Hell Chosun 101 (Help!! Korea is Burning!!!)

Hi! It’s Schyzcism!!
This is my first post and I would like to talk about Korea , my country.
Especially, the current issues of Korea and what Koreans think about the world and more!

The First issue I would like to talk about is “Hell Chosun.”
This issue fired up in Korea from an illustration by a political illustrator as shown bellow.

         (Original Art Work of Soon-Chan Park in Jangdori)

• Definition

The word “Hell Chosun” is a compound word between Hell and Chosun.
The former part of the phrase is obvious, literally meaning the schorching underworld.
The later word Chosun is the name of the last dynasty of Korea.
The literal meaning of “Chosun(朝鮮)” is unclear, as was adopted from an ancient Korean kingdom.
It is thought to be a Chinese form of a Korean word, since Korea did not have a writing system back then.
We do learn at school Korea is called “the country of the morning.”
This does relate to the meanng of the Chinese characters, but no clear source directly supports this.
Anyhow, the two words together mean that “Korea is Hell” itself.
In addition, this phrase gives off a pre-modern sentiment as the historic name is used instead of the modern one.
Combined, “Hell Chosun” symbolizes the pre-modern, caste based hell, where their own people struggle to escape.

• Significance

The word “Hell Chosun” itself may not seem particularly special or significant.
People of one country can always be sarcastic or cynical about their own country.
However, I think the significance is that this word was introduced and was widely accepted, especially young people.
The significance rises when we consider that this words advent was when Korea seemed to be at its height.
It’s first use was seen in 2010 and it became widely popular by 2014 and 2015.
This is when Korea experienced so much growth in all fields, even after the global economic crisis in 2008.
Korea joined the G20, K-pop became a world wide phenomenon, and Korean technology was booming.

Yet, despite all these glories earned by the country, the people (young adults, students, etc..) were loosing.
Suicide rates were one of the highest in the world and student suicide rates was and still is the top...
Unemployment rate is increasing, work load is world record breaking high, minimum wage kept low, tuitions rising, housing price is inflated more than ever, marriage partners harder to find, and expensive to rear children.
All the while competition is growing and student/parents will literally kill to get into prestigious universities, high schools and even preschools. . .

Koreans could see that now the country’s glory was their own glory no more.
Growth of conglomerates did not connect to growth of the people.
Growth of the Korean economy did not bring well-being to the general public.
And all of these made people go back to the middle ages, where the hierarchic system was strict and social movement was rigid.
Money became the new hierarchy.
Not only did the rich become able to live lavishing lives, they were unstoppable.
This was Hell on earth for Koreans.

• Opinions

Money was followed by political and social power.
Symbolized by a young airliner’s heiress being able to ground a plane ready for take-off, over a serving of nuts.
After the incident she was sent to court but was offered probation and reclaimed her place right away.
To everybody it was a shock and betrayal by the country, where even the judicial branch could not bring about justice to the society.
For me it was particularly shocking, as a student preparing to go out to the society, how ugly the system was.
We, commoners, were required to be clear of any and all criminal records, have a sane mind, a healthy body, fit and clean appearance (not too fat not too skinny and good looking), prestige skills in writing/math/speaking/negotiation, high performance in school, a glowing resume, and are even rounded up for “morality tests” just to land the “unexperienced” newbie seat.
This is while, the heirs of these same companies are hired and promoted in light speed to CEOs in a matter of a couple years, even holding several criminal records, psychological issues, health issues, and even qualification issues.