Seven challenges for South Korea's social, economic survival 한국의 7가지 도전과제

[김우정]

코리아 헤럴드 창간 70주년 특집기사로 현재 우리의 7가지 도전과제에 대한 기사입니다.
7가지 과제는 기후위기, 낮은 출산율, 교육의 우수성퇴조, 경제성장동력상실,
한류붕괴방지를 위한 다양성수용, 생산적인 정치만들기, 행복이라는 높은 질서 등 입니다.
내용이 길어서 과제별로 보시면 좋겠습니다.
 
Seven challenges for South Korea's social, economic survival
한국의 사회적, 경제적 존립을 위한 7가지 도전

By Son Ji-hyoung, Shim Woo-hyun, Park Jun-hee, Jo He-rim, Park Ga-young, Kim So-hyun
손지형, 심우현, 박준희, 조혜림, 박가영, 김소현 기자
Published : Aug 13, 2023 - 15:40       Updated : Aug 13, 2023 - 18:44
 
Moving forward from South Korea's dynamic seven decades, The Korea Herald identifies the seven most crucial challenges the nation must overcome for a sustainable and prosperous future. – Ed.
코리아 헤럴드는 한국의 역동적인 70년을 넘어 지속 가능하고 번영하는 미래를 위해 한국이 극복해야 할 7가지 가장 중요한 도전 과제를 규명하려고 한다. - 편집자 
Korea Herald

(123rf)
 
Climate crisis becomes irreversible reality
기후위기는 돌이킬 수 없는 현실이 되어가고 있다

Climate change has long been considered a future disaster rather than a present threat by many Koreans. However, it has now become a largely irreversible reality, manifesting as a series of extreme weather events that significantly affect people's daily lives.
기후변화는 많은 한국인들에 의해 현재의 위협이라기 보다는 미래의 재난으로 오랫동안 여겨져 왔다. 그러나, 그것은 사람들의 일상생활에 중대하게 영향을 미치는 일련의 극단적인 날씨사건들로 나타나면서, 이제 대체로 되돌릴 수 없는 현실이 되었다.

The average rainfall across the country came to about 650 millimeters for this year's monsoon season, a period of about a month ending on July 26, often involving extremely heavy rain recording 50 mm of precipitation per hour. It was the third-largest total volume for an annual monsoon season after 2006 and 2020. The downpours left 50 people dead or missing, and nearly 20,000 people displaced.
7월 26일에 끝나는 약 한달 동안의 기간인 올해 장마철의 평균 강우량은 약 650 밀리미터에 달했으며, 종종 시간당 50 밀리미터의 강수량을 기록하는 극도의 폭우를 수반했다. 그것은 2006년과 2020년에 이어 연간 장마철에 세번째로 큰 강우량이었다. 이 폭우로 인해 50명이 사망하거나 실종되었고, 거의 20,000명의 이재민이 발생했다.

The record monsoon rains immediately gave way to a heat wave that has killed 21 people so far this year as of Aug. 7. The number of deaths believed to be caused by the heat wave approached half that of the record of 44 in 2018.
기록적인 장맛비는 8월 7일 현재 올해 들어 지금까지 21명의 목숨을 앗아간 폭염에 즉시 자리를 내주었다. 폭염으로 인해 발생한 것으로 추정되는 사망자 수는 2018년 기록인 44명의 절반에 육박했다.

The seriousness of such extreme weather events, combined with worsening air quality, highlights the slower-than-expected transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy that remains unresolved thus far in Korea -- which is considered one of the 10 largest carbon-emitting countries in the world.
이러한 기상 이변의 심각성은 악화되는 대기질과 함께, 세계 10대 탄소 배출 국가 중 하나로 여겨지는 한국에서 지금까지 해결되지 않은 채 남아있는 화석연료에서 재생가능 에너지로의 예상보다 느린 전환을 강조하고 있다.

Korea’s greenhouse gas emissions more than doubled from 1990 to 2020. As a result, as of 2021, about 77 percent of Korea's primary energy came from fossil fuels.
한국의 온실가스 배출량은 1990년에서 2020년까지 두배 이상 증가했다. 그 결과, 2021년 현재, 한국의 1차 에너지의 약 77%가 화석 연료에서 발생했다.

With the goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 first introduced in 2020 under the previous Moon Jae-in administration, the nation's climate neutrality target is enshrined in a framework act that came into effect in 2022.
지난 문재인 정부에서 2020년 처음 도입된 2050년까지 탄소중립을 목표로 2022년부터 시행된 기본법에 우리나라 기후중립 목표를 명시하고 있다.

In April, Korea approved the five-year implementation plan to emit a net 436.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and its equivalent in 2030, down 40 percent – in line with its updated Nationally Determined Contribution to the United Nations in December 2021 – compared to 727.6 million tons in 2018.
지난 4월, 한국은 2030년에 순 4억 3660만 톤의 이산화탄소와 그에 상응하는 이산화탄소를 배출하는 5개년 계획을 승인했는데, 이는 2018년 7억 2760만 톤에 비해 2021년 12월에 업데이트된 유엔에 대한 국가 결정 기여와 일치하며 40% 감소한 수치이다.

But Korea's current plan of action to fight climate change is regarded to be "highly insufficient."
그러나 한국의 기후 변화에 대처하기위한 현재의 행동계획은 "매우 부족하다"고 여겨진다.

According to the latest Climate Action Tracker report in July, Korea’s implementation of policies will lead to a yearly emissions level of at least 650 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2030 -- which would be 116 percent above the 1990 level. In absolute terms, excluding reductions from land use, land use change, forestry and international credits, the annual carbon emissions would amount to 501 million tons.
지난 7월에 발표된 기후행동 추적 보고서에 따르면, 한국의 정책 시행으로 2030년에 최소한 6억 5천만 톤의 이산화탄소가 배출될 것이며, 이는 1990년 수준보다 116퍼센트 높은 수치이다. 토지사용, 토지사용변화, 산림 및 국제신용감소를 제외하면, 절대적인 관점에서 보면, 연간 탄소배출량은 5억 1백만 톤에 이를 것이다.

"If all countries were to follow South Korea’s approach, warming could reach over 3 C and up to 4 C," indicated a July report by Climate Action Tracker, a collaborative project of Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute.
"만약 모든 나라들이 한국의 접근법을 따른다면, 온난화는 섭씨 3도 이상에서 섭씨 4도까지 이를 수 있다,"라고 기후분석과 신기후 연구소의 공동 프로젝트인 기후 행동 추적기의 7월 보고서가 지적했다.

What happens if the planet undergoes 3 C of warming, according to a separate projection by Climate Transparency, is that the volume of rainfall in Korea will jump threefold compared to the average between 1986 and 2006, and the number of people annually exposed to heat waves in the country will be 4,913 times higher than the number of people affected between 1986 and 2006.
기후투명성의 별도 예측에 따르면 지구가 3도의 온난화를 겪는다면 어떤 일이 일어날까요? 한국의 강우량은 1986년에서 2006년 사이의 평균에 비해 3배 증가할 것이고, 매년 한국의 폭염에 노출되는 사람들의 수는 1986년에서 2006년 사이의 영향을 받은 사람들의 수보다 4,913배 더 많을 것이다.

In the case of 1.5 C of warming, as optimally suggested under the Paris Agreement, the volume of rainfall will rise 3.6 percent, and about 500 more people than currently will be exposed to heat waves under this latter scenario.
1.5도의 온난화의 경우 파리협정에서 최적으로 제시한 것처럼 강우량이 3.6% 증가할 것이고, 이 후자의 경우에는 현재보다 500명 정도 더 많은 사람들이 폭염에 노출될 것이다.

This result was echoed by the Climate Change Performance Index released in November 2022 jointly by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute and Climate Action Network.
이 결과는 저먼워치, 신기후연구소, 기후행동네트워크가 공동으로 2022년 11월 발표한 기후변화 성과지수에 의해 반영되었다.

Korea's actions to mitigate climate change ranked the country near the bottom -- 60th out of the 63 countries surveyed -- in the latest CCPI report, receiving "very low" ratings in the areas of greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, energy use and climate policy.
한국의 기후 변화 완화 조치는 최근 CCPI 보고서에서 온실 가스 배출, 재생 에너지, 에너지 사용 및 기후 정책 부문에서 "매우 낮은" 등급을 받아 조사 대상 63개국 중 60위로 최하위권에 머물렀다.

The report attributed Korea's poor ratings to its decision to lower its renewable energy target from the previous 30 percent to 21.5 percent by 2030 in its National Electricity Plan earlier this year.
이 보고서는 한국의 저조한 등급은 올해 초 국가 전력 계획에서 재생가능 에너지 목표를 2030년까지 이전의 30 퍼센트에서 21.5 퍼센트로 낮추기로 한 결정 때문이라고 말했다.

It also pointed to serious challenges hindering the necessary expansion of renewable energy in Korea, including the current power market, which is structured to favor fossil fuels over renewable energy.
그것은 또한 재생 에너지보다 화석 연료를 선호하도록 구성된 현재의 전력 시장을 포함하여 한국의 재생 에너지의 필수적인 확장을 방해하는 심각한 도전을 지적했다.

Senior citizens wait in line for free meals at Tapgol Park in central Seoul, Aug. 1. (Yonhap)
8월1일, 노인들이 서울 중심에 있는 탑골공원에서 무료급식을 기다리며 줄을 서 있다. (연합)
 
Coping with the consequences of the world's fertility rate
출산율발표결과에 대한 대처

South Korea is undergoing a major demographic upheaval, fueled by its low fertility rate, ushering in multifaceted changes in society.
한국은 저출산율로 인해 사회의 다각적인 변화를 일으키며 인구학적으로 큰 격변을 겪고 있다.

Schools are closing due to low enrollment. Troop numbers have been cut down as the number of men eligible for conscription falls. Companies are also concerned about labor shortages that will likely get worse down the road.
학교들은 낮은 등록률로 인해 문을 닫고 있다. 징집자격이 있는 남성의 수가 감소함에 따라 병력 수가 감소하고 있다. 기업들은 또한 앞으로 더 악화될 가능성이 있는 노동력부족에 대해 우려하고 있다.
In 2021, South Korea experienced the first on-year decline in the country’s total population, to 51.73 million, since the country started to collect related data in 1949. The population dropped again in 2022 to 51.69 million, according to data released by Statistics Korea at the end of July.
한국은 1949년 관련 데이터를 수집하기 시작한 이후 2021년에 총 인구가 5,173만 명으로 전년 대비 처음으로 감소했다. 7월말 통계청이 발표한 자료에 따르면, 인구는 2022년에 다시 감소하여 5,169만명이 되었다.

The decrease is largely due to the country’s dropping fertility rate, which hit 0.78 children born per woman over her lifetime in 2022, the lowest level since records were first kept in 1970.
이러한 감소는 주로 2022년 여성 1인당 출생아 수가 0.78명으로 1970년 기록이 처음 보관된 이후 가장 낮은 수준을 기록한 국가의 출산율 하락 때문이다.
At the current rate, the country’s total population will fall into the 40 million range in 2041 and plunge to some 38 million by 2070, the agency said.
현재의 속도라면, 국가의 총 인구는 2041년에 4천만 명대로 떨어지고 2070년에는 약 3천 8백만 명으로 급감할 것이라고 기관은 말했다.

Experts pointed out that increases in housing prices, the cost of raising a child, living costs and changing attitudes toward marriage have propelled the downward trend in the country's population.
전문가들은 집값상승, 자녀양육비, 생활비, 결혼에 대한 태도변화 등이 한국인구의 하락추세를 견인했다고 지적했다.

"Korea's response to the dropping fertility rate was belated," said Ha Joon-Kyung, a professor of economics at Hanyang University. "The country's fertility rate dropped below 2.0 (the fertility rate needed to ensure a broadly stable population) first during the 1980s, but the country did not take preemptive measures until the 2000s, allowing the rate to go down at a rapid pace,"
하준경 한양대 경제학부 교수는 "출산율 하락에 대한 한국의 대응은 뒤늦었다"며 "1980년대에 우리나라 출산율이 먼저 2.0명(대체로 안정된 인구를 확보하는 데 필요한 출산율) 아래로 떨어졌지만 2000년대까지 선제적 조치를 취하지 않아 빠른 속도로 출산율이 내려갈 수 있었다,"고 설명했다.
        
Of many different sectors, South Korea's decreasing fertility rate and the number of newborns has hit the country’s education sector first, forcing schools and kindergartens to shut down.    
여러 분야 중, 한국의 출산율 감소와 신생아 수 감소는 한국의 교육 부문을 먼저 강타했고, 학교와 유치원은 문을 닫아야 했다.
 
Thirteen kindergartens have closed their operation this year. One elementary school has also closed, and three high schools will close next year, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.
올해 13개 유치원이 문을 닫았다. 서울시교육청에 따르면 초등학교 1곳도 문을 닫았고, 고등학교 3곳도 내년에 문을 닫을 예정이다.

The declining youth population has forced the country to lower its troop numbers, which could jeopardize its military capabilities against North Korea, the world's fourth-largest military with over 1 million active personnel.
청소년 인구의 감소는 그 나라가 군대의 숫자를 낮추도록 강요했고, 이것은 100만 명이 넘는 현역 군인을 보유한 세계에서 4번째로 큰 군대인 북한에 대항하는 군사 능력을 위태롭게 할 수 있다.
 
In 2019, the government announced that it would adjust the number of troops to 500,000 by 2020, but recently removed the target in consideration of the declining young male population.
2019년 정부는 2020년까지 병력을 50만 명으로 조정하겠다고 발표했지만 최근 젊은 남성인구 감소를 고려해 목표를 없앴다.

“To maintain the country’s troop numbers at 500,000, the government has to recruit 220,000 new soldiers (every year), but the population of males aged 20 is expected to go below 220,000 in 2036 and 120,000 by 2042,” South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said at the National Assembly in June.
"국가의 군대 수를 50만 명으로 유지하기 위해서, 정부는 (매년) 22만 명의 새로운 군인을 모집해야 하지만, 20세의 남성 인구는 2036년에 22만 명을 밑돌 것이고, 2042년에는 12만 명을 밑돌 것으로 예상된다,"라고 이종섭 국방부장관은 6월 국회에서 말했다.

Together with the low fertility rate, the country’s increasing aging population is anticipated to spark labor shortages in the near future.
낮은 출산율과 함께, 증가하는 한국의 고령화 인구는 가까운 미래에 노동력 부족을 촉발할 것으로 예상된다.

According to Statistics Korea, the working-age population -- those aged between 15 and 64 -  has dropped by 883,000 from five years ago. In 2022 alone, the country’s working-age population saw an on-year decrease of 258,000.
통계청에 따르면 생산가능인구, 즉 15세에서 64세 사이의 생산가능인구는 5년 전보다 88만 3천 명이 줄었다. 2022년에만 한국의 생산가능인구는 전년 대비 25만 8천 명이 줄었다.
 
On the other hand, the number of people aged 65 and over increased by 440,000 in 2022 to reach 9 million, or 17.5 percent of the total population.
반면, 65세 이상 인구는 2022년 44만 명 증가해 전체 인구의 17.5%인 9백만 명에 달했다.

Professor Ha warned that the declining working-age population and climbing aging population has started to impact the country's economy. "From a long-term perspective, South Korea should try to recover its fertility rate, while providing jobs for senior citizens."
하 교수는 생산가능인구의 감소와 고령화의 증가가 한국 경제에 영향을 미치기 시작했다고 경고했다. "장기적인 관점에서, 한국은 노인들에게 일자리를 제공하면서 출산율을 회복하도록 노력해야 한다."

As labor shortages are expected to deepen in the future, the government too is speeding up its process to establish an immigration agency.
앞으로 인력난이 심화될 것으로 예상됨에 따라 정부도 이민청 설립에 속도를 내고 있다.

“To counter labor shortages, which the country will start to face in 2030, South Korea needs to speed up and establish an immigration agency that can take charge of bringing foreign talents needed in different industries,” said Cho Young-tae, a demography professor at Seoul National University, during a lecture organized by the Justice Ministry in July.
"2030년에 한국이 직면하기 시작할 노동력부족에 대응하기 위해, 한국은 속도를 높이고 다양한 산업에서 필요한 외국인재들을 데려오는 것을 담당할 수 있는 이민기관을 설립할 필요가 있다," 라고 7월 법무부가 주관한 강연에서 조영태 서울대학교 인구통계학과 교수가 말했다.
 
Fading brilliance of Korean education
한국교육의 우수성 퇴조

The driving force that propelled war-ravaged South Korea into an economic and industrial powerhouse has been a skilled, educated workforce that made up for the nation’s lack of natural resources.
전쟁으로 황폐해진 한국을 경제와 산업 강국으로 이끈 원동력은 천연자원의 부족을 메워준 숙련되고 교육받은 노동력이었다.

Korea’s success story, however, has lost some of its steam as its public education system falters.
그러나 한국의 성공 이야기는 공교육 체계가 흔들리면서 힘을 잃었다.

The system, which supports 12-year school courses, has turned into a racing track of getting children to enter prestigious colleges and get high-paid jobs. Critics have warned that its essential function of providing education, knowledge and the necessary skills to become responsible citizens and social workers have been disappearing, not to mention the opportunity to nurture creative minds to navigate an uncertain future.
12년제 학교 과정을 지원하는 이 제도는 아이들이 명문대학에 입학하고 높은 임금을 받는 직업을 얻도록 하는 경주용트랙으로 변했다. 비평가들은 불확실한 미래를 헤쳐 나갈 창의적인 사고를 기르는 기회는 말할 것도 없고, 교육, 지식, 그리고 책임감 있는 시민과 사회적 직업인이 되기 위해 필요한 기술을 제공하는 그것의 본질적인 기능이 사라지고 있다고 경고했다. 

For some, the country’s cutthroat education landscape has driven them to take their talents overseas. According to data provided by the Education Ministry, 194,916 high school students were enrolled in overseas schools in 2020, 156,520 in 2021 and 124,320 in 2022 -- mostly in the US and Canada.
어떤 이들에게는, 그 나라의 치열한 교육환경이 그들의 재능을 해외로 가져가게 만들었다. 교육부가 제공한 자료에 따르면, 고등학생 194,916명이 2020년에 해외학교에 등록했고, 2021년에 156,520명, 그리고 2022년에 124,320명이 주로 미국과 캐나다에서 등록했다.

Another troubling trend is parents and students’ skewed preferences for the medical profession, seeing it as a “golden ticket” to a lifetime job tenure and high income, which is how society defines one’s achievement and success, according to critics.
또 다른 걱정스러운 경향은 부모와 학생들이 의료계에 대한 왜곡된 선호인데, 이것은 비평가들에 따르면 사회가 한 사람의 성취와 성공을 정의하는 방식인 평생의 직업 유지와 높은 수입에 대한 "황금 티켓"으로 간주하는 것이다.

In some cases, the preparation for getting into med school starts as early as elementary school. A survey earlier this year showed 1 in 5 elementary and middle school students have expressed a desire to attend medical school. The trend has fanned concerns of a black hole of talent and a shortage of skills in other fields, such as science and engineering.
어떤 경우, 의대에 입학하기 위한 준비는 초등학교 때보다 일찍 시작한다. 올해초 한 조사는 초등학생과 중학생 5명 중 1명이 의대에 가고 싶다는 희망을 표현했다는 것을 보여주었다. 그 추세는 재능의 블랙홀과 과학과 공학과 같은 다른 분야의 기술 부족에 대한 염려를 부채질했다.

Observers say the med school dream is likely to persist unless the government increases the enrollment quota at medical schools. The quota, which has been unchanged at 3,058 students per year since 2006, has prompted fierce competition.
관측통들은 정부가 의대 입학 원을 늘리지 않는 한 의대의 꿈은 지속될 가능성이 높다고 말한다. 2006년 이후 연간 3,058명으로 변함이 없는 정원은 치열한 경쟁을 촉발했다.

Some students who were accepted into the semiconductor department at prestigious universities this year have even rejected the offers, with industry analysts saying they likely chose to go to med school instead, reports said.
올해 명문대 반도체학과에 합격한 일부 학생들이 이 제안을 거절하기도 했는데, 업계분석가들은 그들이 대신 의대를 선택한 것 같다고 말했다.

Students shun the offers despite a guaranteed job at conglomerates after they graduate with a major in semiconductors. Yonsei University and Korea University -- the nation’s top schools - have teamed up with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to nurture future talent in system chips under the condition that the company will hire all students after graduation.
올해 명문대 반도체학과에 합격한 일부 학생들이 이 제안을 거절하기도 했는데, 업계 분석가들은 그들이 대신 의대를 선택한 것 같다고 말했다. 반도체 전공으로 졸업하면 대기업 취업이 보장되는데도 학생들은 기피한다. 국내 최고 명문인 연세대와 고려대는 삼성전자, SK하이닉스와 손잡고 졸업 후 전원을 채용하는 조건으로 시스템칩 분야 미래 인재를 육성하고 있다.

Data also showed many students took entrance exams multiple times until they got into med schools.
데이터는 또한 많은 학생들이 의대에 들어가기 전까지 여러 번 입시를 치렀음을 보여주었다.

Education Minister Lee Ju-ho, however, believes the medical school craze has “reached its peak,” leaving no room for further expansion, Lee said during an interview with The Korea Herald in June. He added that focusing on each student and fostering talents will become easier with a decline in population.
그러나 이주호 교육부 장관은 의대 열풍이 더 이상 확대될 여지를 남기지 않으면서 "극점에 도달했다"고 믿고 있다고 6월 코리아 헤럴드와의 인터뷰에서 말했다. 그는 인구감소와 함께 각 학생에게 집중하고 인재를 양성하는 것이 더 쉬워질 것이라고 덧붙였다.

To unlock a new pool of young talent and help them spread their wings, Park Nam-gi, a professor at Gwangju National University of Education, advises creating incentives for students to pursue different paths and provide more job opportunities at younger ages so they could grow into workers that contribute to the community.
광주교대 박남기 교수는 젊은 인재의 새로운 풀을 열고 그들이 날개를 펼칠 수 있도록 지원하기 위해 학생들이 지역사회에 기여하는 근로자로 성장할 수 있도록 다양한 길을 추구하고 젊은 나이에 더 많은 취업 기회를 제공할 수 있는 인센티브를 만들 것을 조언한다.

“Schools should help students discover the characteristics of different careers through field trips and meeting professionals that could give them practical experience and the choice to do what they want in the future,” he said, adding that parents should be more open-minded when it comes to their children’s future careers.
"학교는 학생들에게 실제적인 경험과 미래에 그들이 원하는 것을 할 수 있는 선택권을 줄 수 있는 현장학습과 전문가들을 만나는 것을 통해 학생들이 다양한 직업의 특징을 발견할 수 있도록 도와야 한다,"라고 그는 말했고, 부모들은 아이들의 미래 직업에 관한 한 더 열린 마음을 가져야 한다고 덧붙였다.

Park noted that creativity comes with smartness, adding that teachers should continue providing activities that fit students’ abilities and ages while helping them explore new ideas and encourage curiosity.
박교수는 창의성은 스마트함과 함께 따라오며, 교사들은 학생들이 새로운 아이디어를 탐구하고 호기심을 북돋을 수 있도록 돕는 동시에 학생들의 능력과 나이에 맞는 활동을 계속 제공해야 한다고 덧붙였다.

(Source: The bank of Korea)
 
Economic growth losing steam
경제 성장 동력 상실

Over the past seven decades, South Korea has transformed itself from being one of the poorest countries into a high-income nation -- probably one of the fastest countries to achieve the status.
지난 70년 동안, 한국은 최빈국에서 고소득 국가로 탈바꿈했다. 아마도 이 지위를 가장 빨리 달성한 국가 중 하나일 것이다.
 
Standing as an advanced economy, categorized by the UN Conference on Trade and Development for first time in 2021, Korea has been an illustrative example that sustained robust economic growth to escape the so-called "middle-income trap" in its growth.
2021년 유엔무역개발회의가 처음으로 선정한 선진 경제국가로 우뚝 선 한국은 이른바 성장의 '중진국 함정'에서 벗어나기 위해 견조한 경제성장을 지속한 사례이다.

But now, the world’s 13th- and Asia’s fourth-largest economy is facing hurdles to advance further, with the latest economic figures signaling the country may be falling into a long-term stagnation in growth.
그러나 현재 세계 13위, 아시아 4위의 경제 대국은 더 이상 발전할 수 없는 장애물에 직면해 있으며, 최근 경제 수치는 이 나라가 장기적인 성장 정체에 빠져 있을 수 있음을 시사하고 있다.

In 2022, Korea witnessed the third-largest decline in its gross domestic product per capita of 8.2 percent when compared to the year earlier, posting $32,142. The decline was the largest after Japan and Sweden among major economies.
2022년, 한국의 1인당 국내총생산은 32,142달러로 전년대비 8.2%로 세 번째로 큰 감소를 보였다. 그 감소폭은 주요 경제 국가들 중 일본과 스웨덴 다음으로 컸다.

The growth outlook for Korea does not look upbeat either, with the International Monetary Fund anticipating the rate to be at 1.4 percent, a sharp drop from last year's 2.6 percent. The figure is also lower than the IMF's global projection rate of 3 percent, and 4.6 percent for the Asia region.
국제통화기금(IMF)은 한국의 경제성장률을 작년의 2.6%에서 급락한 1.4%로 예상하고 있어 한국의 성장전망도 낙관적이지 않다. 이 수치는 또한 IMF의 세계 경제전망치인 3%와 아시아 지역의 4.6%보다 낮다.

Months of trade deficit has weighed on the country's economy that is heavily reliant on exports. In trade, Korea only barely recovered to make ends meet in June and July, after running a deficit for 15 consecutive months.
수개월 동안의 무역 적자가 수출에 크게 의존하는 한국 경제를 짓누르고 있다. 무역에서, 한국은 15개월 연속 적자를 기록한 후, 6월과 7월에 겨우 겨우 수지를 맞추었다.

In July, Korea's outbound shipments logged $50.33 billion, down 16.5 percent on-year, and inbound shipments fell 25.4 percent to record $48.7 billion -- leading to a trade surplus of $1.63 billion.
7월 한국의 해외 수출은 503억 3천만 달러로 전년 동기 대비 16.5% 감소했고, 해외 수출은 25.4% 감소한 487억 달러를 기록해 16억 3천만 달러의 무역 흑자를 기록했다.

External factors, such as the unprecedented outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ensuing global economic slump and persistent inflation are obviously affecting the country's low growth trend.
전례 없는 코비드19 대유행의 발생, 이에 따른 세계 경제 침체 및 지속적인 인플레이션과 같은 외부 요인은 분명히 국가의 저성장 추세에 영향을 미치고 있다.

But experts say the latest economic figures show that Korea has fallen into the phase where economic growth is limited, and that, the country should carry out structural reforms and explore new industries.
하지만 전문가들은 최근의 경제 수치가 한국이 경제 성장이 제한적인 단계에 빠졌다는 것을 보여주고 있으며, 구조 개혁을 실시하고 새로운 산업을 개척해야 한다고 말하고 있다.

To overcome the sluggish growth, experts said Korea needs to address the problems of low birth rate and the aging population, and pursue new channels and explore new industries for future growth. 
성장부진을 극복하기 위해, 전문가들은 한국이 저출산과 고령화 문제를 해결하고 미래 성장을 위한 새로운 채널을 추구하고 새로운 산업을 모색할 필요가 있다고 말했다.

For advanced countries, keeping growth consistent becomes the more realistic goal than creating double-digit growth.
선진국의 경우 두 자릿수 성장보다 성장을 일관되게 유지하는 것이 더 현실적인 목표이다.

"South Korea has already entered the structural phase of low-growth trend," Kim Young-ik, a professor of economics at Sogang University Graduate School of Business said, explaining that the country should diversify its export channels and reduce dependency on one country, China, Korea's top trading partner.
김영익 서강대 경영대학원 경제학과 교수는 "한국은 이미 저성장 기조의 구조적 단계에 진입했다"며 수출 채널을 다양화하고 한국의 최대 교역국인 중국에 대한 의존도를 줄여야 한다고 설명했다.

The neighbor's slow recovery after reopening its borders from the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on Korea's economy, logging deficit for over a year in bilateral trade.
코로나19 팬데믹으로 국경을 재개한 후 이웃 국가의 느린 회복은 한국 경제에 타격을 입혔고, 양국 무역에서 1년 넘게 적자를 기록했다.

The escalating rivalry between the US and China is also raising alarm for Korea, which strongly relies on semiconductor exports and is home to the world’s top two memory chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.
미국과 중국의 경쟁이 격화되면서 반도체 수출 의존도가 높고 세계 양대 메모리 반도체 업체인 삼성전자와 SK하이닉스의 본고장인 한국에도 경종을 울리고 있다.

Ju Won, deputy director of the Hyundai Research Institute, also pointed out that the country lacks the "new drive" for growth.
현대 연구소의 주원 부소장도 한국은 성장을 위한 "새로운 추진력"이 부족하다고 지적했다.

"We have a couple of key industries, such as semiconductors and cars, that has been lifting the country's economy for the past years. But there is no other drive for growth and this is hard when established industries struggle," Ju said.
"우리는 지난 몇 년 동안 국가 경제를 끌어올리고 있는 반도체와 자동차와 같은 몇 가지 핵심 산업을 가지고 있다. 그러나 다른 성장 동력은 없으며 기성산업이 고전할 때 어렵다."라고 주 부소장은 말했다.

"The country is also seeing a shrinking working age population."
"한국은 또한 생산가능연령 인구가 줄어들고 있다."

Korea’s leading conglomerates are now eyeing new fields for future growth, such as batteries, electric vehicles, biopharmaceuticals and hydgrogen energy among others.
한국의 주요 대기업들은 현재 배터리, 전기 자동차, 바이오 의약품 및 수소 에너지와 같은 미래 성장을 위한 새로운 분야에 주목하고 있다.

Explaining how the United States maintains its economic growth rate steadily in the 2 percent range by leading new technologies and adopting proactive immigration policies, Ju said Korea should find new industrial strengths and address the low birth rate and aging population.
미국이 신기술을 선도하고 적극적인 이민정책을 채택함으로써 2%대 경제성장률을 꾸준히 유지하는 방법을 설명하면서, 주 부소장은 한국이 새로운 산업의 강점을 찾고 저출산과 고령화를 해결해야 한다고 말했다.

(123rf)

 
Embrace diversity to keep the Korean Wave from crashing
한류 붕괴 방지를 위한 다양성 수용

The ongoing growth of Hallyu, for more than 25 years, may seem a source of both astonishment and concern for onlookers, considering the history of cultural products from less powerful nations to become merely fleeting trends, as seen with Hong Kong films and J-pop.
홍콩 영화와 J-pop에서 볼 수 있는 것처럼 강대국이 아닌 국가들의 문화 상품의 역사가 단순한 일시적인 유행이 된 것을 고려할 때, 25년 이상 지속된 한류의 성장은 구경꾼들에게 놀라움과 걱정의 원천으로 보일 수 있다.

While the global popularity of Korean cultural content is not limited to one or two domains, experts caution that for Hallyu to continue developing in a lasting manner, South Korea must cultivate cultural sensitivity while actively embracing cultural diversity.
한국 문화 콘텐츠의 세계적인 인기가 한 두 개의 영역에 국한되지는 않지만, 전문가들은 한류가 지속적으로 발전하기 위해서는 한국이 문화적 다양성을 적극적으로 수용하면서 문화적 감수성을 길러야 한다고 경고한다.

“Due to the (increased consumption of Korean culture) over a wide range of areas in a short period of time, there has been a lack of preparation for how (Korea) is perceived in various cultural spheres, which can lead to misunderstandings and pose risks,” Lee Sung-min, an assistant professor in the Department of Media Arts and Sciences at Korea National Open University, told The Korea Herald in an interview last week.
방송통신대 미디어예술과학부 이성민 조교수는 지난주 코리아헤럴드와의 인터뷰에서 "단기간에 광범위한 영역에 걸쳐 (한국 문화 소비가) 증가하다 보니 다양한 문화권에서 (한국을) 어떻게 인식하는지에 대한 준비가 부족했고, 이는 오해를 불러오고 위험을 초래할 수 있다"고 말했다.

One salient example is the portrayal of an Arab prince as gullible and affluent as well as a womanizer in the drama series, “King the Land,” last month, the role of which was actually performed by an Indian actor. In response to outrage expressed by overseas viewers, the production company issued two apologies in the span of one day for its cultural insensitivity.
지난달 드라마 '킹더랜드'에서 인도 배우가 연기한 아랍 왕자의 속기 쉽고 부유한 모습과 바람둥이로 묘사된 것이 눈에 띄는 예다. 해외시청자들의 분노에 제작사는 하루 만에 문화 불감증에 대해 두 번이나 사과했다.

“Based on the idea that Hallyu is only made possible by foreign consumption, understanding how we should view and accommodate those who consume Hallyu content becomes a fundamental premise for the phenomenon to exist,” Kim Sae-mee, a research professor of regional studies and cultural policy at Hanyang University's Peace Institute, told The Korea Herald on Tuesday.
"한류는 외국소비에 의해서만 가능하다는 생각을 바탕으로 한류 콘텐츠를 소비하는 사람들을 어떻게 바라보고 수용해야 하는지를 이해하는 것이 현상이 존재하기 위한 근본적인 전제가 된다."라고 화요일, 김새미 한양대학교 평화연구소의 지역학 및 문화정책 연구교수는 코리아 헤럴드에 말했다.

“There still seems to be an exclusionary attitude among Koreans toward countries that are not considered 'advanced nations.' For instance, there is not enough Korean content portraying Southeast Asians in a positive light. Despite being major consumers of content, these regions are often only depicted as tourist destinations, with few instances of successful CEOs or prominent figures from those areas being portrayed in Korean content,” Kim noted.
"한국인들 사이에서는 '선진국'으로 여겨지지 않는 나라들에 대한 배타적인 태도가 여전히 존재하는 것 같습니다. 예를 들어, 동남 아시아인들을 긍정적으로 묘사하는 한국 콘텐츠는 충분하지 않다. 주요 콘텐츠 소비자임에도 불구하고, 이 지역들은 종종 관광지로만 묘사되며, 성공한 CEO나 그 지역의 유명 인사들은 한국 콘텐츠로 묘사되지 않는다."라고 김교수는 지적했다.

Embracing diversity is inevitable, essential and requires deliberate efforts, experts said.
다양성을 수용하는 것은 불가피하고 필수적이며 신중한 노력이 필요하다고 전문가들은 말했다.

That is partly because globally and in Korea, lifestyles have been greatly diversifying, while the notion of "the average" -- referring to blending into one mainstream, or attempting to conform to one set of standardized norms -- is losing significance according to the annually published book, “2023 Consumer Trend Insights.”
매년 발간되는 "2023 소비자 트렌드 인사이트"에 따르면, 그것은 부분적으로 세계적으로 그리고 한국에서, 생활 방식이 크게 다양해지고 있는 반면, "평균"이라는 개념, 즉 하나의 주류에 섞이거나 하나의 표준화된 규범에 맞추려고 하는 것을 지칭하는 개념이 중요성을 잃어가고 있기 때문이다. 

Unlike countries where citizens' identity is based on embracing high levels of diversity, Korea has promoted a national identity based on ethnic and cultural homogeneity for much of its modern history. That’s why it’s necessary today for Koreans actively to seek out opportunities to come into contact with diverse people from other cultures, he explained. “It's important to expand opportunities to encounter diversity in Korean society through (watching and producing) culturally diverse content,” Lee said.
시민들의 정체성이 높은 수준의 다양성을 받아들이는 것에 기반을 둔 나라들과 달리, 한국은 근대사의 많은 부분에서 민족적이고 문화적인 동질성에 기반을 둔 국가 정체성을 추진해 왔다. 그래서 오늘날 한국인들이 다른 문화의 다양한 사람들과 접촉할 수 있는 기회를 적극적으로 찾는 것이 필요합니다"라고 그는 설명했다. "문화적으로 다양한 콘텐츠를 (시청하고 제작하는) 것을 통해 한국 사회에서 다양성을 접할 수 있는 기회를 확대하는 것이 중요합니다"라고 이교수는 말했다.

In addition to reflecting carefully and sensitively on how other cultures are portrayed in Korean cultural content, the entire production process should be more representative of greater diversity -- meaning those who work in the industry -- both Lee and Kim noted.
다른 문화들이 한국 문화 콘텐츠에서 어떻게 묘사되는지 신중하고 민감하게 생각하는 것 외에도, 전체 제작과정은 더 많은 다양성, 즉 산업에서 일하는 사람들을 의미하는 것을 더 많이 대표해야 한다고 이교수와 김교수는 지적했다.

Lee, who is one of the authors of “Hallyu and Cultural Diversity,” a report published by the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange in June, pointed out that ultimately, curiosity about other cultures as well as demand for more diversity and representation are behind the popularity of Hallyu in the first place, so they integral to its sustainability as well.
한국국제문화교류재단이 6월에 발간한 보고서인 "한류와 문화의 다양성"의 저자 중 한 명인 이교수는 궁극적으로 더 많은 다양성과 대표성에 대한 요구 뿐 아니라 다른 문화에 대한 호기심이 한류의 인기 이면에 있기 때문에 그것들은 또한 지속가능성에 필수적이라고 지적했다.

“The consumption and popularity of Korean cultural products are part of the response to growing demand for cultural diversity to begin with,” Lee said, adding that “If this fact is forgotten and it transforms into a superior or unilateral attitude (on the part of Korean cultural content and its creators), it becomes a risk.”
이교수는 "한국 문화상품의 소비와 인기는 우선 문화 다양성에 대한 증가하는 수요에 대한 대응의 일환"이라며 "이 사실이 잊혀져 (한국 문화 콘텐츠와 그 창작자 측에서) 우월적이거나 일방적인 태도로 바뀌면 위험이 된다"고 말했다.

Making a more productive politics
보다 생산적인 정치 만들기

To tackle all these major challenges, the country needs a leadership that can effectively articulate its causes and execute solutions, while engaging with the public to win its support.
이러한 모든 주요 과제를 해결하기 위해, 국가는 지지를 얻기 위해 대중과 참여하는 동시에 그 원인을 효과적으로 밝히고 해결책을 실행할 수 있는 리더십이 필요하다.

Unfortunately, this is something South Korea is failing spectacularly at right now.
불행하게도, 이것은 지금 한국이 엄청나게 실패하고 있는 것이다.

Nearly every project pushed by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration bears the hallmarks of political sectarianism, while social cohesion and consensus have become an increasingly elusive goal. The situation was not so different under the previous administration led by Moon Jae-in.
윤석열 행정부가 추진하는 거의 모든 프로젝트는 정치적 종파주의의 특징을 지니고 있으며, 사회적 결속과 합의는 점점 더 다루기 힘든 목표가 되었다. 문재인정부에서도 상황은 크게 다르지 않았다.

South Korea remains unwavering in its commitment to democratic institutions, with a track record of removing occupants of the highest office through peaceful means, including recently via the impeachment process.
한국은 최근 탄핵절차를 포함해 평화적인 방법으로 최고위직의 점유자를 제거한 전례가 있는 등 민주적 제도에 대한 의지를 굽히지 않고 있다.  

But, when it comes to whether this vibrant democracy can get the job done, there are growing doubts.
하지만, 이 활기찬 민주주의가 그 일을 해낼 수 있을지에 대한 의문이 커지고 있다.

Given that those running for office can realize their ideas only if they win, fighting or smearing the other team to get elected falls within their job scope.
출마한 사람들이 승리해야만 자신들의 생각을 실현할 수 있다는 것을 고려할 때, 당선되기 위해 상대방 팀과 싸우거나 비방하는 것은 그들의 직무 범위에 속한다.

But in Korea, where most former presidents have faced investigations or imprisonment once their power is relinquished to the other side, an unending cycle of revenge compels politicians to resort to extreme measures at any expense to clinch victory and crush opponents.
그러나 대부분의 전직 대통령들이 일단 권력이 다른 쪽으로 넘어가면 수사나 투옥에 직면해 있는 한국에서, 끝없는 복수의 순환은 정치인들로 하여금 승리를 결정하고 반대자들을 분쇄하기 위해 어떤 희생을 치르더라도 극단적인 조치에 의존하도록 강요하고 있다.

In this winner-takes-it-all environment, coupled with the media’s tendency to write what sells, the emphasis shifts away from the productive policy discussions and collaborative problem-solving that are essential to tackle national challenges. The priority becomes making rivals look bad to ensure the best chance at winning the next election.
이러한 승자독식의 환경은 판매되는 것을 쓰려는 언론의 경향과 맞물려 국가적 과제를 해결하는 데 필수적인 생산적인 정책 논의와 협력적 문제 해결에서 벗어나 강조점이 이동한다. 다음 선거에서 최고의 기회를 보장하기 위해 경쟁자들을 나쁘게 보이게 하는 것이 우선 순위가 된다.

Negative public perception of the role of the leadership and politics were among the reasons cited for South Korea’s drop in the annual Democracy Index 2022 by the Economist Intelligence Unit, released earlier this year.
올해 초 발표된 이코노미스트 인텔리전스 유닛(Economist Intelligence Unit)의 연례 민주주의 지수 2022에서 한국이 하락한 이유로는 지도부와 정치의 역할에 대한 부정적인 대중의 인식이 꼽혔다.

The country fell eight spots from a year earlier to rank 24th out of the 24 nations classified as “full democracies,” in the study of 167.
한국은 167개국을 대상으로 한 연구에서 "완전한 민주주의국가"로 분류된 24개국 중 24위로 1년 전보다 8계단 하락했다.

“Years of confrontational party politics have taken a toll on South Korea’s democracy,” points out the EIU in the report.
EIU는 보고서에서 "수년 동안 대립적인 정당 정치가 한국의 민주주의에 큰 타격을 주었다."라고 지적한다.

“A Manichaean interpretation of politics has shrunk the space for consensus-building and compromise, often paralyzing policymaking. Politicians focus their political energies on taking down rival politicians rather than working to find consensus and improve the lives of citizens.”
"정치에 대한 마니교적인 해석은 합의를 구축하고 타협할 수 있는 공간을 축소시켰고, 종종 정책 결정을 마비시켰다. 정치인들은 합의를 찾고 시민들의 삶을 개선하기 위해 노력하기보다 경쟁적인 정치인들을 제거하는 데 정치적 에너지를 집중하고 있다."

Domestic public opinion surveys have also indicated a growing public disillusionment with the country’s rival political camps, locked in a seemingly permanent gridlock.
국내 여론 조사에서도 영구적인 정체 상태에 갇혀 있는 국가의 경쟁 정치 진영에 대한 국민들의 환멸이 커지고 있음을 보여주었다.

In the latest National Barometer Survey, conducted jointly by four pollsters here, 37 percent of respondents, the largest group, answered that they support "no political group.” Supporters of the ruling People Power Party came next at 34 percent, while its archrival Democratic Party of Korea garnered 21 percent.
국내 4개 여론조사기관이 공동으로 실시한 최근의 전국 기압계 조사에서, 가장 큰 집단인 37퍼센트의 응답자가 "지지하는 정치 집단이 없다"고 응답했고, 여당인 국민의 힘의 지지자들은 34퍼센트로 그 뒤를 이었고, 최대 경쟁자인 민주당은 21퍼센트를 얻었다.


The Yoon administration has set labor, education and the national pension scheme as its primary targets for reform. The success of these initiatives hinges on the administration's active involvement in political dialogue and its ability to foster public consensus, which could in turn become a catalyst for positive change.
윤 행정부는 노동, 교육, 국민연금을 개혁의 주요 목표로 삼았습니다. 이 계획들의 성공은 정치적 대화에 대한 정부의 적극적인 참여와 대중의 공감대를 형성할 수 있는 능력에 달려 있습니다. 이는 긍정적인 변화의 촉매제가 될 수 있다.

(123rf)

A tall order called happiness
행복이라는 높은 질서

After its swift transition from a postwar wreck to a developed economy, the rise of mental health challenges and hate violence are among the toughest problems South Korea faces.
전후의 난파에서 선진경제로의 급속한 전환 이후, 정신 건강문제와 증오 폭력의 증가는 한국이 직면한 가장 어려운 문제들 중 하나이다.

Almost every day, Koreans come across news articles about people with mental illnesses who have killed themselves or hurt others in shocking ways.
거의 매일, 한국인들은 충격적인 방법으로 자신을 죽이거나 다른 사람들을 다치게 한 정신 질환을 가진 사람들에 대한 뉴스 기사를 접하고 있다.

Psychiatrists report they are seeing an increasing number of patients, ranging from toddlers with ADHD to seniors with depression.
정신과 의사들은 ADHD를 앓고 있는 유아들부터 우울증을 앓고 있는 노인들에 이르기까지 환자들의 수가 증가하고 있다고 보고했다.

Korea came 32nd among 33 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development on the Better Life Index, which measures the status of well-being. Korea ranked at the bottom in a similar study by the UN, and at the bottom in terms of the quality of sleep.
한국은 웰빙 수준을 측정하는 더 나은 삶의 지수에 관한 경제협력개발기구(OECD) 33개 회원국 중 32위를 차지했습니다. 한국은 UN의 유사한 연구에서 최하위를 기록했고, 수면의 질 측면에서도 최하위를 기록했다.

Korea’s suicide rate has long been the highest among OECD countries, though partly because Lithuania was not a member before 2018.
2018년 이전에 리투아니아가 회원국이 아니었기 때문에 한국의 자살률은 오랫동안 OECD 국가 중 가장 높았다.

Contrary to the trend in most OECD countries, it rose significantly in the decade after 2000. After hitting a high of 33.3 suicide deaths per 100,000 people in 2011, compared to the OECD average of 12.4, Korea’s suicide rate fell slightly, but was still at 26 in 2021.
대부분의 OECD 국가들의 추세와 달리 2000년 이후 10년 동안 크게 증가하였고, 2011년 인구 10만 명당 자살 사망자 33.3명으로 최고치를 기록한 이후 OECD 평균 12.4명에 비해 우리나라 자살률은 소폭 하락하였으나 2021년에는 26명 수준을 유지하고 있다.

Suicide rates are a proxy indicator of the mental health status of a population, giving a broad understanding of how well the mental health system is working, in particular regarding access to services and combating stigma, according to the OECD.
OECD에 따르면 자살률은 인구의 정신건강상태를 나타내는 대리지표로, 특히 서비스에 대한 접근과 오명 퇴치와 관련하여 정신건강 시스템이 얼마나 잘 작동하고 있는지에 대한 광범위한 이해를 제공하고 있다.

“Korea’s very high suicide rate should be seen as a call for action around mental ill-health,” the OECD said in its report on Korea.
"한국의 매우 높은 자살률은 정신 질환을 둘러싼 행동에 대한 요구로 봐야 합니다," 라고 OECD가 한국에 대한 보고서에서 말했다.

Extreme meritocracy, which in Korea’s case involves ranking people based on various test results, is one major source of stress here. This can lead people to direct their anger against those who they think didn’t work as hard as they did or deserve less.
한국의 경우 다양한 시험 결과를 바탕으로 사람들의 순위를 매기는 것을 수반하는 극단적인 능력주의는 한국에서 스트레스의 주요 원인 중 하나이다. 이것은 사람들이 그들이 생각하기에 그들만큼 열심히 일하지 않았거나 받을 자격이 덜 되었다고 생각하는 사람들에게 그들의 분노를 향하게 할 수 있다.

For instance, there was fierce opposition from mostly job seekers in their 20s and 30s to a decision by the Incheon International Airport Corp. to grant permanent positions to its security officials in 2020. Their issue was that permanent jobs were given through a special recruitment process for workers in easier-to-obtain contract positions, rather than the standard, highly competitive route others faced to get permanent positions.
예를 들어, 인천국제공항공사가 2020년에 보안직원들에게 정규직을 주기로 한 결정에 대해 20대와 30대의 구직자들의 격렬한 반대가 있었다. 그들의 쟁점은 다른 사람들이 정규직을 얻기 위해 직면한 표준적이고 경쟁이 치열한 경로가 아닌 더 쉽게 계약직에 있는 근로자들을 위한 특별 채용 절차를 통해 정규직이 주어졌다는 것이었다.

While other countries also see conflicts and hate crimes against minorities, the demographics that become targets of hatred -- women, men, seniors and temporary or nonregular workers, for instance -- are much larger, according to Lee Joo-hee, a professor of sociology at Ewha Womans University.
이주희 이화여대 사회학과 교수에 따르면, 다른 나라들도 소수자들에 대한 갈등과 증오 범죄를 목격하지만, 증오의 대상이 되는 인구통계, 예를 들어 여성, 남성, 노인 그리고 비정규직 노동자들은 훨씬 더 많다.

“I think the common cause of these different conflicts in Korea is economic instability. In the case of a gender conflict, for instance, as women in their 20s looked for jobs more actively compared to the past, it got harder for men in their 20s to get high-quality jobs, and their desperate instability fanned hatred toward women,” Lee said.
"나는 한국에서 이런 다른 갈등의 공통적인 원인이 경제적인 불안정이라고 생각합니다. 예를 들어, 20대 여성들이 과거에 비해 더 적극적으로 일자리를 찾으면서, 20대 남성들은 양질의 일자리를 얻기 어려워졌고, 그들의 절망적인 불안정은 여성에 대한 증오를 부채질했다"라고 이교수는 말했다.

“The national and local governments should work toward bridging the widening economic gap between different groups by offering a universal social safety net. Collecting more taxes from a certain group to benefit another would only trigger hatred from taxpayers and increase tax resistance.”
"국가와 지방 정부는 보편적인 사회안전망을 제공함으로써 서로 다른 집단 간의 넓어지는 경제적 격차를 해소하기 위해 노력해야 한다. 다른 집단에게 혜택을 주기 위해 특정 집단으로부터 더 많은 세금을 징수하는 것은 납세자들로부터 증오를 유발하고 조세저항을 증가시킬 뿐이다."

Lee also wrote in her recently published book that the government should start reviewing the provision of universal basic income for all in the near future, in addition to key welfare such as education, medical service and child care.
이 교수는 또한 최근 발간된 자신의 책에서 정부가 교육, 의료 서비스 및 보육과 같은 핵심 복지 외에도 가까운 미래에 모든 사람을 위한 보편적 기본소득제공에 대한 검토를 시작해야 한다고 썼다.

#기후위기(Climatecrisis) #출산율(fertilityrate) #한국교육의우수성(brillianceofKoreaneducation) #경제성장동력상실(Economicgrowthlosingsteam) #다양성수용(Embracediversity) #생상적인정치(productivepolitics) #행복(Happiness)