Current location:Earthly Echo news portal > travel
VOX POPULI: ‘Faitin’ spirit belies the social stress on young South Koreans
Earthly Echo news portal2024-05-08 05:34:14【travel】2People have gathered around
IntroductionSouth Koreans often say “faitin.”A corruption of the English “fighting” that means “keep it up” or “
South Koreans often say “faitin.”
A corruption of the English “fighting” that means “keep it up” or “we can do it,” the word is uttered forcefully with a bent elbow and clenched fist, be it at home, work or school.
Curious about it, I asked Lee Sanghun, the Tokyo bureau chief of the Dong-a Ilbo, who seemed a bit surprised by my abrupt question.
Lee said, “True, we say it a lot but I’ve never really thought about it.”
According to a colleague of mine who is an expert on South Korea, the expression became noticeably widespread in the late 2000s.
Initially a cheer at athletic events, like the Japanese “faito” (fight), its usage gradually expanded. For instance, an unmotivated worker might be admonished by a superior, “You have no faitin.”
The transition may have had something to do with South Korea’s ruthlessly competitive society.
The tendency to overemphasize a person's educational background is said to be even stronger there than in Japan.
Being under constant pressure to go to a better school, work for a better company and so on, everyone tries--or perhaps is forced to try--to be at their best.
It is also said that social disparities in South Korea are becoming more serious. Young people have apparently become disillusioned with old-style politicians who hold onto their vested interests.
The situation must also discourage people from having children, and the birthrate stands at 0.72, which puts the nation in the ultra-low birthrate category.
Japan is certainly in the same boat.
General elections are being held today in South Korea. During the election campaign, choruses of “faitin” were heard everywhere.
I wonder how voters in our neighbor nation will decide. I will watch very closely.
--The Asahi Shimbun, April 10
* *
*Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Address of this article:http://cyprus.pensaotermas.com/news-96b199895.html
Very good!(1375)
Related articles
- Mother throws her disabled six
- Hundreds of lizards seized in Australia police bust
- Security law: Hong Kong's artists resist censorship, continue sharing dissident art online
- Greens in 'defensive mode' over Golriz Ghahraman allegations
- Ancelotti keeps Lunin in goal for Madrid in 2nd leg of Champions League semifinal against Bayern
- NZDF mission in Red Sea has 'shades of Iraq'
- US, Canada, Indigenous Groups Have Proposal to Address Cross
- Six months into Gaza war, Israel faces deepening isolation
- North Macedonia elections: What is at stake? Who are contesting? All you need to know
- Belgium probes Russian interference in EU elections
Popular articles
Recommended
Apple's biggest announcements from its iPad event: new sizes, faster chips
Immigration solutions unclear, consultation needed
Let's Get Wellington Moving project 'a bit of a disaster'
No compensation for man imprisoned longer than sentence
Ariana Grande shakes up the 2024 Met Gala with a surprise performance of her biggest hits
Former army officer jailed after raping Wellington sex worker
Coronavirus: China to temporarily ban foreign nationals from entering in bid to reduce COVID
Coronavirus update: Italy to get aid from Germany, Spain's death rate passes China's
Links
- Chinese FM meets Russian ambassador to China
- China calls for intensified diplomatic efforts to end Ukraine crisis
- 5G covers all prefecture
- World Insights: NATO's meddling in Asia
- 5G covers all prefecture
- China's home
- Feature: Race against time to find survivors at epicenter of Türkiye's massive earthquakes
- Asian economy expected to increase 4.5 percent in 2024: report
- Juvenile murder case in North China shines spotlight on school bullying
- European stocks drop as ECB hikes rates