{"id":2204198,"date":"2024-03-11T15:39:43","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T06:39:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2204198"},"modified":"2024-03-11T18:46:43","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T09:46:43","slug":"godsaeng-the-self-improvement-trend-pushing-south-koreas-youth-to-the-brink","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/03\/godsaeng-the-self-improvement-trend-pushing-south-koreas-youth-to-the-brink\/","title":{"rendered":"Godsaeng: The self-improvement trend pushing South Korea\u2019s youth to the brink"},"content":{"rendered":"

The South Korean \u201cgodsaeng\u201d lifestyle, which emphasizes constant productivity and self-improvement, has gained popularity among the country\u2019s Generation Z in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this <\/span>trend<\/span><\/a> comes with inherent risks, such as potential health hazards and adverse effects on mental well-being, as individuals struggle to maintain a demanding schedule and face pressure to achieve perfection in all aspects of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

The shift toward the godsaeng lifestyle, a portmanteau of the English word \u201cgod\u201d and the Korean word \u201csaeng,\u201d meaning life, <\/span>emerged<\/span><\/a> around 2020 at the height of the pandemic. It involves setting life goals and managing time efficiently to achieve them, fostering a daily sense of fulfillment.<\/span><\/p>\n

A <\/span>survey<\/span><\/a> by Incruit, a job search portal, revealed that 75% of employed individuals actively pursue self-development outside of work, and self-help books <\/span>topped<\/span><\/a> South Korea\u2019s bestseller lists in 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

Experts attribute this drive for self-development to the deep-rooted frustration and heightened anxieties about the future felt among young people during the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBefore the pandemic, many young people embraced the YOLO (You Only Live Once) lifestyle, focusing on living in the moment rather than planning for the future,\u201d Kwak Geum-joo, a professor of psychology at Seoul National University, told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, that approach failed to address the underlying uncertainties and anxieties about their prospects. The onset of the COVID-19 crisis, which brought about record levels of youth unemployment and job insecurity, forced young adults to confront the harsh realities they had previously avoided.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In this context, godsaeng offered a new way for individuals to address these uncertainties and tackle their anxiety through daily self-improvement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Private academies clustered together in a building in South Korea, Feb. 26, 2006 | Image: Pedro Pimentel<\/a> via Flickr<\/a>, CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

STAYING BUSY 24\/7<\/b><\/p>\n

While the drive for self-development among Generation Z is not unique to South Korea, the godsaeng lifestyle is characterized by an excessive emphasis on daily productivity and diligence. The word \u201cgod\u201d in godsaeng connotes a level of perfection, pressuring individuals to optimize both work and leisure time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was constantly driven to make the most of my time, even during leisure activities. I felt pressured to study English during commutes or attend yoga and pilates classes to improve my physical health and appearance,\u201d said Oh Da-som, a 30-year-old YouTube creator.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever I caught myself lying in bed, scrolling through YouTube videos, I felt guilty. \u2018What am I doing wasting time?\u2019 I would ask myself, convinced that others were surely engaged in more productive pursuits at that very moment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, there is a lack of diversity in the godsaeng routine.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople in other countries appear to value and accept various definitions of a fulfilling life, but Koreans seem to adhere to a more uniform and rigid set of expectations for personal success and achievement,\u201d Jeong Min-hyuk, a reporter, told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The typical godsaeng <\/span>schedule<\/span><\/a> promoted on social media typically involves early morning exercise, studying finance and investment techniques and acquiring various certificates to enhance job market competitiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a result, godsaeng has become <\/span>synonymous<\/span><\/a> with being constantly busy.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Korean obsession with being busy is rooted in the country\u2019s history of rapid industrialization, where the labor force\u2019s <\/span>hard work ethic<\/span><\/a> played a crucial role in lifting the war-torn nation <\/span>out of poverty<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKorean society has placed a high value on hard work and constant activity for decades while stigmatizing laziness and idleness as unproductive,\u201d said Kim Bo, who regularly publishes cartoons promoting the importance of laziness on <\/span>Instagram<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a result, Koreans have grown up internalizing the belief that one must always be working or engaged in visible, productive tasks to deserve their keep, leading to feelings of guilt when taking time to relax or unwind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As godsaeng gains popularity, the concept of being busy as a hallmark of integrity has <\/span>shifted<\/span><\/a> from postwar diligence to a self-improvement strategy, with younger demographics actively pursuing demanding schedules beyond their paid employment.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, <\/span>concerns<\/span><\/a> are growing that this preoccupation with being busy can lead to adverse effects such as sleep deprivation, burnout and elevated anxiety, ultimately undermining the initial purpose of godsaeng as an anxiety coping mechanism.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

An illustration of broken hearts on social media | Image: Canva<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

HEALTH HAZARDS<\/b><\/p>\n

South Korea is known for its demanding work culture, with citizens working an average of <\/span>1,915 hours annually<\/span><\/a>, 199 hours more than the average among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development nations.<\/span><\/p>\n

In such a context, the need for rest is crucial. However, the godsaeng lifestyle, which emphasizes constant productivity, leaves little room for relaxation, ultimately impacting the health of young South Koreans.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI attended graduate school in the evenings last year, and I made and edited my videos on the side,\u201d YouTuber Oh said. \u201cSo, I never got enough sleep. I was constantly tired, and it caused me to lose weight. My eczema symptoms also got so much worse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Experts warn that the routine often adopted by godsaeng practitioners can lead to <\/span>sleep deprivation<\/span><\/a> and sleep debt, increasing the risk of cancer and accelerating the aging process. These problems are highlighted in <\/span>recent health reports<\/span><\/a> on individuals in their 20s and 30s.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, an overwhelming workload and packed schedule can adversely affect physical and mental well-being, as failure to achieve goals can lead to disappointment and heightened anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI began practicing godsaeng to boost my efficiency. But instead, I began struggling with increased anxiety and frustration when I failed to keep up with my schedule,\u201d Lee Min-ji, a Seoul-based worker in her 20s, told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some individuals, like Lee Yea-bean, a 27-year-old news anchor based in Busan, experienced a severe decline in her mental health and depression after two years of practicing the godsaeng routine.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAbout a couple of months ago, the strict lifestyle I had been following caught up with me \u2014 physically and mentally. I used to be an extrovert, but I stopped going out to meet people. I struggled with burn-out syndromes as well as feelings of social isolation, which led to my depression,\u201d Lee recalled.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

An illustration of a young adult in a city | Image: Korea Pro<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

REDEFINING GODSAENG<\/b><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>Consumer Trend Insight<\/span><\/a>, an annual journal that provides insights into South Korea\u2019s social and consumption trends, the godsaeng lifestyle is expected to gain further momentum this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

The journal highlights several keywords and phrases that capture the main features of the godsaeng lifestyle currently promoted on social media platforms, such as \u201ctime-efficient society,\u201d \u201cpersonal branding\u201d and \u201chexagonal human.\u201d The last refers to the ideal person who excels in all aspects of life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As godsaeng has become an established norm among the younger generation, experts emphasize the importance of addressing its potential side effects and taking measures to prevent them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seoul National University\u2019s Kwak suggests that the key to practicing godsaeng successfully is setting attainable goals and maintaining a flexible mindset to adjust goals and plans as needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo many young people struggle with godsaeng because they set up far too ambitious goals. And then they compare each other\u2019s achievements on social media,\u201d she explained.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople need to set manageable goals and be willing to adjust them. We need to tell ourselves that it is okay if we sometimes fail to achieve everything on our to-do list.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, cartoonist Kim calls for a new understanding of godsaeng that embraces the concept of idleness and laziness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe must acknowledge that idleness and rest are not antithetical to productivity. In fact, taking time to recharge one\u2019s mental energy is a crucial component of maintaining a productive lifestyle,\u201d Kim explained, adding that he aims to prove that a lazy person can also lead a fulfilling and meaningful life with his creative outputs on Instagram.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, we should not hold ourselves to the impossible standard of perfection implied by the term \u2018god.\u2019 We have to let go of feeling guilty when we take breaks and allow ourselves moments of relaxation and laziness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Edited by John Lee<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Culture & Society<\/span><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The South Korean \u201cgodsaeng\u201d lifestyle, which emphasizes constant productivity and self-improvement, has gained popularity among the country\u2019s Generation Z in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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