Mark Manson, one of America’s most prominent influencers, sheds light on the depression issues in Korean society. As a bestselling author of self-help books like “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck,” Manson noted that behind South Korea’s eye-opening economic and cultural rise to global prominence is a deep-seated problem of depression, which is the result of ignoring the advantages of Confucianism and capitalism while maximizing their disadvantages.
Manson has recently shared a new video on his YouTube channel that has 1.4 million subscribers. The video is titled “I Traveled to the Most Depressed Country in the World”. During his visit to South Korea, Manson had the opportunity to meet with a few Americans living in Korea, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other experts to gain a deeper understanding of depression in South Korean society.
“Sadly, South Korea has maximized the worst aspects of Confucianism - shame and judgment - while abandoning closeness to family and community,” he said. “Meanwhile, they have emphasized the worst aspects of capitalism - flamboyant materialism and an obsession with making money - while ignoring the best aspects - self-expression and individualism.” “These conflicting values led to tremendous stress and despair,” Manson added.
South Korea’s history, which includes the Korean War, has resulted in the country’s focus on competition, explained Manson. He stated, “After the war, economic growth in South Korea was not a choice but a matter of survival. To develop the country economically, the government had to establish an extremely rigorous education system, which placed an enormous burden on the younger generation.”
According to many psychologists and sociologists, several factors can contribute to depression, including physical health, stress, social isolation, lack of autonomy, and embarrassment. Koreans are more likely to experience these factors than individuals from other cultures, except for physical health. Manson attributes this to the influence of Confucianism ingrained in Korean society.
In Confucian culture, the family is the central unit of society rather than the individual. The more you sacrifice for your family, the more respected you become. If you stop working because of depression, you are considered a “lazy person” who cannot fulfill their obligations to their family.
Due to this societal attitude, Koreans feel hesitant to discuss mental health issues, as it is often considered as shame. In fact, South Korea has the highest suicide rate in the OECD, but the diagnosis rate for depression is very low. According to one study, only 7 percent of Koreans who experience depression seek medical help.
South Korean workers often have limited autonomy in making life choices. They are expected to leave work at the same time as their bosses, and attend meetings whenever they are called upon. Failing to meet these expectations leads to feelings of shame and inferiority, as they are constantly judged harshly by the Confucian values of their society and family.
