2018 Asia Literary Review - Korean Literature Essay Competition - Kim Ae-ran 김애란

The normalisation of 'Millennial Angst'.

Kim Ae-ran invites us to understand there remains a reason for the much berated1 'Millennial Experience';
"sensitivity...and pensiveness"2 of the twenties building to "neurosis, anger, and depression"3. We soon learn
this popularly loathed experience is something both young Westerners, and Koreans exhibit, and we are further
invited to understand why it should be expected.

Rightful angst.

Kim, in her use of verbose vernacular, emphasises the root of this angst lies within the now virtually inessential
structures, Korean Millennial (KM) lives still manage to be constrained by today; structures that still "flit about
like the seeds of a plant"4 that were perhaps better suited to conditions of the past.

The characters we encounter all appear to harbour feelings of not belonging in the world built for them.

The first bundle of youth Kim charms us by; the Oldest Child, in his literary discovery of the word "betrayal"5,
Kim reflects on similar feelings held by KMs today, left ill-equipped in this new climate, never in sync with the
vivaciousness at which they yearn to approach life. Kim references a new climate where anxiety about one's
access to the internet is just as indicative of poverty as "slum dwellers of the 1970s...[awaiting] their turn to use
public bathrooms."6

This new world of firsts presently dealing with issues of fresh, magnitudinal complexities such as;
Transgenderism, therefore cannot be expected to truly advance via constrictive traditions. Quiet warrior for the
plight of the Youth, we rarely sight Gendered pronouns until her conclusions7, learning of Kim's characters'
Binarisms late into the story, to reflect the irrelevance of the fact that the Oldest Child is, at Chapter Four, a
"son"8. Kim signals these New Age plights should be viewed as issues of Humanity, that concern us all, which
her fast interchanging monosyllabic dialogues help to convey9, as the reader loses track of who has ownership
over which concerns.

We also sight Kim's millennial characters looking for intimacy in odd places.

1
New Statesman. 'Millennials are berated for avocados and lattes – but I suspect they’d rather have houses'
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2017/11/millennials-are-berated-avocados-and-lattes-i-suspect-they-d-rather-have-
houses
2
Kim Ae-ran, (2017) 'Where Would You Like To Go?' Asia Literary Review, Vol. 34, pg 57
3
Ibid.
4
Kim Ae-ran, (2016)'The Youngest Parents with the Oldest Child' Asia Literary Review, Vol. 30, pg 30
5
Ibid. pg 31
6
Ibid. Pg 35
7
Ibid. Pg 49
8
Ibid. pg33
9
'Where Would You Like To Go?' OpCit. pg57
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Millennials have been termed the generation who have forgotten how to build normal relationships10. Opposing
this popular argument, Kim proposes that there still exists within KMs a longing "to feel the anxiety and
exhaustion of human relationships"11. However the interpersonal climate is such that relationships are inevitably
built on unusual awkward terms. Kim champions the fact that KMs have disjointed the previous generation’s
ideal order of familiarity, with illicit meaningless pleasures with those who are also finding their feet12 . Kim
invites the reader to comprehend how the 'meaningless fling' becomes an inviting comfort amongst the mass of
significance forced upon these young lives; a coping mechanism. Mental Illness is also seen to be managed by
"just [staying] there because it would be really awkward if [they] came out"13 to a collectivist society that is
collectively selfish (집단 이기주의) over group image and intolerant of any potential damage of that via personal
ailment14. Hence, when Myeongji asks an iPhone application at ease - "Do you want to sleep with me?"15 - She
is exhibiting this very search for intimacy as a cry for comfort in her mourning, made effective throughout by
Kim's use of Pathetic Fallacy, attributing each young persons' human feelings of longing to the inanimate
vessels in their surroundings - whether that be Siri16, a Computer17, or a Piano18, and part of the argument
sensed, that Kim believes KMs need more nurturing and less pressure.

Kim's championing of the KM particularly comes to life in her characters' rejection of the traditional structures
of generations before them.

The characters Kim laces within her stories have all grown tired of appeasing those before them with illogical
traditions, reflected in statistical data on Young Asia.

Japan alongside Korea for example, experienced rapid growth and have become quickly saturated with well-
qualified Youth. However, whilst their predecessors could trumpet such qualification as the skilled force upon
which the nation's economy became leader of consumer goods and services it is today, 19 these well-endowed
New Generations are rendered useless to the established market, controlled by domineering Old-Generation
Chaebol20 (Family-owned Government-boosted Powerhouse Firms like - Samsung), an effect of Joseon-
Dynasty-influenced economic strategy, "suffocating"21 the country's New Generational "attempt to shift gears
and foster a more innovative services-oriented economy powered by small businesses"22; and they have bitten
back.

10
Harvard Graduate School of Education. 'The Talk: How Adults Can Promote Young People’s Healthy Relationships and Prevent
Misogyny and Sexual Harassment' Richard Weissbourd with Trisha Ross Anderson, Alison Cashin, and Joe McIntyre
https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/files/gse-mcc/files/mcc_the_talk_final.pdf
11
'A Dignified Existence' OpCit. pg 38
12
'Where Would You Like To Go?' OpCit. Pg57
13
'The Youngest Parents with the Oldest Child' OpCit. pg41
14
Forefront: Suicide Prevention. 'In Korea, there is no Mental Health: Barriers to Treatment' http://www.intheforefront.org/in-
korea-there-is-no-mental-health-barriers-to-treatment/
15
Where Would You Like To Go?' OpCit. pg 62
16
Ibid.
17
'The Youngest Parents with the Oldest Child' OpCit. Pg35
18
'A Dignified Existence' OpCit. pg24
19
CNBC. 'How South Korea became a Consumer Product Juggernaut' https://www.cnbc.com/id/48041792
20
Youngjin Jung, Seung Wha Chang (2006)'Korea 's Competition Law and Policies in Perspective Symposium on Competition Law and
Policy in Developing Countries' Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business Vol 26 (3)
21
The Globe and Mail. 'South Korea's Chaebol Problem' https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-
business/asian-pacific-business/south-koreas-chaebol-problem/article24116084/
22
Ibid.
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The Young people in Kim's stories have largely given up living predestined lives society would deem
"useful"23. They too, have foreseen their parents' efforts yielding very mediocre rewards in the present world, so
are keen to reject the structures they lived for. Young men shun the "corporate noose"24 as lifetime job security
wanes, and for women, family planning "has become a minefield of unattractive choices"25, as a punishingly
corporate world makes it almost impossible to afford, simultaneously eyeing the unwedded with bureaucratic
disapproval. The Millennials in their passive rebellion against traditionalism have rewarded such societies, in
turn, with a steep population decline26; a punishment for the precarious conditions handed to them, in this 'Hell
Joseon' 헬조선33 where The Youngest Parents simply "didn't have the ability to make a living"34, and Cousins in
the diaspora call to awkwardly inform they "thought maybe you should get out."35

The effectiveness of this translated read are thoughts of whether this is a glimpse of all our futures? As many of
these shifts occur in other nations, also.

Kim channels Millennials today, waking up to the fact that the Seouls/Londons they were brought up to know
only exist in certain places27. With special empathy for those from humbler backgrounds,28 likely due to her
own rural beginnings in Seosan 서산시29; "exhausted"30 and "guided by hearsay"31 to the latest must-have
credentials in the strive for a dignified existence, yet left living in subpar conditions - the Soybean paste life 된장
생활 .32 There is a realisation that extensive Formal Education, and lavish Marriages stemming from Confucian
ideals have only operated to save face; "체면이있지"33, which also neither extensively benefits those who can
afford to chase the learned-life abroad; returning with "entitlement, even vengefulness"34 that their strife ought
to be repaid, which competitive Korea harshly reminds35, will not necessarily the case.

Diminishing the learned distance between the New Generations and Older Inhabitants of Korea.

Linguistically, one finds the translated works of Kim Ae-ran may be more effectively read in Korean, due to the
Youth of the Language, revealed as she delves into New Age complexities with no perfect translation for words
like 'chemistry'36. Kim wants all to heed that Korea is still a young existence, that has thrived on innovation, and
is in effect still learning to develop it's own existence in the world, free from overbearing narratives of tensions

23
'The Youngest Parents with the Oldest Child' OpCit. pg32

24
South China Morning Post. 'Japan's Millennial Men Don't Drink, Don't Drive, Don't Worship Work - What Do They Do?'
http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/2067534/japans-millennial-men-dont-drink-dont-drive-dont-worship-work-what
25
The Guardian. 'Why have Young People in Japan Stopped Having Sex?' https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/20/young-
people-japan-stopped-having-sex
26
Business Insider UK. 'Japan's sex problem could cause the population to fall by 40 million by 2065'
http://uk.businessinsider.com/japan-population-40-million-by-2065-2017-4
27
'A Dignified Existence' OpCit. pg35
28
Ibig. pg36
29
'Literature Translate Institute of Korea Datasheet – 김애란' Archived 21/09/2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 01/10/2013
30
'A Dignified Existence' OpCit. pg26
31
Ibid.
32
한겨레. '된장여인(Soybean Woman) - Jang Jee-yeon, Research Fellow, Korea Labor Institute'
http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/opinion/column/150525.html
33
Wikitree. '"체면이있지", 과도한체면치례는이제그만' http://m.wikitree.co.kr/main/news_view.php?id=51576
34
'Where Would You Like To Go?' OpCit. pg57
35
University World News. 'Graduates Become Janitors In Feircely Tough Job Market'
http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20171103091415189
36
90 Day Korean. 'Korean Slang' https://www.90daykorean.com/korean-slang/
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in the peninsula, and American dominance. Thus, the different ways of the Youth should not be shamed;
everyone is learning.

With a rebutting37 sense of pride in her craft as a Writer, Kim proudly invites us to view 'Youth' as a gift as
opposed to a nuisance; something Older Generations can learn from. Arming her characters with Millennial
abilities; commanding indifference in adverse times38, and overcoming these more easily.

Conversely, it can be argued Kim reels her championing-of-the-Youth message in, by adopting a moderately
balanced delivery, lacing her Youth-centric lessons with a humorous cyclic lesson for the progressives
themselves. The philosophical voice of "profound thought"39 awarded to a child, becomes "overcome for the
first time with the urge to hit someone"40, upon learning of wealth disparity.

Writing not just in angst for the Youth, but with "honorific"41 self-depreciating respect for all potential
audiences?

However, the effectiveness of Kim's stance is arguably maintained by this additional light-hearted self-mockery,
in place of hard-faced dogma, which unfortunately permitted Older Conservatives to attribute negativity to
Youth protests in Korean History; 1980 Democratic Student Protests and Anti-Park Demonstrations - new
causes which "alienated"42. To assure the wisdom of the Youth's message, Kim reminds - the young are just
that; young, still learning about themselves, and as such, what is expected of them should always be 에누리하여
듣다 - taken with a grain of salt43. Kim wants Millennials to understand there are baby steps to mutual
understanding, through concessions on both ends. Thus, the beauty of Kim's work is awarded "the power to
transcend time and space"44, and not be written off as jargon.

Through immersion in the Millennial Experience, Kim channels a lost-in-thought style where shocking
realisations unfold in spaces where circumstances have the potential to be learning curves, permitting important
pensivity to her characters, and thus commencement to the path of resolution.

We see Kim warning almost, of the mutual gains if the plights of the New Generation be listened to, as
otherwise, like the scars Myeongji cannot shake off45, the societal issues Korea is experiencing will continue to

37
The Korea Bizwire. 'Most South Korean Parents Want High Paying Jobs For Their Children' http://koreabizwire.com/most-south-
korean-parents-want-high-paying-jobs-for-their-children/111514
38
Aljazeera. 'North Korea and mounting tensions: The view from Seoul'
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/04/north-korea-mounting-tensions-view-seoul-170413184404145.html
39
Jamie Chang (2012)'Interview with Kim Aeran' Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature & Culture
Vol 5 pp. 79-82 The University of Hawaiʻi Press
40
'A Dignified Existence' OpCit pg25
41
Kyu-taik Sung (2001)'Elder respect: exploration of ideals and forms in East Asia'
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/08904065 Journal of Aging Studies, Vol 15 (1) pg 13-26
42
The New York Times. 'Alone in Dissent in Korea; Although Student Protests Set the Agenda, This Year They Fail To Gain Wide
Backing' http://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/17/world/alone-dissent-korea-although-student-protests-set-agenda-this-year-they-
fail.html
43
Korean Dictionary. https://koreadict.com/en/ko/en/에누리하여+듣다
44
Jamie Chang OpCit.
45
'Where Would You Like To Go?' OpCit. pg66
Drafted 30.12.2017 Josephina Oji
scab, peel, and emerge again, until confronted. After all, these are the ones who will have to carry the torch into
negotiating Korea’s new increasingly complicated future.46

46
The Washington Post. 'The next ‘Korea problem’ may be about the growing identity divide on the peninsula'
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/02/21/the-next-korea-problem-may-be-about-the-growing-
identity-divide-on-the-korean-peninsula/?utm_term=.10093e1a29df
Drafted 30.12.2017 Josephina Oji