With the rise of an individualistic culture in Korea, the concept of an individual’s ‘personal space’ in public settings has become a controversial topic. The growing tendency to engage in minimal social interactions in public settings is a contributing factor to this phenomenon. These include using AirPods during working hours, engaging in smartphone activities at social gatherings, and the rising popularity of headphones on public transportation. In particular, these behaviors are commonly seen among the MZ generation, a term collectively referring to Millennials, born in the early 1980s to the late 1990s, and Generation Z, born from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s.
Reflecting this trend, there is growing “MZ satirical content” that deals with cases such as wearing AirPods during work. SNL Korea Season 3, a Korean variety program, is airing a feature called “MZ Office,” which is based on the work life of the MZ generation of junior workers. The main story is as follows. A work superior sees an employee working with AirPods and says, “I told you to take out your AirPods during work.” The employee responds with eyes wide open, “AirPods help me work better. Work efficiency increases.” This story has gained popularity and the sympathy of many office workers, and various opinions have been exchanged online regarding the use of AirPods during work. The debate between those who do not understand it and those who do not care much about it has intensified.
The advent of “individualistic culture” is attributed mainly to two factors: the growing importance of personal space, and the lasting influence of COVID-19. Whether in the workplace or in social gatherings, personal space has become highly prioritized over other values. In addition, with the advent of COVID-19, people are moving toward remote communication. To gain further insight into this phenomenon, an interview was conducted with two international students from the University of Seoul regarding the use of AirPods during work and the growing tendency of individualism.
Student A from Kyrgyzstan
“I’m optimistic about using AirPods. Even when performing personal work, I prefer to be alone in a quiet environment. If the purpose of using it is to improve concentration by blocking ambient noise, I think it is acceptable.
Since we are currently in the information age, an increase in individualistic culture is a natural phenomenon. Whatever happens, almost everyone shares their events, great and small, through social media. For example, if we receive a notification on a smartphone while talking to other people, we have no choice but to glance at it naturally.”
Student B from Iran
“I don’t think wearing AirPods is polite to people who work together. We might unintentionally ignore our boss’s instructions. As a result, communication problems can occur within an organization, resulting in poor work efficiency.
Engaging in smartphone activities during conversations is bad manners, of course. However, it seems acceptable to check it briefly.”
Although the main pillar of Korean culture is collectivism, the future outlook regarding cultural shifts remains uncertain. As Korea goes through an insecure transitional period, it is essential that evolving values and attitudes are understood across different generations.