Inside Korea’s Social Impact

  A few years ago, I saw a foreigner standing in front of several trash bins at a subway station, holding a disposable cup and hesitating. The bins were separated into categories like paper, plastic, and cans, and they seemed unsure where to throw their cup away. A passerby noticed the situation, asked what was wrong, and kindly pointed to the plastic bin.   For me, having been born and raised in Korea, separating waste is something very familiar. When I was young, my mother set up different bins at home for general waste, plastic, cans, and paper. My family naturally followed those rules.   Today, the system has become even more detailed. Waste is categorized into general waste, food waste, plastic, glass, metal (cans), paper, vinyl, and Styrofoam. General waste must be disposed of in designated paid garbage bags, while food waste must go into separate food waste bags or designated containers (which vary by region). Plastic labels must be removed and sorted separ...

  In South Korea, the 9th Nationwide Local Elections will be held on June 3. As the election approaches, the atmosphere is already heating up as citizens prepare to elect local government leaders and council members.   As elections draw near, people vote based on their own beliefs. While each individual has different reasons for choosing a candidate, most voters — especially in local elections — cast their votes with their own communities in mind. (**In Korea, all citizens aged 18 and older are eligible to vote.)   The choice of who receives each vote ultimately shapes the direction of society. Even when candidates aim to solve the same problems, their approaches can differ significantly. In that sense, elections are a critical process that determines the possibilities for social change.   Elections Change More Than We Think   As in any country, elections play a crucial role in Korean society. They determine policy directions, influence the flow ...