Despite the new year, various social and economic indicators and prospects remain bleak. Experts warn of the economic crisis, and inequality and polarization are being expressed as conflicts in many parts of society.
In particular, the social and economic polarization became more serious after the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection. According to KB Management Research Institute, the number of regular workers has remained stable since COVID-19, while temporary and daily workers have plummeted since the social distancing expansion strategy was strengthened. The working income of low-income households decreased significantly, and the production gap between large and small enterprises in the manufacturing industry widened. Through the online class process, students in the top ranks have remained in the same grade, while students in the middle ranks have fallen into the bottom ranks, and the educational gap between classes has widened.
In the midst of the economic crisis, polarization caused by inequality is emerging as a conflict. Last year, Korean society was constantly clamoring for inequality and polarization, including disabled people, workers, small business owners, vulnerable residents, and irregular workers.
Lee Seung-hoon, a researcher at KB Management Institute, analyzed, "The polarization of the labor market, household income, consumption items and channels could delay the recovery of the domestic economy." He also warned that the widening gap between classes will lead to the spread of social dissatisfaction and conflict caused by relative deprivation.
In order to resolve inequality and the resulting conflict, "equal opportunity" is urgently needed that no one should have an "unfair advantage" in the competition to achieve social and economic achievement.
However, President Yoon Seok-ryul's New Year's address this year did not show any awareness of the polarization of Korean society and the problem of the underprivileged. Start-ups and exports, labor, education, and pension reforms were just key words in the president's New Year's plan. In addition, the government's budget for this year, which is designed to reduce taxes on the rich and austerity, is unlikely to effectively match the low-income and the underprivileged.
According to a recent survey on equality of social opportunities in Korea released by the Gyeonggi Research Institute, 72.2% of the respondents said that "personal background" is important for success in Korean society. This is because structural inequalities that take root after birth are deeply rooted. The first policy needed to resolve inequality and discrimination was "substantial equality of opportunity (37.4 percent). The policy direction to resolve polarization and reduce social conflicts is certain.
The 21st National Assembly proposed various polarization-related bills such as income polarization, large and small business polarization, support for small businesses and vulnerable groups, regional disparities and decentralization, medical polarization, education polarization, labor polarization. The answer is already out, but there are many obstacles to vested interests in the answer.
Failure to resolve the polarization issue is no different from neglecting the economic crisis. Support for low-income and underprivileged people should be increased, as well as measures to bring about structural changes in society in the long run, rather than just short-term financial support to ease polarization.
Writer: Chelsie Song
(Picture from Unsplash)