One month ago about 2,000 people rallied in Lower Manhattan, New York and marched up to Broadway. Since then, angry New York citizens have been protesting against the greedy financial businessmen of Wall Street, bank bailouts and a financial system that favors the rich and powerful. Even though the United States suffers from the great amount of loss due to the ill-judged financial investment of the Wall Street, the people engaged in this industry do not seem to feel any guilt. What is worse is that major banks such as Goldman Sachs still offer the same or even higher salaries to their executives. Thus, they became an object of public censure, accused of being irresponsible for their work.
        This is not only a matter for Americans, but also for the whole world as America is an influential nation when it comes to finance and economy. Therefore this demonstration has spread around the world and become a global issue. A few days ago, in Yeoido, people in huge anger held a demonstration in a similar vein to the one in New York. The participants insisted that the Korean government should reject the unfair free trade agreement with America and cried for the reform of the current economical structure of Korea. For university students including myself, the main problem is unemployment. As long as we live in a capitalist society, we will not be able to escape from the high competition and the market oriented life.
As a university student, I want to protest about the trends of things that Korean university students do to get a job. Having studied for 12 years to enter the university, we are compelled to be anxious about seeking employment. To be qualified as the right person that companies want, we need to be equipped with a good TOEIC score, related experience, certificates and even good looks.
I know that society does not change easily. Even so, we continually raise questions about the absurd. Societal change begins by changing one’s mind and thought. Today, I feel the in-depth problem of our times, especially through the demonstration of the unemployed and frustrated youth in Wall Street. I hope that we are not taken by society’s need any more. This time, I would like to raise my voice,”Occupy my university life.”
By Kim Han-na, Head Student Editor
#313 Desk Column
저작권자 © Chonnam Tribune 무단전재 및 재배포 금지