The meaning of life? In most places it’s family. In South Korea, it’s money: it’s official
- A survey by the Pew Research Centre found ‘family’ to be the top source of meaning in most societies. Except in South Korea, where it’s ‘material well-being’
- Decades-old family planning policies, rocketing house prices and an overworked, hyper-competitive environment are all to blame, experts say
Every Monday, Jeong Jae-bong goes to his office in Seoul and messages his clients, family and friends with his hot new tips about the latest funds and stocks.
“Everyone these days wants to know how they can live better lives,” said the 27-year-old asset manager. “My clients say that money is the only way to achieve this, whether it’s by investing in stocks, bitcoin or real estate.”
In a recent survey, the Pew Research Centre asked respondents in 17 developed societies where they found “meaning in life”. In most of the places – 14 – “family” was the top answer (though Taiwan plumped for “society” and Spain opted for “health”).
There was just one place that put “material well-being” at the top of its list: South Korea.
Jarring as that may sound to an outsider, for many South Koreans and particularly the younger generation, the result was not in the least surprising.
We can’t help that we live in a capitalistic society where the quality of life changes according to the amount of money one has
Sociologists say that is because a nationwide prioritising of economics over family life stretches back decades, at both societal and individual levels, and dates back to government family planning policies rooted in the 1960s that encouraged the message that wealth and comfort trumps procreation.