70,000 Won per Hour 'Utkihagwon' Boom... Japanese MZ "Forgot How to Smile Because of Masks"

Increased Difficulty in Forming Social Relationships After COVID-19
Attending 'Smiling' Classes at 70,000 Won Per Hour

Has the pandemic taken away our smiles? Since COVID-19, the number of people struggling to smile has increased, leading some to attend 'laughing academies,' drawing attention.

According to a recent report by BBC Korea, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in people experiencing difficulties in forming social relationships and engaging in related activities. This is due to reduced communication opportunities caused by measures such as mandatory mask-wearing and the expansion of remote work.

In March, Japan lifted the mandatory mask-wearing rule after three years of COVID-19. However, on social networking services (SNS), reactions such as "I don't know how to smile" and "I forgot how to laugh" continued. According to a survey by the Japanese consulting firm Rybo in the same month, over 94% of 561 office workers aged 20 to 50 responded that they would continue wearing masks even after the mandate was lifted.

Keiko Kawano, CEO of 'Egaoiku,' teaches how to smile. The tuition fee is about 7,700 yen (approximately 70,000 KRW) per hour, and the number of students has reportedly increased more than fourfold compared to last year. She told The New York Times (NYT), "Because masks covered our faces, we rarely used our facial muscles or smiled," adding, "Everyone is at a loss."

Especially among young people, there is an urgent need to learn how to smile naturally before job interviews. Himawari Yoshida (20), a student at Tokyo University of the Arts, recently revealed that she attends a 'laughing academy.' At this academy, students learn how to naturally raise the corners of their mouths and smile while looking in a mirror. Himawari said, "I needed a natural smile for future employment," and added, "During the COVID-19 period, I didn't use my facial muscles much, so this has been good practice."

The difficulty in smiling spreads to difficulties in building relationships. Janice McCabe, an assistant professor at Dartmouth College in the United States, told BBC, "Young people are at a stage where they need to broaden their social horizons through new encounters," and explained, "Experiences during this time have lifelong effects, but human relationships overall weakened during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Young people returning to offices also need practice in relationships. Canadian psychologist Miriam Kermayer emphasized, "They are not experiencing the usual ways of making friends with colleagues at workplaces where they know no one."

BBC reported, "Due to COVID-19, the MZ generation is facing a very unique situation," explaining, "They are experiencing isolation and disconnection due to remote work and remote learning."

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