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I have recently delved into the topic of the most hypergamous society in the world - South Korea.
School-age children study up to 16 hours a day to excel in their national exams and gain admission to top universities, as otherwise they won't have a chance at a good life. Parents even provide their children, who have been accepted into these universities, with plastic surgery to further enhance their careers.
Status is valued more than appearance, where their standards are already incredibly high. Without the right position and resources, one has no opportunity to build relationships or establish a social circle. As a result, South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world and one of the lowest fertility rates.
K-pop agencies sign slave-like contracts with individuals aspiring to become stars, and it goes something like this: there may be several hundred participants in such auditions, living together practically in cages. Even for several years, they undergo grueling training, and the weaker ones are gradually eliminated. A few individuals will be offered contracts, while the remaining hundreds will leave with wasted years and not a penny to their name.
Despite all this, Korea holds a powerful position in pop culture, but it's hard to perceive these things when observing everything from the outside. For us Europeans, their dramas on Netflix, their music, and their entire culture may seem great, but for the young people living there, it's hell.
In Korea, you can't afford to be average and lead a calm, boring life.
