Time-trapped youth, the clock for them must start moving again

The reality where the clock of youth has stopped

Today’s youth live faster than anyone else, yet their clocks seem to have stopped. They devote most of their day to work but find it difficult to dream of the future. The youth of this era are experiencing a 'stagnation of life' within the 'exploitation of time.' This cannot simply be dismissed as an individual choice or weakness it is a structural pathology of society. It is now time to confront this essence and for everyone to work together to find solutions.

Youth Labor, Double Exploitation of Time and Life

In many advanced countries, including South Korea, the day for young people often starts with more than 8 hours of work. Overtime and extra work, which exceed the legally defined working hours, are now considered 'normal.' Especially as unstable forms of employment like non-regular jobs, freelancing, and platform labor become commonplace, youth find themselves bound to work for the majority of their day. This time pressure is not merely about physical fatigue. A life devoid of sufficient rest, let alone the opportunity to reflect on oneself, gradually erodes the mental and physical well-being of young people. Depression, anxiety, and lethargy are additional shadows that they must manage. The meanings of 'hope' and 'growth' that the word youth once contained are increasingly losing their luster.

Stagnant daily life, the lost me

Every day, work and commuting repeat. The days of young people who live for survival rather than achievement are a continuation of replicated time. In that space, identity becomes blurred, and the direction of life grows vague. Unlike the city’s dazzling lights, their inner world is lonely and quiet in silence. The repetitive daily routine becomes a prison named lethargy, trapping their youth. On top of this, anxiety about the future overlaps. Soaring housing costs, endless student loans, an opaque job market, and uncertain retirement security. All these elements weigh down the youth of today, robbing them of the energy to plan for tomorrow. Free time, rest, and a balanced life are no longer options but considered 'luxury.'

The transition of the system, the first step to reclaiming time

To solve this problem, a fundamental restructuring of the social system is needed, rather than mere sympathy or temporary measures. First, the balance between working hours and rest must be corrected. Just labor should be accompanied by just treatment, and institutional enhancements for improving quality of life should follow. Ensuring employment stability alongside flexibility in work systems and strengthening the social safety net will provide the most practical foundation for young people to envision their future. Support for transitioning to regular employment, protection of labor rights, and expansion of welfare are conditions under which young people can fully preserve their time. This is, in essence, a process of restoring a dignified life and represents a minimum responsibility towards creating a better society.

Shift of consciousness, shift of culture

However, the system alone is not enough. The true clock that confines youth to time may lie within all of our perceptions. We must move away from the outdated mindset that 'work equals life' and towards a society that respects 'the right to rest,' 'the value of leisure,' and 'the design of one's own life.' If culture does not change, the system is merely a shell. This change is not the responsibility of one individual. It is a collective task that individuals, companies, and the government must all practice together. A very small change in perception, the implementation of small policies, and the choices of small businesses come together to create significant change.

The clock of youth can start moving again.

At this very moment, countless youths are enduring in a suspended time. However, the power to make this clock tick again lies within all of us. A society where youth can own their time is not an ideal it is a reality that we can all create together. The day youth becomes the master of time, we will finally approach a truly humane society. Now is the time for all of us to redesign our time and lives. No one, no youth, is destined to live trapped by time. Change begins today, here, from each of our actions.