Professor Kim Nuri of Chung-Ang University: "Why is Korean society trapped in a massive sense of powerlessness?"

Famous author of 'Uriui Bulhaeng-eun Dangyeonhaji Anseumnida' and JTBC's 'Charinaneun Keullaseu' guest Kim Nuri sharply criticized Korean society, emphasizing at the Seoul Metropolitan Council Democratic Party breakfast study meeting on the 25th that "the powerlessness from the lack of change despite expectations after the end of military dictatorship and regime change reveals structural problems, requiring reflection and responsibility from the ruling Democratic Party."

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] The Democratic Party floor leader group of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (representative councilors Sangho Jo, Seodaemun 4) held a regular policy forum called 'Wednesday Morning. Deoksugung Forum' at 7:30 a.m. on the 25th in the Seoul Metropolitan Council Members' Hall under the theme "Educational Revolution in the Post-Corona Era! From Competitive Education to Solidarity Education."

Professor Nuri Kim of Chung-Ang University, who gave the lecture that day, is the author of the famous book "Our Misfortune Is Not Inevitable" and a well-known figure who sharply criticized Korean society during her appearance on JTBC's "Different Class," becoming a hot topic on various portal sites, communities, and SNS.

Recently, she has been sounding the alarm on educational reform in South Korea through government policy advisory committees, EBS broadcasts, and various special lectures.

Professor Kim said, "Korean society is currently gripped by a 'great helplessness,' which stems from the fact that even though military dictatorship ended and the regime changed, things we expected to naturally change in our society have not changed, leading to a sense of powerlessness. Ultimately, the problem lies in structural issues, and this requires reflection and a sense of responsibility from the ruling Democratic Party."

She also said, "With the changes in daily life brought by COVID-19, the term 'Corona Blue' is often used, but I coined a new term called 'Corona Yellow.'"

She explained that COVID-19 has given our society a very important yellow card, warning that "for me to be healthy, everyone must be healthy, and for me to be happy, everyone must be happy," meaning that no one can be healthy unless all people are healthy.

Professor Kim stated, "The word 'Educate' means to bring out children's individuality and potential, but Korean education is 'cramming education' that stuffs knowledge into children's heads," adding, "Instead of creating a strong self and social self, it emphasizes excessive competition."

She emphasized that it is time to move from materialistic competitive education to solidarity education that pursues anti-materialism and ecology, and that the political sphere should deeply contemplate and reflect on this.

Many Seoul Metropolitan Council members attended this forum, which is a study group for Seoul councilors. The attending councilors said it was a lecture that opened their eyes and ears to the uncomfortable truths of Korean society and the ruling party's sense of responsibility, leading to heated questions and discussions.

Lee Byung-do, the Democratic Party planning deputy representative (Planning and Economy Committee, Eunpyeong 2), who organized this forum, said, "I wanted to reflect on our society and, based on that reflection, think together about the direction our society should move forward. The professor's lecture was an opportunity to look back at our current society and reconsider what we need to do."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.