The worst year of our lives

2016 is coming to an end. How will our children and grandchildren remember the year 2016? According to the top 10 news stories of Korea in 2016 by the Dong-A Ilbo, the list is full of negative incidents from the Choi Soon-sil scandal to a fine dust alert.

The year 2016 will be remembered as the year of chaos. Though we wished for a silver-bullet resolution to many conundrums that Korea has to deal with for its growth, such as economic revival, things have become much more complicated. The economy is surrounded by even more uncertainties, conflicts between South Korea and North Korea are aggravated and unexpected natural disasters, such as earthquake, are adding more concerns. Unfortunately, the needed momentum from the political community members to design a solution is missing from the confusion and chaos that have muddled them.

The year 2016 will be remembered as the year of humiliation. Though the investigation is still ongoing, the Choi Soon-sil scandal has revealed incompetence and unprincipled behaviors of Korea’s leader. The scandal was even chosen as one of the most shocking global news of the year by a Chinese media agency. The hard-won reputation that Korea built over the previous years has disappeared in an instant moment. Furthermore, not a day goes by that Koreans do not suffer from the shame inflicted on them.

The year 2016 will be remembered as the year of struggle. The forefront of export market destroyed. Corporate restructurings led to weakening employment. Salaries are not increasing. Against this backdrop, a new trend in the year-end gatherings has been reported with no sign of improving. The number of social events decreased, and, even when people meet, they drink less alcohol and go back home early. Instead of having another round of drinks, people prefer to have a cup of coffee. Taxi business is struggling with decreasing customers. Restaurant owners are complaining. The current economic recession is even compared with the downturn after the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

It is true that we have had many bad incidents in the past. But, looking back the last one year, it is a kind of feeling of suffocation under many simultaneous problems broke out in Korea. The goals that the government had set by the beginning of this year have mostly been failed, and, in the meantime, problems, long-entrenched in society, started appearing. In some sense, it is fortunate that internal problems long hidden in society broke out at this moment so that Koreans can see the severity. Obviously, the sooner the better. It seems a bit late, but at least we can now identify, diagnose and correct problems ailing politics and economy.

I wish that the year 2016 will be the year of “hitting the bottom” for a fresh turnaround. Stocks, housing prices and even school grades rebound after hitting the bottom. I hope that the year 2016 will serve as a turning point for Korea to end its downward spiral and move upward. Toynbee explained history in terms of challenge and response that provide the momentum to drive cultural and human developments throughout history. There is not a single country that has not confronted with a challenge making a great progress. Powerful counties in our times have all built up their authority on numerous challenges. Korea showcased its unwavering resilience and commitment through its miraculous growth after Japanese occupation and the Korean War. In retrospect of the last two decades, Korea overcame the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the global financial crisis in 2008 and stepped up to the next level.

Many problems that have surfaced in 2016 are remnants of growth over the previous five decades. It could have been much more satisfactory if we were able to diagnose and correct them before. But better late than never. The forecast for next year is not promising. Uncertainties in and out of Korea will continue to weigh on growth. However, risk never disappears in any time. History is continuing events, thus hard to eval‎uate now. Time passes by but history will be never erased and eval‎uated in the future. Though the year 2016 is filled with shameful and humiliating events, it could be remembered as a milestone year for Korea to jump up to the higher level.

It all depends on 2017 if the year 2016 will be remembered as the year of humiliation or of milestone. Our actions will set the course. Korean society is suffering from fatigue accumulated after 50-year of forward-oriented growth without taking any rest. It looks worrisome. However, we cannot stop at this line. Koreans in their 50s and 60s who have contributed to growth are still filled with vigor, Koreans in their 30s and 40s who are standing at the forefront of growth are passionate for their future and Koreans in their 20s who will pick up the baton and lead growth have dreams. No doubt, Korea will rebound strongly in 2017.