[Beijing Diary] When Economy and Consciousness Grow at the Same Pace

Having spent one year and six months in China, there are still many things here that surprise me. From what is probably the most convenient and fastest payment system in the world, to the globally dominant social networking service (SNS) platforms and content, and the rapid development of high-speed rail technology connecting various parts of the continent, it can be dizzying for a foreigner. Even during the past three years since 2020, when foreigners were unable to enter due to the zero-COVID policy and fear of infection, China has continued to advance technology in many fields without pause.

However, China remains equally astonishing in the opposite sense. This is especially true when one experiences the fact that there is generally no social consensus on what constitutes 'inconsiderate behavior.'

One of the most puzzling issues is the awareness of 'noise.' Setting aside the noise from firecrackers and fireworks that go off past midnight during the Spring Festival period (which is tied to a long history of culture and customs), it is hard to get used to many people enjoying content on their phones in public places without earphones. This applies to people of all ages and genders. On a recent high-speed train ride from Beijing to Qingdao, the passenger sitting right next to me was watching shorts at nearly maximum volume, forcing me to listen along for over three hours.

Whenever the volume suddenly increased as the video changed, other passengers also turned to look and tried to locate the source of the noise, but no one stopped or complained to him. It is undoubtedly far from the international manners that discourage such behavior in public places. Even the crew member responsible for management passed by indifferently. With TikTok (Douyin) reportedly having 1 billion monthly active users (MAU), as the home country of the world's most downloaded short-form app, perhaps it is time to launch a related manners campaign.

Another earnest wish is for etiquette regarding the disposal of pet waste. The apartment complex where I live in Wangjing, Chaoyang District, Beijing, is quite large and has a park in the center where many residents walk their dogs. Some dog owners clean up after their pets, but quite a few leave fresh dog droppings right in the middle of the walking paths and walk away without a care. It is common to see dozens of footprints following these spots, but unlike in Korea, I have never witnessed dog owners being confronted on the spot about this issue. As of last year, the number of pet dogs in China was 51.75 million. It is definitely time to start a serious discussion on etiquette.

Lastly, smoking. Indoor smoking is still allowed in many restaurants in China. This applies equally in cities and rural areas. Even with many children around, and 'No Smoking' signs on the walls, smokers do not care. This happens on high-speed rail platforms, in taxis, hotel elevators, and even in parks or famous tourist sites where there is a fire hazard. Non-smokers are also tolerant of this issue, and managers show no will to intervene.

It is scientifically proven common knowledge that secondhand smoke is harmful to health, yet binding regulations on this matter have somehow been delayed. Presumably, the idea that 'smoking is a personal freedom' is still the prevailing consensus here. About ten years ago, the Chinese government strongly promoted anti-smoking policies and banned indoor smoking, but ultimately, that attempt failed.

There are many talks that China's economic growth rate this year will not reach 5%, but China has undoubtedly achieved remarkable economic growth. The per capita gross domestic product (GDP), which was $1,150 (about 1.53 million KRW) in 2002, rose to $12,740 in 2022. According to Credit Suisse (CS), as of last year, the number of millionaires in China reached 6.231 million, nearly five times that of South Korea (1.254 million), ranking second in the world (first is the United States with 22.71 million). China must ensure that social maturity and etiquette keep pace with economic growth through social consensus and discussions on etiquette.

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