"South Korea and Italy: A Warning About Growing Similarities in Social Structure"
Milan: “Our economy is concentrated in the north, especially Milan. Jobs are scarce in the south.” Seoul: “Same here—business, infrastructure, and culture are all pulled into Seoul and Gyeonggi.” Housing Crisis Milan: “Milan’s housing prices are absurd; even a lifetime’s savings isn’t enough, and rent is high.” Seoul: “Ours rose even faster. Many young people have given up on owning a home.” Falling Birth Rates Milan: “Marriage and childbirth are delayed or avoided.” Seoul: “We have the world’s lowest birth rate—housing, jobs, and education costs make kids unrealistic.” Politics & Populism Milan: “Short-term popularity policies lack long-term vision.” Seoul: “We face the same, with subsidies and showpiece projects instead of structural fixes.” Labor Unions Milan: “Strong unions lead to frequent strikes, pushing firms abroad.” Seoul: “Powerful unions can stall whole industries.” Tourism Dependence Milan: “Tourist hotspots push locals out with high costs.” Seoul: “Neighborhoods like Hongdae and Myeongdong are shifting toward tourist-focused businesses.” Youth & Jobs Milan: “Even with degrees, stable jobs are rare; temp contracts dominate.” Seoul: “Big firms hire few, SMEs pay poorly—many turn to exams and licenses.” Retirement Anxiety Milan: “Fears over shrinking pensions push people abroad.” Seoul: “Young people believe they’ll never get a pension.” Trust in Politics & Networking Culture Milan: “We hope for change but face repeated disappointment.” Seoul: “Politics feels like arguing, not solving. Connections still outweigh merit.”
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