A frequently asked question when we present “Mind the Gap” – a presentation about different generations – is whether these generations can be found all around the world. People battle to believe that the elegant simplicity of the generations model applies in different countries and across multiple cultures.

Of course, the generational model is not applicable to every single individual everywhere (which model is?), but it IS exceptionally robust. And more and more research around the world is showing this to be true. The latest piece of research I picked up comes from one of the students my colleague Keith had contact with at the Asia Pacific Leadership Programme he teaches at every year at the University of Hawaii (read more about this amazing program at Wikipedia).

The title is: Shinsedae: Conservative Attitudes of a ‘New Generation’ in South Korea and the Impact on the Korean Presidential Election, By Park Sun-Young – click here to read it in full.

The basic thesis of the piece is that the younger generation of Koreans (those labelled “Generation X” and “Y” elsewhere in the world), are post-ideological. In short, they are not interested in party-politics. This is a trend seen almost everywhere else in the world. In Britain’s last general elections, the election coincided with Big Brother, and more people voted in the eviction than the election!! Here is an extract:

The 1990s was an era of a widening generation gap. Farewell to ideology, a new generation emerged – a generation that is heavily immersed in consumption. This group of Koreans was born during a time of rapid economic growth, spent their childhood in a prosperous environment and experienced the 1997 Asian financial crisis. They are substantial beneficiaries of the nation’s democracy, which was achieved by the blood, sweat and tears of the 386 generation. And they are the first generation who went abroad for travel and study with the liberalization of overseas travel and the advent of an era of information and communications.

Unlike the 386 generation who fought for democratization and ideological issues, what worries this new generation most is the high unemployment of university graduates. While the 386 generation enjoyed a booming economy with plenty of jobs available, the new generation is struggling with unemployment and riding the tide of “fierce competition.”

When Korea was hit by the Asian financial crisis, they were in high school or college. Raised in an affluent society with full access to the Internet, this new generation witnessed their fathers being kicked out of jobs and their families collapsing. After having to submit resumes without success, they have faced the grim reality that getting a job is crucial but never easy. The Asian financial crisis changed the mindset of this new generation in Korea to put the economy before anything else.

A series of events, such as the Asian financial crisis, the 2002 World Cup where the Korean national soccer team reached the Final Four and the candlelight vigil after two middle school girls were killed by a U.S. Forces Korea military armored vehicle, clearly demonstrated the identity of the younger generation. These young people, who are open-minded, practical and confident, are often indifferent to politics.

Politics is now a product to be consumed by a new generation. Asian politicians are learning quickly that image is what matters almost more than anything else to this new generation of voters.

Read more here.

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