BTS, Hell Joseon, and the Give-Up Generations
Most fans of BTS are acutely aware of the group’s tendency to include socially conscious lyrics in many of their songs. In a few of their tracks, dating all the way back to their debut, BTS makes references to several social topics that, when linked together, provide a quiet but powerful commentary on the state of modern Korean society.
In order to understand the significance of BTS’ lyrics, we first need to put them in context. For international fans, one of J-hope’s lines in No More Dream may pass by quickly without cause for much contemplation — “rebel against the hellish society.” Given that the rest of the song speaks out against fitting the mould of society that requires youth to let go of their dreams and focus only on their studies, this line is a likely reference to the idea of “Hell Joseon” (헬조선).
In 2015, Hell Joseon emerged as a trend word, moving from online popularity to regular usage in the media. Combining the English “hell” with “Joseon” (sometimes used as a pejorative term for South Korea by Koreans), the phrase criticises the current socioeconomic conditions for South Korean youth. Millennials in Korea were — and still are — bearing the brunt of several of the country’s struggles, such as excessive competition for school admission and jobs, high youth unemployment, an aging population, and a low birth rate.
Each of these social issues is important, but one of the most pertinent hardships facing young people in Korea is securing stable employment. In 2018, 21.6% of 25 to 29-year-olds were unemployed — the largest percentage of unemployment for this age range among OECD nations. OECD data also shows that this age range accounts for one in every five unemployed persons, despite only making up 7.8% of the country’s population above age 15. Similarly, the youth unemployment rate (people aged 15–24) in 2019 was 10.4%, a concerning increase from the 8% figure five years prior.
With unemployment rates for young people so high, it’s no surprise that the competition for desirable jobs is absolutely fierce. This competition has, in turn, affected how young people approach their studies, prep for college entrance, and more. To even have a shot at obtaining stable employment, young people strive for the best set of “specs” possible. In an article titled “The Spec Generation Who Can’t Say ‘No’”, author Hae-joang Cho explains the components of one’s specs:
“Spec is a term that was coined around the mid-2000s and used widely on college campuses. The term spec (an abbreviation of the word specifications — the detailed list of features describing the various components of a consumer product) pertains to resume-building activities and to the salient desire to attain long-term, secure employment. Upon entering a prestigious college with a lucrative major, students continue studying for the English Proficiency Test, aim for a high grade point average, prepare for various contests and qualification tests, and participate in study-abroad and internship programs. The activities involved in accumulating specs entail a heavy labour investment, and the results are commensurate with the amount of time and energy invested…”
It’s not enough to have good grades and some work experience — one must have stellar grades from a top-tier university along with a laundry list of other accomplishments, all obtained before even entering the professional world. In some cases, plastic surgery is even seen as “necessary” in order to boost one’s chances of employment, as many companies still require a headshot with applications.
Attempting to garner the specs needed to apply for jobs, the grind starts very young for most Koreans. Working hard in school is only one part of the puzzle — most students, some as young as first-graders, attend after-school academies after their regular school day ends. A high school student quoted in this article noted that they spend 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at their school before attending additional classes at an academy until 10:00 p.m., finally spending an additional two hours at a library studying on their own. It might sound like overwork, but it’s the unfortunate reality for most students, and all of this work is in preparation for the national college entrance exam, which will determine what universities students can attend. The burden of education is extremely heavy for young people in Korea, and it’s but one of the many specs they’re aiming to collect. It’s not hard to imagine why many feel the term Hell Joseon is an apt choice. Though BTS’ mention in No More Dream is subtle, when taken in the context of Korean society in the 2010s, it’s no less poignant.
Similarly, BTS has also referenced the idea of the “give-up generations” (N-po generations) in a couple of their songs. In 쩔어 (Dope), RM raps, “Sam-po generation? Oh-po generation? Then because I like beef jerky, I’m yuk-po generation”, later saying “Why do they kill us before we try?” Both sam-po generation and oh-po generation refer to these “give-up generations”, where “sam” and “oh” are 3 and 5 in Korean, and “po” is taken from the verb for “give up”, thus giving us the terms “3 give-up generation” and “5 give-up generation.” Using wordplay, RM includes “yuk-po generation”, where yuk-po means both beef jerky and what would be the 6 give-up generation.
Sam-po generation was used in the media to refer to young Koreans who are having to “give up” three life accomplishments — dating, marriage, and childbirth — due to the socioeconomic climate in Korea. Later, oh-po generation became a common term, adding careers and buying a home to the list of things young Koreans can’t obtain. Chil-po generation (7 give-up generation) has also been used, where giving up on one’s personal relationships and any hopes or dreams are also included in the list. RM’s words call attention to these N-po generations, who are a result of Hell Joseon, living in a world where they must exhaust themselves with endless education, tests, and spec accumulation, only to have to give up on many aspects of adult life in the process. The entire song is about the BTS members working hard and “rejecting rejection”, fitting for these give-up generations who spend their entire lives striving for goals that are out of reach for many.
뱁새 (Baepsae/Silver Spoon) also contains similar themes to both No More Dream and 쩔어 (Dope). Hinged on the idiom “뱁새가 황새 따라가다 가랑이가 찢어진다” (If a baepsae [crow-tit] tries to follow a stork, it will tear its legs), Baepsae considers the socioeconomic and class inequalities in Korea. Baepsae here refers to the disadvantaged, while storks are the privileged. As a small bird, a baepsae cannot realistically keep up with a stork’s long legs, and BTS use this idiom to highlight how this injustice permeates society. “This generation has had it rough”, they sing. “If I go to work part-time, it’s passion pay. If I go to school, it’s the teachers. Superiors (at work) bully. In the news every day, it’s N-po generation.” The lyrics focus on how it doesn’t matter what people in this generation do, it’s like they can’t win. Even qualified candidates are having to settle for part-time or contract work, which often comes with “passion pay” — little to no compensation for jobs that still require a high level of effort. Some jobs have been shown to pay workers 100,000 won (roughly $82.50 USD) a month. The lyrics to Baepsae criticise the storks who want to maintain the current state of society, as it benefits only them, and boldly claim “This isn’t normal” and “This is justice? You must be kidding me.” BTS strikes a chord with this generation that surely resonates: “Stop going on about effort, effort, I’m cringing. There’s a slim chance of success.” Young Koreans know all too well that effort is simply not enough.
BTS is great at calling attention to social issues, but the question remains: what can really be done? These issues are extremely complex and interwoven — there’s no easy answer. A concentrated effort by the Korean government and related agencies will need to focus attention on unemployment, hiring practices, and the education system, and change of that magnitude will surely take time. As Associate Professor of Korean Politics Hyung-a Kim puts it: “Just letting the chaebol dictate national policy will only make the rich richer and the poor poorer.”
No More Dream, 쩔어 (Dope), and 뱁새 (Silver Spoon) are but three of BTS’ songs with social commentary, but when considered together, they provide a clear picture of some deep issues in Korean society. It’s true, songs won’t solve these problems, but that does not lessen the value of meaningful lyrics, which can both comfort those living with these hardships and serve as material for international fans to learn more about Korean society. Knowledge is power, after all.
Courtney Lazore is a writer/editor with special interests in BTS and Korean history and culture. You can find her on her website The BTS Effect or on Twitter.
References
Cho, Hae-joang. “The Spec Generation Who Can’t Say “No”: Overeducated and Underemployed Youth in Contemporary South Korea.” Positions, 23(3). Duke University Press. 2015.
Chong, Kelsey. “South Korea’s Troubled Millennial Generation.” California Management Review. 27 Apr. 2016. Accessed 18 Jun. 2020. https://cmr.berkeley.edu/blog/2016/4/south-korea/
Kim, Yon-se. “Korea Overtakes U.S. in Youth Unemployment.” The Korea Herald. 28 Jul. 2019. Accessed 18 Jun. 2020. http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190728000088
Lee, Ga-eun. “Do you have the ‘specs’?” Korea JoongAng Daily. 23 Nov. 2014. Accessed 18 Jun. 2020. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2997646
“No More Dream.” [trans.] Doolset Bangtan Lyrics. https://doolsetbangtan.wordpress.com/2018/06/21/no-more-dream/
“Over 20% of Unemployed S. Koreans Age 25–29; Highest in OECD for 7th Straight Year.” Yonhap News. 13 Jan. 2020. Accessed 18 Jun. 2020. https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=e&Seq_Code=150604
“Passion Pay.” The Korea Herald. 13 Jan. 2015. Accessed 18 Jun 2020. http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150113000343
Williams, Mike. “A hope in hell.” Shifting Cultures, ABC News. 30 Jan. 2020. Accessed 18 Jun. 2020. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-30/south-korea-hell-joseon-sampo-generation/11844506?nw=0
“Youth unemployment rate.” OECD Data. https://data.oecd.org/unemp/youth-unemployment-rate.htm
