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Usually people are not having many chances to have decent jobs as they get older. However, in some sense, this is not only a problem for seniors but also for younger people, as employment has been unstable and industry growth has stagnated in the 21st century. In this time of computer science and cutting-edge AI information technology, chances of employment and job opportunities have not been massive, as they do not require physical labor power of human beings.
Machines and computers have replaced human labor in so many areas and a large part of the whole population has been dumped into so-called industrial reserve forces. Robots are taking the places of humans in huge factories as well as small local restaurants. It is obvious that the economy has grown and developed tremendously compared to a few decades ago, but that doesn't necessarily mean that people live much happier lives today. The economy is the basic means for human lives but it never guarantees happiness or well-being.
The world and societies have changed so rapidly that I have had a hard times adapting to social changes. Lately I had to learn how to use metaverse. As I get older and older, I find it more and more difficult to adapt to new circumstances. But life expectancy has risen a lot due to the development of medical techniques. People normally say that we need to prepare to live 100 years. That is to say, when people usually retire from their jobs at the age of around 60 or 65, they have to live almost 35 or 40 years more without high-paying proper jobs. This can mean terrible or tedious, boring consumption of time for those who are not prepared for spending their time usefully and happily. What about me? I still cannot believe that I have to think about my old age and be concerned about my financial condition.
When I take a look back at my past life, the first time when I took the economy seriously was my university days, maybe junior year. It was at that time that I dared to buy the famous "Das Kapital" written by Karl Marx. It was the time of students' movement for democratization against military dictatorship, thus socialist books or critical and dissident lectures were quite widespread among university students. I don't deny that I was deeply affected by that kind of social atmosphere. Through such readings and activities, I was able to develop critical perspectives on social issues including economic class stratification, gender inequality and the division of the Korean Peninsula. Such issues looked so urgent and significant that I was quite absorbed in reading and learning about those issues. I am not sure whether I understood those books completely.
Many times I would feel that I was not fit for the economy or finance, as I was not used to striving to make much money or calculating my own profit. In this regard, I might have been a person who was not standing firmly on the ground, down to earth. I have also taken interest in metaphysical subjects. That must be the reason why I majored in literature and theology. They seem to have nothing to do with making money.
But now at the age of 55, what I am realizing is that I cannot live without economy or finance. I am still learning about many things including the economy from a Christian perspective. I hope that I can live a much happier life in my old days starting today.
Dr. Lee Nan-hee studied English in college and theology at Hanshin University.
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