Number of S. Koreans who expect social mobility hits another low

Posted on : 2015-11-28 13:06 KST Modified on : 2015-11-28 13:06 KST
Lack of good jobs and welfare support leading more people to lose hope, for their and the next generation
People who say there‘s high possibility of social mobility
People who say there‘s high possibility of social mobility

The number of South Koreans who feel capable of achieving socioeconomic class mobility through their own efforts has fallen to just over two in ten this year, survey results show.

The figures indicate that deepening income and asset inequality has left more and more people believing it is impossible to rise from low to middle or high income brackets through their own effort or ability.

Findings from a 2015 societal survey published by Statistics Korea on Nov. 26 showed just 21.8% of respondents answering in the affirmative when asked if they thought socioeconomic status for their generation “could increase through efforts over your lifetime.” Another 62.2% said the chances were “low,” while 15.9% said they were unsure.

The number of respondents rating their chances of class mobility as “high” stood at 35.7% when the survey was first conducted in 2009, but has since fallen yearly, to 28.8% in 2011 and 28.2% in 2013.

For the survey, Statistics Korea interviewed 39,000 people aged 13 and older.

A bigger issue was the number of people predicting the same situation for future generations. Just 31% of respondents rated the class mobility chances for the next generation as “high.” The number was down 17.4 percentage points from 48.4% six years ago in 2009.

People who described themselves as “lower class” saw their class mobility chances as particularly slim, with only 13.1% rating their own mobility as “possible” and 23% agreeing for their children’s generation. The numbers suggest the perception of economic status as being passed down from parents has become deeply rooted in South Korean society.

The perceptions of the class mobility ladder being broken are mostly borne out by the reality. Figures published in January by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs found just 22.6% of low-income people having risen to the middle class or higher for 2014 - the lowest level in history.

“The reason it’s becoming more and more difficult to rise in class level is because welfare policies are weak, job quality is dropping, and poverty among seniors has become more severe,” said Oh Geon-ho, joint steering committee chairperson for the civic group Create Your Own Welfare State.

By Kim So-youn, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

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