[News Terms] The ‘Hexagonal Human’ Summoned by the Ohtani Syndrome

Hexagonal Human. This is an expression that follows the nickname attached to the phenomenon of Shohei Ohtani, the Major League Baseball (MLB) superstar who visited Korea. It means a person who is perfect in every aspect, like a nearly perfect hexagonal shape. This expression originated from the hexagonal radar graph used by companies or sports teams to evaluate the capabilities of employees or players. Also called a spider web graph, this graph shows at a glance how developed each category is, and a perfect hexagon represents a state where all aspects are fully developed.

On the afternoon of the 20th at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, the official opening game of Major League Baseball (MLB) between the LA Dodgers and the San Diego Padres took place. In the top of the 5th inning, with one out and runners on first and second, LA Dodgers' runner Shohei Ohtani is heading toward the dugout.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Like a perfect shape, a hexagonal human means that nothing is lacking in the graph of appearance, personality, education, occupation, assets, and family background. It is also an expression that gained attention when Professor Kim Nando’s team from Seoul National University’s Consumer Studies department selected it as a major trend in ‘Trend Korea 2024.’ The book analyzes that the hexagonal human has become both the vitality and despair of young people living in a society where the ladder of social mobility is shaking, as well as a kind of game. There is also a view that it reflects the desire of the MZ generation to become superior beings amid intense competition.

This is well reflected in the Ohtani syndrome. Fans praise him for having nothing lacking in skills, personality, appearance, diligence, occupation, and assets, as it became known that he had thorough diligence and ability, humility, and wealth, having set life plans and strictly followed them since his first year of high school.

However, the hexagonal human, which evaluates even ‘innate’ qualities that cannot be achieved through effort, such as family background or unaltered appearance, is pointed out as a problem because it can potentially cause lowered self-esteem and social conflicts.

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