“Friends say my mom gave me a house”... Desperation leads to resentment of “being born”
6:00 a.m. Oct 25, 2026 Experts diagnose that excessive competition in Korean society, asset inequality, and a culture that places responsibility on individuals are exacerbating this phenomenon. They note that the "N-give-up" trend is one form of "extreme adaptation" chosen by young people to cope with an uncertain future. Kim Yun-tae, a professor of sociology at Korea University, stated, "Korean young people find it difficult to perceive the hardships in their lives as social structural issues and to demand institutional changes." He added that such sentiments are expressed through passive forms of quiet resistance, such as the phenomenon of 'inactive youth' or 'birth strikes,' as well as extreme resignation. The social atmosphere that emphasizes a uniform life path is also cited as a factor narrowing the options available to young people. Although the traditional life trajectory of…
