As fortune-telling gains popularity among young South Koreans, more programs and services related to fortune-telling and tarot cards are being added online. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — An increasing number of young South Koreans are taking interest in fortune-telling, tarot cards, and physiognomy online.
More than 100,000 posts were found on Instagram talking about tarot cards, physiognomy, and fortune-telling.
On various online forums for exam preparations, members are posting articles about fortune-telling as they complain about the future, or their failed tests.
“Fortune-telling works as a consolation as I struggle with bad results in real life,” said a senior student at a university.
As fortune-telling gains popularity among young South Koreans, more programs and services related to fortune-telling and tarot cards are being added online.
“Sixty percent of all subscribers are from the MZ generation (millennials and Generation Z). That shows how much they are interested in fortune-telling,” said a YouTuber specializing in fortune-telling with 30,000 subscribers.
Some express concern that obsession with fortune-telling or tarot cards can deprive young Koreans of an autonomous mindset, claiming that fortune-telling is no more than superstition.
“Fortune-telling seemed to impose certain limitations on my actions,” said a Twitter post. “When something bad happens, I get to blame my fortune, rather than myself.”
Experts point out the need to come up with effective policies to address severe unemployment in the coronavirus era, in order to prevent young South Koreans from depending too much on fortune-telling.
“Obsession with fortune-telling turns people into fatalists, who give up on making efforts, and fail to make autonomous decisions,” warned Kwak Keum-joo, a psychology professor at Seoul National University.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
