Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Photographers capture the rise of South Korea's 'loner' culture
Their parents worked hard to build the economic foundation of the country. In return, many of them were able to afford to buy things they had wanted, such as home appliances, a car, and even a house. In the meantime, the cost of housing and education have been rising to the level where parents opted to have fewer children. In fact, South Korea’s birth rate had dropped from around six down to only 1.2 during the last half-century. The country is rapidly aging like its neighbor Japan.
The influences of such changes in the social environment seem immense. More and more those single children seem to be used to being alone and even feel more comfortable by themselves than being with others. They don’t seem to mind eating, living, or even traveling alone. Such individualistic culture is called honjok, a combined word of hon, alone, and jok, tribe. While such trend has created new businesses to accommodate their need and desire, such as dining space for lone eaters and specialized furniture and apartment for singles, the outlook for economic growth and the social foundation is becoming questionable. When more people chose to live alone, what will happen to the marriage, divorce, and fertility rates of the country that is already aging?
Enjoy reading the article and seeing the photos of loners in South Korea.
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