A recent study has revealed a significant decline in South Korea’s social cohesion over the past two years, marking a reversal from the heightened unity observed during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent study has revealed a significant decline in South Korea’s social cohesion over the past two years, marking a reversal from the heightened unity observed during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA) released these findings on August 4 in its report titled “Diagnosis of Social Integration and Response Measures – Perceptions of Fairness and Conflict.”
The survey, conducted between June and August 2022, sampled 3,950 South Koreans aged 19 to 75.
Respondents rated the country’s social cohesion at an average of 4.2 on a 10-point scale, where 0 indicates no integration and 10 signifies perfect integration.
This marks a notable decrease from the 4.59 score recorded in 2021, at the height of the pandemic.
“The common fight against the infectious disease temporarily transformed us into a more cohesive society, but as the pandemic subsided, so did our sense of unity,” the report explained.
Paradoxically, as social cohesion declined, individual life satisfaction and happiness increased post-pandemic. On a 10-point scale, average happiness rose from 6.33 in 2021 to 6.76 in 2022, while life satisfaction climbed from 5.9 to 6.46.
Conversely, feelings of depression decreased from 2.92 to 2.57.
The study highlighted a growing perception of social conflicts, with the conflict between progressive and conservative ideologies viewed as the most severe. An overwhelming 92.3% of respondents considered this divide serious, up from 87% in 2018.
Other significant areas of perceived conflict included disparities between regular and non-regular workers (82.2%), labor-management relations (79.1%), wealth inequality (78%), large conglomerates versus small businesses (71.8%), and regional tensions (71.5%).
The political divide has begun to affect personal relationships, with 58.2% of respondents stating they would not date or marry someone with different political views. This sentiment was stronger among women (60.9%) than men (53.9%), and more prevalent in older age groups.
Trust in institutions varied widely. The medical sector (81.9%), financial institutions (74.5%), and large corporations (69.9%) enjoyed high levels of trust.
In contrast, religious organizations (44.8%), law enforcement (44.8%), and civic groups (42.2%) received lower ratings. The National Assembly fared worst, with only 21.1% expressing trust and 74.1% indicating distrust.
The report emphasizes the need for dialogue to bridge these divides. “Without communication, conflicts can only intensify,” it states, recommending the creation of both online and offline forums for constructive discussions between individuals with differing viewpoints.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
