"I don't like Young Forty... pretending to be young for their age" Men in their 20s and 30s see them as people in their 40s seeking inappropriate relationships

More than 6 out of 10 men in their 20s and 30s have a negative view of so-called "Young Forty," according to a recent survey. When asked what image comes to mind with this term, nearly half of respondents answered "people in their 40s pretending to be younger than their age."
Hankook Research released the findings of a survey on perceptions of the "Young Forty" phenomenon on the 8th.
The survey was conducted from February 6 to 9 on 1,000 adults nationwide. Among the 850 people who said they had heard the term Young Forty, 50% viewed it negatively.
What stands out is that negative evaluations were highest among men in their 20s and 30s. A total of 63% of men in this age group had an unfavorable opinion of Young Forty. In contrast, respondents in their 60s and those aged 70 or older tended to view the term more positively.
When asked what image they associate with Young Forty, the most common response was "people in their 40s pretending to be younger than their age" (49%, multiple answers allowed). This was followed by "people in their 40s imitating the fashion, hobbies, and culture of younger generations" (48%) and "people in their 40s who assert their authority" (41%).
By contrast, only 14% chose "people in their 40s who are entrenched elites that have already secured opportunities" or "people in their 40s who criticize the political views of younger generations."
The item that showed the biggest gap by age group was "people in their 40s who make inappropriate advances toward younger partners." Among respondents aged 18 to 29, 60% said this is the image they associate with Young Forty.
Hankook Research analyzed the results, saying, "If we include respondents in their 30s (38%) who gave the same answer, it becomes clear that people in their 20s and 30s tend to see Young Forty as people in their 40s seeking inappropriate or potentially risky relationships."
Lee Dong-han, Senior Research Fellow at Hankook Research, stated, "Negative perceptions of Young Forty are more closely tied to behavioral images such as pretending to be young, asserting authority, and making inappropriate advances, rather than to the idea of economic privilege." He added, "Instead of stigmatizing a particular generation, we need an approach that acknowledges differences in values between age groups."
gaa1003@fnnews.com Reporter Ahn Ga-eul Reporter