"Showed Korea's Bare Face"... Reviews Poured in for 'The Most Melancholic Country Travelogue'

Depression and Severe Stress in Korea Spotlighted
Global Netizens Engage in Heated Debate Over Empathy and Criticism

Famous American author Mark Manson [Photo by YouTube Capture]

"I am amazed at how accurately a foreigner has described Korean society."

"I spent my childhood in Korea. (Manson) described it as ‘the worst combination of Confucianism and capitalism,’ which is an accurate assessment of contemporary Korean society."

"I was thinking about leaving this country, but now I want to stay where I was born, laughed, and cried. I believe we will overcome this issue."

The travel video of American author Mark Manson, who gained popularity with his book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, has sparked debate. In his video titled "The Most Depressed Country in the World," Manson diagnosed Korea as "a country that combines only the worst aspects of Confucianism and capitalism." On the YouTube comment section where the video was posted, some expressed sympathy with Manson, while others criticized it as a superficial analysis stemming from stereotypes about Asian culture. The gloomy realities underlying Korea’s success in economic development despite the tragedies of colonial rule, division, and war have drawn global attention.

A 30-year-old Korean resident of Seoul, identified as A, said, "I lived in New Zealand and Australia during my childhood and then came to Korea for high school. The pressure high school students face is enormous and insane. Many students who take the college entrance exam probably carry traumatic memories," recalling, "Even now in my 30s, I vividly dream about the day I failed an exam."

B, a Brazilian, said, "My wife is Korean, and we decided to raise our children here. This country suffers from extremely high rent and a demanding work culture, and the total fertility rate is 0.7, the lowest in the world. There is no place for children to run and play until their teens, and above the gym I attend, there are only cram schools with lights on late into the night," he shared.

C, a Korean in his 20s, said, "I acknowledge all the mentioned problems, but many people, including myself, still think nothing will change anyway," adding, "The population is declining, and the younger generation feels a sense of loss." However, he also said, "We seem to have lost representation in this country’s political system. But watching your video made me realize that I still hold hope that the situation can improve."

Daechi-dong Academy District Photo by Yonhap News

D, a 60-year-old Korean, said, "One of the biggest problems in the Korean education system is the extreme pressure placed on students," explaining, "From ages 5 or 6 to 19, the focus is solely on entering one of the top universities (SKY). During this time, almost everyone tells these kids that if they get into a good university, they will have good money, a good job, and even success in relationships, guaranteeing a prosperous and happy life." However, he said the reality is very different.

D continued, "I believe this trend will continue for at least another 10 to 15 years until the older generation retires. While Korea is in a transitional period, I fear things may get worse before they get better." He added, "Instead of everyone trying to be a special ‘someone,’ we need to understand that it’s okay to fail, it’s okay to be ordinary, and simply being ordinary is fine," emphasizing, "Young people must be freed from the constant pressure and unrealistic expectations imposed by parents, society, and the media."

E, who recently returned to the European Union (EU) after living and working in Korea, said, "It was a good experience, but it made me more grateful for the things taken for granted in the EU and the amazing quality of life there," adding, "That doesn’t mean I dislike Korea or Koreans. On the contrary."

Manson also argued that Korea’s ‘mental health crisis’ stems from a harsh competitive culture. He cited the game StarCraft as an example. Manson said, "About a dozen professional esports players live together, pushing themselves to the limit and encouraging each other?that’s Korea’s way of success," adding, "This method has been replicated across various industries such as K-pop, sports, and chaebol companies." He diagnosed that the culture of harsh competition and enforced performance has spread throughout society, sharply increasing stress levels. He explained, "Companies also introduced strong social pressure and competition to extract as much as possible from employees. This formula is effective but simultaneously causes ‘psychological burnout.’"

A foreigner living in Korea commented, "Your conclusion was accurate. After living here for almost 20 years, I feel the same. Resilience. Koreans find a way," adding, "Society is always changing, and attitudes toward mental health are changing too, especially among the younger generation."

There were also posts opposing Manson’s analysis. A netizen who posted about the video on social media platform X pointed out, "When Japan ended its high-speed growth and bubble economy and entered a stagnation period, similar analyses from the West flooded in. Now, that perspective has just shifted to Korea." Another netizen said, "When I studied in the UK, I often saw students suffering from intense competition and depression due to university entrance exams. This doesn’t only happen in Korea," criticizing, "It seems like Korea’s shortcomings are being exaggerated simply because of the stereotype of ‘Asia.’"

At the end of the video, Manson expressed hope that Korean society can solve its problems. He said, "Koreans have a rare resilience in the world. No matter what difficulties and challenges they face, they always find a way," encouraging, "This is Korea’s strength, and Koreans facing new existential challenges will find another way." As of the 30th, the video had recorded 720,000 views.

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