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How Unhappy are South Koreans?

South Korea–land of high suicide rates, elderly poverty and hyper-stressed students. But just how unhappy are Koreans?

A new global survey offers some data on the subject, ranking South Koreans 75th out of 135 countries in well-being.

Gallup-Healthways conducted telephone and face-to-face interviews last year with approximately 133,000 people aged 15 or above throughout the world. The survey measured five aspects of well-being: sense of purpose, social relationships, financial, community, and physical health.

Respondents were asked to say whether they were “thriving,” “struggling,” or “suffering” in each category. Countries were ranked based on the percentage of people that said they were thriving in at least three out of five categories.

In the case of South Korea, 14% of people said they were thriving in at least three categories, putting the nation in the bottom half of the global rankings.

Over 85% of Koreans said that they were either struggling or suffering with their sense of purpose. The report suggested that may be linked to “traditional organizational patterns, such as tenure-based promotion and pay systems.” Korean business and social culture is occasionally criticized for its rigid hierarchies.

The survey showed that 65% of Koreans said they were suffering with physical health. Only 17% felt they were thriving, below the global average of 24%.

South Korea scored best in financial well-being, in which 37% of respondents said that they were thriving, higher than the 25% global average. However, Koreans aged 45 and above were significantly less likely to be thriving in financial well-being (28%) than those below that age (43%), according to the report.

The survey found that half of Koreans aged 45 or older were not thriving in any category.

The report also notes that Koreans are making attempts to improve their well-being.

“The concept of well-being has been popularized in South Korea in recent years, with increased attention to physical and psychological fitness in the face of what some see as a trend toward unhealthy Western influence, particularly with regard to fast food and fast-paced lifestyles,” said Gallup-Healthways.

Interest in outdoor leisure activities such as hiking and camping has increased recently and there’s being a growth in sales of health products and organic foods, it noted.

South Korea ranked lower in the survey than most of Asia. Malaysia was 36th, Taiwan 55th, Japan 64th, and China finished lower at 90th. Panama got first place in the survey while Afghanistan and Syria tied last. North Korea was not included in the survey.

http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2014/09/26/how-unhappy-are-south-koreans/

　　슬픈 현실입니다.불평은 WSJ에.