No Sleep, 2 Jobs: Can Young South Koreans Escape Hell Joseon Rat Race? | Asia’s Stuck Generation

I'm Park Min-ji (YouTube nickname: Kim-al-bob) who appeared in the video. It was a great time to show my life in my 20s in Korea and express my opinion. I got energy from seeing a lot of supportive comments! I'm rooting for you all! Thank you.

@hellraiser1306

3 months ago

Call me lazy but i'd rather die than working 18 hours a day. 9 hours a day is already torturing my body. Sleeping less than 5 hours is a hell on earth

@passerby4507

PSA: Sleeping three hours a day will KILL YOU. Don't do that.

@47harsha31

5 months ago

Kdramas are so detached from reality, it mostly potrayes the top 2%

@jesswhycamarz

Struggling to pay rent and groceries is the global trauma bond.

@eunyoungmoon6543

This video reminds me of why I left Korea. I was considered a 'winner' in its intensely competitive society, having graduated with both a BA and MA from Y, one of the SKY. I secured a job in a major Jaebol conglomerate, earning a high salary. However, I found myself frustrated because the so-called successful life was also miserable. The competition was relentless, especially within the firm for higher positions. Despite the high pay, there was no time to enjoy the money earned, and the never-ending comparisons made it a challenging environment. Even those deemed 'winners' were not happy, who would be?

@Miyankochan

9 months ago (edited)

I have been amazed at how people can glorify no sleep. In my experience Koreans do that the most. Sleep is an essential part of human life. It's not something we "deserve" or not. What's next? The need to prove our worth to deserve air?

@chrischristoferson1191

This is such a horrible way to live. No sleep, no life, no relationship- just endless work.

@joebazooks

this is happening all over the world. the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer. the poor are withdrawing because: whats the point in playing the game when you know the game is rigged and youll never get ahead no matter how hard or long you work?

@davisurdaneta1426

That's not just happening in South Korea, It's a global phenomenon in most developed countries. Whe have the same situation here in Canada. Many young people are suffering from depression and becoming homeless due to many social issues, unaffordable cost of living and lack of job opportunities.

@MissyNam-dc6zp

Mexican here, I got a dream job in a good company and I was treated like a slave...I was working from 7-8 am until 11-12 pm but they keep reminding me how lucky I was for being there

I quit and I'll never go back...I'd rather starve to death than going back to that place

@pandecocojam

Jaram is impressive for saving 75% of her income

@kria9119

What is truly infuriating is that this situation is very similar at its core to all developed countries. Young people working incredibly hard and living like this, completely unsure if their fufutre. And then the older, ruling generation wonders why we are all depressed, stressed, anxious and not having kids? How can we afford a child, financially, mentally or time-wise?

@DarkTechno404

The main problem with korean culture isn't that they work so hard. Its that they all convince and pressure each other to do prestigious jobs they hate. Not everyone is wired to be a doctor or an engineer. Promote people following their passions and with the built in work ethic it would be a much happier and prosperous society.

@crystalidx

7 months ago

I was born in South Korea, but my family immigrated to Canada. My dad thought that I'd get bullied in high school and the military service would be too hard for me. I am glad that I don't live in South Korea anymore. There are so much more opportunities here in Canada, but my dad had to sacrifice his well-paying professional job for me and my brothers can have a better future.

@Chrisfeb68

I grew up in the late 70s and the 80s, I'm in my mid-50s now and coming to the end of my working career. I don't envy kids that are coming into the working world nowadays. I don't care what country you're in things just seem to have gotten harder.

@isaymymind1727

@6:01 she has a goal of achieving financial freedom at 45. With 3 hours of sleep, the financial freedom will be six feet under ground...

@albertocordova8684

5 months ago

Truck driver living in Sweden! Work from 6 am to 15:00 pm every day, never work on weekends, I make 34000kr = 3400 dollars, after tax I get Around 26500kr = 2650 dollar. I pay rent 850$ light 35$ internet 30$ gym 30$ union 65$ cellphone 35$. After I pay everything I have left around 1500$, I save 500$ and use the rest to eat ,transportation etc, I go on vacation two times a year… Thank God I live in a country such as Sweden

@MadAtreides1

9 months ago (edited)

I live in Italy, have a degree in psychology and work as a hand in a glass foundry. The imbalance between scholarization and workplaces is not just a Korean thing.

@always_grow91

Thank you! 1st girl it's me ! i'm still working two jobs, i'm okay! hahaha

(little english

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@loupiote2315

The part where they said that living in a small room can have long lasting impacts on mental health ringed a bell. Three years ago, I've lived for about 7 months in a very small appartment in Paris due to the high renting price there (the room was the size of two double beds, the single room included a bed, a kitchen counter and a desk, and the windows were so high that you couldn't see outside without standing on a chair). Because of the lockdown I could only go sometime outside for work or meeting my friends, so I stayed about 5 days at home per weeks. Well I've never been more depressed than in those times. Being so confined in this space, the littlest inconvenience in the house (the heater not working, my fridge breaking etc) put me in genuine dispair. For idk what reason, I started being scared of inviting people to come over, or even come outside. At the end I could spend days sitting down on the ground against my bed listening to the noises my neighbour's parrot was making. Then I've been hospitalized (for other health conditions) and moved out but looking back it was scary what this place did to me.

@_w_w_

This issue is not isolated to South Korea. I am in tech, in the US. Globalization, endless innovations, competition, and neck-breaking speed means crazy long hours. I work 15 to 17 hour days, 6 days a week, including holidays. The pandemic induced work-from-home approach means I now burn 16 to 19 hours a day with work. I absolutely stop at 19 hours, so I can have 5 hours to sleep. Having a good education and moving up the career ladder doesn't mean you work less and it usually means the opposite. So the issue impacts all segments of society. You have these youth that don't have enough money to live, and you have older generation that make more money but absolutely no time to spend money or enjoy life or the fruition of the hard work. What the world need is to slow down... We don't need a new phone, tech toy, or TV every year...

@NHJDT

My family moved from Korea to the US when I was 7. I'm 48 now and feel so blessed that. We recently visited Korea for two months and seeing the rest of the relatives live such meager living standards and most still being fairly poor reiterated to my father that he and my mom made the right choice 40 years ago.

@abbe1abbe156

As a vet myself, I wish I could meet Rego. I would help him. I hope people will not live in despair but learn other ways to free themselves.

@plainwhitekebaya

I had experienced failure where at the lowest point, it did feel like there was nothing to live for. Somehow by the grace of God, I was head-hunted for a job abroad and it changed the way I see my failure. I sincerely hope for the best and if nothing works in your country, hey, the world is your playground. Don’t be afraid to venture out. Rego, I hope you will find a good job when you finish your programming course. The fact that you wake up everyday and try to keep going, that’s already and achievement. Seung-gyu, I’m so proud of you for holding on, and now helping others who are struggling as well. Minji - i love your house! You go, girl! Live your love on your own rules! It can feel like the world is judging you for things you don’t have (money, high-paying job), but deep deep inside, you have a steel of a heart waiting for you to discover. Sending lots of love from Malaysia️

@rainrain2497

Rooting for your success, Jaram! Also for the rest of us who's trying to have a better life!

@Ambsdr723

I lived in Korea. University student. this is motivating me to speak out about my experiance there too. I truly understand how they can get depressed to the point of suicide... it is strange to admit to this. I had bad Proffessors (not all ofc) but 1,2 bad proffessors in my Uni ...and I was doing the work (we all were) for the Korean Prononciation Class. it was an unavoidable F from the start. I saw first hand how (students)you can do the assignments ! did all the work ! and still graded an F ... I was the only one who spoke out about it. another Professor who I was on better terms with tried to talk to the difficult one. next class that Proffessor told us to quote "not beg our grades up" ... Unbelievable ... in the course description it said we will be graded not only by Test results , but also attendance and assignments this Proffessor ...did not grade anyone based on all of these points. either an F or a D+ and imagine if you have a University with mostly Proffessors like that... that Proffessor even (practically bragging) said that... last year she had a student that begged her not to give her an F because she will lose her scolarship. so in Hankuk University there is a Proffessor going rouge ,grading most of her students F ....and no one can do anything about it because it seemed like she "knows a suit upstairs" (understand?) I truly can see how ppl get demoralized and depressed. they are holding their own youth back. it is a good University and mostly good experiance but I did have this experiance. after seeing this I almost felt like it is my duty to type this here so it is known. saying AnYthInG ~ negative sounding about a University of theirs ..and you can forget ever going back there. so I had this fear but not anymore after seeing this. they need to Not hold back their youth.

@noco-pf3vj

Everybody in South Korea was pushed by society to "look rich," and then they were exhausted. Much like most Asian countries, in the place I live (a developing country), society pushed us to look rich as well, even with a mountain of debt behind it. Hey, at least you look rich, right?

@bugsalmudafar2973

Some of these people who didn't go to traditional school have other skills that kept them going. I think this should be also recognized by companies to hire this type of people base on their skills not just education. If you know how to do the job well why not hire and pay them well. These gives incentives to people who wants to do the job base on their skills and not just educational background.

@acer7552

This is happening world wide & as a parent I cannot let my children suffer so I let them stay at home until they think they can stand on their own. I also don’t understand the amount of pressure that the South Koreans impose on their children as far as education because in our country, when you are done with school, you go home, do your homework & do self study for an examination or a quiz. Then you can relax the rest of the evening till bedtime.

@noname-dk7ri

"Competition in Korean society is tough." ...... I remember Koreans saying that about 20 years ago. I have a feeling they will continue to say so for a long time to come.

@phunweng962

7 months ago (edited)

I live in Japan and have a South Korean coworker who plan to live in Japan forever. God he’s so happy here in Japan He’s such a smart guy. And now I understand, as he’s from such a competitive environment.

@kikaykimy

The first girl is literally living to work and not the other way around. I thought of migrating to a developed country for selfish reasons and because of soc med posts romanticizing such life in developed countries. However, I was soon slapped by reality after thorough research that in order for me to survive, going back to square one, living in a foreign country, I will need to work 3 jobs. I was like, na ah. I'm good in my country. At least here, I have work-life balance. Many inconveniences though, that comes with living in a third world country but those are mostly annoyances and easily overcome. If I pursued living abroad as a single person, I will only live to work and that will easily take a toll on my overall health. I don't wanna die like that. I mean, even if I live in a third world country, not many of my countrymen can have the life that I have so seeing this makes me more appreciative of what I have, even if I lack a lot in life.

@xmochix604

I came from the other video, 60 minutes Australia on the rise of mortgages and how no one can afford a home anymore. All of this is so heartbreaking. Everywhere not just one country, is suffering.

@Boran.Y

This vid makes me apreciate that i am born in europe way more. Having multiple ways to freedom and sucess, aswell as proper second chances. Man my condolences and best of luck for you folks.

@reallyrendom

Recently went on a tour in Seoul that sheds light on life of the young generation in Korea. It suddenly felt not as stressful to be working and living in Singapore

@xp9845

It's definitely heartbreaking to see the tough conditions that Korean youngers are experiencing. Eastern Asia countries should find their ways to create a sustainable society for next generations! Hope we can make it, brothers and sisters.

@eidokun

7 months ago

Same thing happening here in the Philippines. Prices getting more costly, but wage isn't going up, literally working 2 jobs day and night

@wickedhero3764

feel bad for those people who live in 3rd world country but with gucci bag, look at them having apple watch, iphone but miserably life. meanwhile me living in truly 3rd world country not having those luxury stuff but able to live comfortably.

@anamrake