[Koo Bon-young Column] To the Youth of the AI Era: Never Lose Hope

A new year has dawned once again. Poet Kim Jong-gil once urged us to greet each year with hope, no matter how difficult our circumstances. In his renowned poem 'On New Year's Morning,' he wrote, "Like seeing the beautiful teeth sprouting in children's gums..." Yet, perhaps due to the lingering impact of bleak youth employment statistics, the shoulders of the 2030 generation I encounter seem weighed down. I worry that young people may be losing even the hope they once held for the future.
Last year, cries of despair erupted from young people across Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa, and other parts of the world, frustrated by injustice and economic hardship. The catalyst was a youth protest in Indonesia in August. In developed countries such as France, Italy, Spain, and the United States, the 2030 generation staged protests both large and small. While the details varied by country, the common grievance was a 'lack of jobs for young people.'
Moreover, the world is now undergoing a civilizational shift known as the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution. The hypothesis that AI technology reduces jobs has already been proven. For young people, this is an added burden. Amazon.com, Inc. has already decided to cut 30,000 office jobs. South Korea is also feeling the chill of AI-driven job losses. Last year, 600 successful candidates of the Certified Public Accountant Examination (CPA Exam) were unable to secure placements at training institutions.
It is truly disheartening to see the reality faced by the 2030 generation. According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics, in November last year, the number of people in their twenties classified as 'resting' among the economically inactive population reached 405,000. For those in their thirties, the figure was 314,000—the highest November number since statistics began in 2003. The growing proportion of young people citing 'resting' as their reason for inactivity is a grim sign for the nation. It means more members of the future generation are losing the motivation to seek work and are simply 'taking a break' without any particular reason such as illness.
Furthermore, since June last year, the labor force participation rate of young people has fallen below that of those aged 60 and above. It is no surprise, then, that the term 'Full-time Children'—a phrase laced with self-deprecation—has become popular on Social Networking Service (SNS) platforms. This neologism originated in China during the COVID-19 pandemic, referring to young adults who, unable to find employment, return home to help their parents with household chores and make ends meet.
Yet one wonders if the government truly recognizes the plight of the younger generation. Setting aside the lackluster performance of the Lee Jae-myung administration in areas such as real estate, exchange rates, and employment, the real issue is the policy focus on those in their 40s and 50s rather than on young people. The administration has prioritized achieving a Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) of 5000 over creating new jobs. Young people, who are neither 'young forties' nor financially secure, cannot be expected to borrow money to invest in stocks.
Regardless of the government's intentions, there are numerous examples of policies adversely affecting young people. In an effort to curb housing prices, the government drastically reduced loans for jeonse (long-term rental deposits) and expanded the two-year mandatory residence requirement to all of Seoul and 12 regions in Gyeonggi Province. This has accelerated the shift from jeonse to monthly rentals, causing rents to soar. As a result, young people lacking substantial savings are finding it increasingly difficult to secure their own homes or even jeonse, further reducing their disposable income and pushing them into greater hardship.
It is also concerning that the government and ruling party appear to be overly protective of the union of permanent employees, which has already become an entrenched interest group. A prime example is the push for the Yellow Envelope Act, which reduces liability for damages caused by illegal strikes by unions, ostensibly to strengthen their bargaining power. This could worsen employment conditions for unemployed youth and workers at non-unionized small and medium-sized enterprises.
At this point, the 2030 generation seems to have no allies in sight. Yet, crises in life eventually recede like the ebbing tide. Philosopher Karl Popper once said, "Life is a process of solving problems." It is worth recalling the words of John F. Kennedy, the young American president, who said, "For those who are prepared, a crisis is an opportunity."
Even if AI technology currently encroaches on youth employment, in the long run it will inevitably create new jobs. Lee Sedol, the Go grandmaster who once faced off against AI, remarked, "AI is not a competitor, but a partner in building the future." In other words, young people should not resist the wave of the 'AI revolution,' but rather ride it enthusiastically. As the old saying goes, 'If you can't avoid it, enjoy it.'
Therefore, no matter how difficult reality may be, there is no reason for young people to give up hope. The British poet Robert Browning said, 'The best is yet to be.' Bold challenges have always belonged to the young. If the government or older generations were to stifle the spirit of youth in the AI era, it would be a grave disservice to history.
kby777@fnnews.com Editorial Writer Reporter