Hell Joseon

South Korean self-deprecating term

Hell Joseon (Korean: 헬조선; RR: Heljoseon; MR: Helchosŏn; lit. Hell Korea) is a satirical South Korean term that became popular around 2015.[1] The term is used to criticize the socioeconomic situation in South Korea.[2] The term first gained popularity among younger Koreans as a result of anxieties and discontentment about unemployment and working conditions in modern South Korean society.[3][4]

## Etymology

[edit]

The phrase is a mixture of the words "Hell" and "Joseon", meaning that "(South) Korea is a hellish, hopeless society". Although the term began with private individuals on the internet, it was later adopted by the mass media.[5]

## Concept

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See also: Spoon class theory

The phrase has been used to express opposition towards government policies seen as contributing to youth unemployment, economic inequality, excessive working time, inability to escape from poverty despite hard work, a society that favors vested interests, and general irrationality in daily life.[6] Usage of this term increased through social-networking websites such as Twitter and Facebook, spreading particularly among younger individuals in September 2015.[7]

By 2019, the phrase had been superseded by a new term, "Tal-Jo", a portmanteau comprising "leave" and "Joseon," which might be best translated as "Escape Hell."[8]

## Background

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One widely accepted reason for the rapid spread of the phrase "Hell Joseon" is a growing social discourse and awareness of social inequality in South Korea.[9]

### Military

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South Korea operates a compulsory military service draft system for male citizens between the ages of 18 and 35. The current military service period is 18 months for the Army and Marines, 20 months for the Navy, and 21 months for the Air Force.[10] Conscripted Koreans spend much of their time in the military where they are disconnected from society. Economic inequality may also materialize through compulsory military service, where those with the resources or connections to avoid conscription also avoid abuses like hazing. These lead many Koreans to attempt draft dodging[11] with some using wealth and connections to gain exemptions or emigrate.[11] Koreans with English language skills may apply for competitive spots to serve with American soldiers as KATUSAs in the belief they will receive better treatment under the United States Army. There also are cases of draft dodgers attaining exemptions by bribing medical professionals to report false diagnoses.[12]

### Academic requirements

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In South Korea, many young people attend college because they believe they will have a difficult time finding employment without a college education.[13] Reasons behind this include a strong organizational culture related to universities and academic institutions or hometowns. This organizational culture can be seen when interviewing to enter the workplace. If people with the same conditions are interviewed, they will be accompanied by someone from the same school and hometown as the interviewee. This culture exists within companies as well. People who are not from special schools are discriminated against and culled from the hiring process.[14] This causes inequality and dissatisfaction among people. Within the company, people from the same school or from the same region come together to form a faction.[15] As there is fierce competition for desirable jobs, the pressure to succeed and learn in academia is immense. Many Korean schoolchildren attend some sort of extracurricular education, such as cram schools for English.

### High population density

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The population density of Korea is 519 people/km2. Seoul is very dense, at around 16,593 people/km2.[16] This level of population causes poverty for many as well, and contributes to competition for desirable jobs (such as those with job security or higher social perception) and living spaces. Some have abandoned their hopes for marriage and children (known as the Sampo generation) as they cannot afford to support a family, or wish to focus on their professional lives.[17]

### Cultural influence

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On September 3, 2015, DC Inside opened the Hell Joseon Gallery.[18] Since September 2015, the exposure of the phrase increased considerably online.[19] In addition, DC Inside users can express the oppressed complaints of young people.[20] Several other films, perhaps most prominently the 2019 Parasite, have similarly commented on social inequality in South Korea.

## Criticism

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Critics[who?] of the term say "the surplus man who does nothing tells the story of Hell Joseon".[clarification needed][21] It is also pointed out that the phrase itself is caused by dissatisfaction with society's inequality or absurdity, but it is also problematic in that it does not actually expect any political actions.[clarification needed][22] Lee Er Young said, "The countries that [dissatisfied people] want to [go to after they] leave the Hell Joseon are not heaven" and that "the present employment and inequality situations are a global phenomenon, which is the result of the development of information technology."[23]

Former president of South Korea, Park Geun-hye, said "There are a growing number of new words that deny our great modern history and disparage our world that is envied as a place to live," as a way of criticizing the trend of the phrase "Hell Joseon." She added, "Self-depreciation, pessimism, distrust and hatred can never be the driving force of change and development".[24] However, some argued that Park's government should think about why the phrase "Hell Joseon" was born, because the term was coined during her presidency.[25]

In January 2019, president Moon Jae-in's economic adviser Kim Hyun-chul [ko] resigned after drawing public ire for saying that young, unemployed Korean language graduates who cannot find a job in Korea should stop blaming "Hell Joseon" and move to Southeast Asia to become Korean language teachers.[26]

## See also

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* Economy of South Korea
* Gireogi appa
* Parasite (2019 film)
* Squid Game

## References

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1. ^ Kim, Youngmi (2018). "Hell Joseon: Polarization and Social Contention in a Neo-liberal Age". Korea’s Quest for Economic Democratization: Globalization, Polarization and Contention. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 1–20\. ISBN 978-3-319-57066-2.
2. ^ "Lashing out at "Hell Joseon", young'uns drive ruling party's election beatdown". The Hankyoreh. April 15, 2016. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023.
3. ^ Fifield, Anna (January 30, 2016). "Young South Koreans call their country 'hell' and look for ways out". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
4. ^ hermes (January 7, 2018). "South Korea's young lament inequality in their society". The Straits Times. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
5. ^ "나라 탓하는 '헬조선'…부모 탓하는 '흙수저'". The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). October 4, 2015. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
6. ^ "최신 영상 | 연합뉴스". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved November 6, 2017.
7. ^ "청년의 상실감이 만들어낸 온라인 유행어 '헬조선'". KBS News (in Korean). Retrieved November 6, 2017.
8. ^ Andrew Salmon (December 31, 2019). "75% of young want to escape South". Asia Times. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
9. ^ "[전성원의 사람냄새] 헬조선을 만든 사람들". Incheon Ilbo (in Korean). October 23, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
10. ^ "군 복무기간 21개월로 '동결'" (in Korean). June 2, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
11. ^ a b ""고위층·고소득자 병역기피 특별관리"". KBS News (in Korean). Retrieved November 6, 2017.
12. ^ "병역기피위해 가짜진단서 만든 의사 '실형'". 서울경제 (in Korean). September 13, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
13. ^ "[청년 리포트] ⑦ 대학 대신 내 길 갔지만…"고졸로 살기 쉽지 않아요"". KBS News (in Korean). Retrieved November 27, 2017.
14. ^ "학연, 지연, 인맥이라는 그들만의 리그 - ㅍㅍㅅㅅ". ppss.kr (in Korean). February 4, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
15. ^ "기업 10곳 중 7곳, 학연 지연에 따른 라인(파벌) 존재해". 벤처스퀘어 (in Korean). August 31, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
16. ^ "국가지표체계". www.index.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved November 26, 2017.
17. ^ "[표지이야기]연애도 결혼도 출산도 포기한 '삼포세대'". 주간경향 (in Korean). June 7, 2011. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023.
18. ^ "자국비하 게시판 왜 만들지…헬조선갤 개설 어리둥절". Kukmin Ilbo. September 4, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
19. ^ 현, 혜란 (September 18, 2015). "<빅데이터 돋보기> 청년의 상실감이 만들어낸 유행어 '헬조선'". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved November 20, 2017.
20. ^ ""현실반영 어마무시" Korea 부루마블 '씁쓸' [20대뉴스]". Kukmin Ilbo. November 12, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
21. ^ "아무일도 안 하며 '헬조선' 불만 댓글…'잉여'인간 160만명으로 급증" (in Korean). Retrieved November 26, 2017.
22. ^ "[이택광의 왜?]망한민국" (in Korean). Retrieved November 26, 2017.
23. ^ "대한민국이 '헬조선?' 그럼 어느나라가 천국? - 경북도민일보". www.hidomin.com (in Korean). November 4, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
24. ^ 강, 건택 (August 15, 2016). "'헬조선' 정면비판한 朴대통령, 신산업창출·노동개혁에 강조점". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved March 31, 2019.
25. ^ "[비하인드 뉴스] '헬조선' 신조어 대신 '노오력'을?". JTBC (in Korean). August 15, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
26. ^ "Moon's economic adviser resigns over 'Hell Joseon' jab". Korea JoongAng Daily. January 29, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2020.

## External links

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* Diplomat, Steven Denney, The. "Is South Korea Now 'Hell Chosun'?". The Diplomat. Retrieved April 18, 2016.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
* "[Column] "Hell Joseon" -- a country where sleepless toil brings no mobility". The Hankyoreh. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
* "Korea's 'words of the year' : The DONG-A ILBO". english.donga.com. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
* "Responding to 'Hell Joseon'". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
* Kirk, Donald. "What 'Korean Miracle'? 'Hell Joseon' Is More Like It As Economy Flounders". Forbes. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
* ""It Is Fortunate That I Wasn't Born as a Korean," Ex-Japanese Envoy to Seoul Says in Column - Masatoshi Muto Stirs Controversy in South Korea". The Seoul Times.

*[lit.]: literal translation