[A Sip of Books] Dating Expenses... "Is It Fair to Pay the Same When You Ate Less?"

Some sentences encapsulate the essence of an entire book, while others instantly resonate with readers and create a point of connection with the text. Here, we present meaningful excerpts from books. - Editor's Note

People are focusing on financial technology and going all-in on “scoring great deals,” purchasing meal kits they see on social media simply because they look appealing. They find it bothersome to visit shopping malls, yet they make sure to consume health foods like wild ginseng and figs. They have no interest in news filled with stories about presidential candidates, turning away because they feel those stories are irrelevant to them. This introduces the trends of 2022.

"Perhaps because tigers are animals closely connected to our people, there are many proverbs and sayings involving tigers. Among them, my personal favorite is the phrase, 'Eungnipyeosu Hohaengsabyeong (鷹立如睡 虎行似病).' It means, 'The hawk sits as if dozing, and the tiger walks as if sick,' implying that these animals conserve their strength in daily life so that their prey will let down their guard.

Of course, when the opportunity arises, they swiftly transform and snatch their prey. The word 'transformation' (pyo-byeon), which means a sudden change, also relates to tigers. As winter approaches, tigers and leopards diligently shed their fur. After shedding their old fur, they look so different that you have to look closely to recognize them as the same tiger. Even if 2022 moves slowly, as if sick, due to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I hope that when the right moment comes, we can seize opportunities as quickly as a tiger. To do that, we must be willing to transform fearlessly, just as a tiger sheds its fur."

"'When I eat one, my boyfriend eats two or three... When we first started dating, I thought splitting things evenly was best, but now I'm wondering if we even needed a joint dating account.'

This is a post from an online community. A dating account refers to a joint bank account created by couples to fairly share dating expenses, but there has been debate over whether this practice is truly fair. For the older generation, who often believe 'the man pays for dates,' the very concept of a dating account is unfamiliar, and the debate over 'Is it fair to pay the same when you ate less?' is even more surprising. This is a clear example of how sensitive today’s younger generation is to fairness."

"The market should pay close attention to the 'early care syndrome' among young people who excel at prevention. 'Early care syndrome' is a newly coined term describing the rapid increase in people in their 20s and 30s proactively preventing various health issues that were traditionally concerns for older adults. A prime example is hair loss management. Hair loss, once a real concern mainly for those in their 40s and above, is now seen by the younger generation as something that must be managed in advance. In fact, the consumer base for hair loss shampoos, once centered on people in their 40s and 50s, has expanded to those in their 20s and 30s. According to CJ Olive Young, sales of hair loss-related products have surged by 40% each year, with women in their 20s making up the largest group of customers. Meanwhile, over the past five years, the rate of increase in patients visiting hospitals for hypertension is also highest among people in their 20s. In this way, today’s younger generation is actively striving to prevent illnesses common among older adults by visiting hospitals in advance and taking proactive measures."

(Kim Nando et al. / Miraeui Chang)

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