

Kim Da-min, 24, said that although she was not sure how to define “proper participation,” she thought her generation’s political input through the Internet was something that could bring important changes. “I see a possibility of citizens influencing more of the government’s policymaking once this online based participation is firmly established,“ she said. The case of Education Minister Lee Ki-jun is a good example. It was the citizens who made him step down from the post by expressing opposition on the Internet. “Politicians learn much of the public sentiment through the Internet now, and it is us, the generation of 20s who set up the structure.”

The majority of the 20s populace said the division of ideology no longer had a meaning in society. “The only ideology that can be bound together is ultra-right and the left. The rest of the people do not belong to either of the two but suffer in the current tide that tries to line everyone up on either of the sides. This is why the ideology debate is regarded as negative and problematic,” said 26-year-old Kim Gun-woo. The fact that more people are defining themselves as moderates shows that the clear division of ideology is no longer relevant, he said. “I see a hope that my generation can lead an era of unified ideology in the near future. The nation’s ideology spectrum had to be diversified. I wish the politicians would stop arousing the current ideology debates with political intentions,” he said.

Kim Ji-sun, 27, said she disliked the word “ideology debate” especially when it was used by conservative circles to oppose to reform. “I do not agree with the idea to blame ideology for all current struggles, because ideology is essential in some matters,” she said. “But the younger generation that did not experience any repression or dictatorship has no reason to take sides. Faith and ideology are no longer the same thing. One can have an idea on one issue that may seem radical, and have another that seems conservative, without breaking any faith.”

In his book “What is happening to Korea,” sociologist Song Ho-geun defined the 20s crowd as “a rational bunch that preserved the market economy theory, well adapted to the power of information, and seceded from past concept of mega-ideology.”

Agreeing with Song’s definition, Jun Chul-ho of the Korea Politics Research Institute said, “Obviously, it is encouraging to see that the younger generation seems to be participating more actively to the current politics, whether on an online or on an offline basis.” “For my generation, it was either shutting off politics for good or expressing opinion through vehement demonstrations. Because we had fought against the dictatorial government, most people had thought that preserving radicalism was crucial,” said Jun, who is now in his early 40s.

Thus, even when everyday life or thoughts differed from radicalism, all people answered that they were progressives, because otherwise it meant they favored dictatorship, he said. “It is interesting to see that the current 20-somethings do not seem to be afraid to admit that they are conservatives and that they are content with the present situation,” said Jun. The younger generation has broken off from ideology completely, knowing that being conservative does not mean opposing changes. “This is why the 20s may appear strange and unfamiliar to the older generation. But it is actually more encouraging there is now a chance for establishing a society that can accept differences and changes without time consuming debates on ideology.” By Shin Hae-in hayney@heraldm.com

Jin Hyun-joo. 2005. “College Student Councils Changing Once Again.” The Korea Herald, February 17, 2005.

Following is the second in a three-part series about the 20s’ generation in Korea. ㅡ Ed.

tudent councils comprising non-activists swept 70 percent of seats at universities nationwide in the past two years, reflecting disenchantment with political slogans and protests, according to the online university newspaper Unews. But the trend seemed to stall in elections held last December and this sudden dominance was cut in half as students apparently started looking for action to deal with issues that affect their everyday life.

Jeong Hwa, the first chairwoman of the Seoul National University’s student council, said that regardless of whether a person is activist or not, students are now following leaders who can resolve their problems. “The student movement is nothing special. It is to solve problems that students are faced with in their daily lives,” said Jeong. “I think the student movement needs a ‘third way.’ It is meaningless to bisect along the lines of activist or non-activist,” she said.

In the last election, Jeong, from a moderate activist party prevailed over opposition from a non-activist that had been dominant at the nation’s top university for the last three years. SNUnow, the university’s online newspaper, said the non-political group’s fall was attributable to its lack of a “basic policy” on student welfare. “Whether it is non-activist or whatever, an important thing is its capability (to support welfare of students),” the newspaper said.

Sociology professor Seol Dong-hoon at Chonbuk National University said, “Nowadays university students are realistic. Their primary interests are to solve personal problems rather than ideological issues.” He said that the nation’s shift to a democratic society had resulted in students turning more to personal issues than politics. “Back in the 1970s and 1980s, the lack of democracy led students to feel some kind of historical obligation. I and my colleagues used to shout ‘hurrah for democracy’ around the end of a drinking party and were deeply stirred,” said Seol, who studied at Seoul National University in the 1980s. “But now students consider it (democracy) natural, like water or air. They have been set free,” he added.

Yoo Sang-yong, chairman of Chonbuk National University’s student council, echoed the change of students’ interests since 1986. He withdrew from school while studying medicine in 1986 to join his father’s business, re-enrolled in 2002, and was elected council chief for this year. “At that time (in 1986) there were many political and social issues going on. Now the focus is consistently school issues,” Yoo said. “A big issue now relates to a library, such as preventing noise on the floor and replacing desks and chairs. Other issues include having a concert and discounting parking fees on campus,” he said.

Even Hanchongryun, an extreme-right student association, has turned its attention from political to campus issues. For instance, a student council at Chonnam National University that belongs to Hanchongryun is pursuing various ways to benefit students, such as pushing ahead an internship program in collaboration with companies. “In the past, we lacked the ability to communicate with students,” said Shim, a 27-year-old executive member of the council. “But now we’re trying to meet students’ demands and interests on life and study.” Referring to the non-political party, Shim said he is willing to accept its positive side such as its focus on utilitarian issues. “We will further develop brilliant ideas of the past non-political council such as running a used bookstore,” he said.

Other universities are no exception in getting student councils to be more responsive to diverse opinions. In its 2003 election, Hanyang University, once a leader in student movements to whom capitalism was anathema, chose the grandson of Koo Tai-hwoi, one of the founders of the LG Group and honorary president of LG Cable Ltd. And, the former president Lee Sang-hyun called for student welfare and exchanges with foreign universities.

The new student council at Yonsei University also made an election promise of no political strife, especially events or demonstrations in front of the main library. The chairman Yoon Han-wool did not make any campaign speeches close to the library in order not to disturb students at the place.

Despite the efforts by the council to woo students, many show no interest at all in student associations. The average voting rate among students has hovered around 50 percent for several years, and many councils have had to work hard to muster a vote quorum. “I once voted for a department council chief, but I was forced to do it by my friends,” said Cho Chi-hyun, a university student who studies both at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and Denver University in the United States.

Students interviewed by The Korea Herald said they do not care for student associations. “I’m not interested in the association because I’m busy with studying,” said Baek Jae-hwan, an economics student at Korea University. “I feel grateful what they do for students, but if they don’t, it doesn’t matter to me,” he added. Another student, Choi Joon-woo, who majors in business, said, “I have been indifferent to the group. It does not have to do with me, I’m happy with the benifits provided by the school.”

Professor Seol said a change from a department to divisional association system in the late 1990s accelerated the individual attitude of students. “The relationship between a senior and a junior was formed under the department system, but now they do not know each other even in the same department,” he said. By Jin Hyun-joo hjjin@heraldm.com

Shin Hae-in. 2005. “Marriage, Family Values Different for 20-Somethings.” The Korea Herald, February 18, 2005.

Following is the last in a three-part series about the 20s’ generation in Korea. ㅡ Ed.

oon, a 27-year-old chief secretary of a foreign chief financial officer at one of the largest companies in Korea, dated her boyfriend for six years and started living with him last October, but has no plans to marry him. “My boyfriend and I have been through a lot of hard times together, and I feel that he is the person I would marry if I had to,” she said. “But I don’t want marriage to become an obstacle of achieving my goals. I plan to study abroad for at least three years shortly and marriage would hold my goals back.” Yoon said neither her age nor having the same boyfriend for a long time is not a reason to get married. “I have my own life goals and have no intention to give any of them up just to form a family. I do not consider marriage as a step one must take. It is more of an option,” she said.

Several recent polls show the views on marriage and family held by people in their 20s have been changing rapidly. While older generations considered marriage as the first step to settling down to a family lifestyle, the younger generation considers family and marriage much less important than achieving their own personal goals.

A poll taken by Research and Research last year showed only 37 percent of 7,075 adults in their 20s who responded considered marriage an essential part of their lifelong objective, while about 35 percent said that having children was not a crucial element of marriage. About half said that living with a person of the opposite sex before marriage was okay, 38 percent considered love and marriage were not one and the same, and 29 percent said having sex or living together did not necessarily lead to marriage.

Graduate student Kim Sung-hoon, 28, said people in his age group probably had too many things on their minds to worry about marriage. “Amid the worsening employment situation and so many things to study in order to be accepted in society, how can one think about forming a family and meeting a life partner?” he asked. “Taking care of oneself is hard enough.”

Also, unlike the older generations who regard divorce as the very last step to take when problems occur in a marriage, 62 percent of 20-somethings felt married couples can split up even if only because of personality differences. About 75 percent said they would file for divorce right away if their marriage partners cheated on them, while 55 percent said children should not be considered a reason to avoid divorce. “All the terms of marriage should be scrutinized minutely before marriage. But even if one misses out something and finds out later on that he or she cannot live with the spouse, it would be better just to split up before it’s too late,” said Kim.

Together with marriage, the view of 20-somethings on family and family obligations also seem to be changing. According to the same poll by Research and Research, 69 percent of adults in their 20s said they did not consider living with their parents after marriage as a duty and 58 percent said taking care of sick parents or a spouse was not a duty either. More than 70 percent said that the eldest son did not have more responsibility than anyone else to take care of old parents and 46 percent said they would send sick parents or spouses to medical care institutions or sanitariums instead of taking care of them at home.

“I don’t like the thought that being someone’s wife, child or parent lays a duty upon the person,” said 23-year-old Gong Ha-young. “Family is important, but this doesn’t mean that it is natural for families to become an obstacle in someone’s life or a reason to make one’s life miserable.” Although she wanted to live with her parents even later on, this would be dependent on both sides agreeing and the circumstances, and not a duty, she said. “I wish Korea would break off from the anachronistic family concept that burdens people unnecessarily,” she commented.

In 2002, 59 sociologists surveyed 100 college students for the thesis “The present and the future for Korean Families.” The research showed similar changes of opinion among the younger generation as the Research and Research poll. Interestingly, however, the students picked lack of mutual response, filial piety, and intimacy between family members as the main problems in present-day families.

Other examples showed students in their 20s still had a certain conservatism and traditional thoughts in their minds. A little less than half of the students said that reverting back to the old concept of family would be encouraging because it would bring back strong family bonds, and 35 students said they would never marry someone their parents opposed because they believed in obeying parents and in the saying “the older the wiser.”

After the research, sociologists analyzed that although apparent changes had shown up in the younger generation’s views on family, it was still too soon to make a definitive pronouncement because views are still changing and are expected to take another turn shortly. “Family problems will occur due to the instability of these youngsters’ thoughts and beliefs on family, but this is not due to the fact that they are more selfish than the older people,” the experts said. “The youngsters are at the moment too overwhelmed with the changes themselves to cleverly adjust the altered views and the old concept together,” they concluded in an after note to the research.

“Changes of the younger generation’s views have sped up due to social changes and the intake of western culture,” said professor Jung Yeon-chan of Pusan National University. “Although it may concern the older generation, I regard this as a step society must take in order to re-establish the family concept for the future.” Jung warned that the older generation should not expect or force the 20-somethings to revert to what they considered as “moral,” “Parents still tend to regard children as their property while the youngsters consider themselves as strictly individuals,” he said. “Parents may still think that they have the right to push their children to get married or choose an appropriate future spouse for them, but such thoughts and actions would only broaden the generation gap and worsen the family problems.”

Sociologist Shim Nam-ho said that one way of solving the gap between the expectations and views of the younger and the older generations would be for the government to help out. “In Western countries, the government plays an active role to solve family problems by, for example, building government institutions for the elders,” he said. “Koreans have the tendency to think that it is natural and moral to solve family matters without any outer help. But such prejudice has to be changed in order for Korea to adapt to the changes. Western countries actually have less family conflicts and still manage keep close between family members by not burdening each other,” he said. By Shin Hae-in hayney@heraldm.com