Lee, Yonghwan.

                         Secretary General of The Hansun Foundation

 As the COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end, we may think that we are returning to a normal society. However, people are already living in a society where paradigms have shifted. The pandemic changed our daily habits and advancements in science and technology have transformed the world. Ubiquitous connectivity, where one can work from anywhere with an internet connection, metaverses that transcend the boundaries between virtual and real, robots and AI taking on human roles; which have brought about broad changes not only in lifestyles but also in family relations, attitudes toward marriage, and even consciousness itself.

- Transitional societal phenomena

We are currently living in a transitional society where the existing social order is shifting towards a new order. Hierarchical structures and rank destruction are taking place in both households and workplaces. In the digital age, it is necessary to learn from juniors rather than seniors. Changes in the usage of language and writing, which are the embodiment of culture and spirit, have resulted in communication barriers. The younger generation uses abbreviations more than words and sentences, in which the older generation often fails to understand their meaning correctly. Communication barriers distort facts and make it difficult to distinguish what is true and factual. At times, language is played with using terms like "post-truth," engaging in linguistic playfulness. When politicians get involved, even the ability to discern right from wrong becomes blurred. Even content that any normal person could judge is subject to confirmation bias and the determination of right and wrong based on political biases.

  In such a society, honesty, and trust, which are the foundations of a healthy society, cannot be accumulated. Instead, falsehoods, deceit, and manipulations will prevail. A healthy society is one that is abundant in social capital. However, in our society, social capital is diminishing, while the opposite concept, "social debt," is being used in contrast to "social capital," drawing on accounting terminology. This refers to the low trust and reciprocity among people due to hypocrisy, falsehoods, and other factors, leading to social side effects.

Hypocrisy and falsehoods reduce social trust and make rational decision-making difficult. In such a society, the values of inclusiveness and consideration are low, and individuals do not hesitate to violate not only laws but also social norms for their interests. Excessive individualism, prioritizing self-interest, dominates in such a society. In reality, certain segments of society employ deceit and hypocrisy to deceive the truth. Trade unions and various interest groups, for their benefit, block streets, cause traffic congestion, and create noise without considering the inconvenience caused to others, assuming it is a natural behavior. They prioritize their harm and neglect the harm to others or the consideration for the public good. They claim that social responsibility is important, but they fail to uphold it properly. Social responsibility knows no exceptions. By solely emphasizing personal interests and convenience, they end up causing inconvenience to others. Even minor actions should not cause harm to others. If one's trivial daily activities become burdensome to others, they should exercise restraint. Especially if the actions pose risks, greater caution must be exercised.

- Social debt

Social debt refers to a society where many people do not adhere to social norms, contrasting with social capital. In such a society, there is more suspicion than trust. A society with high levels of suspicion has low levels of trust, conflicts and confrontations outweigh cooperation, leading to a risky society. In this kind of society, individuals prioritize means over ends for their own interests, creating a phenomenon of the clash between objectives and means. It can also give rise to corruption.

In order to transition from a society with high social debt to a society with social capital, trust must be built. Trust and consideration are the essential pillars that drive social development through mutual exchange. In societies lacking trust and consideration, falsehoods and hypocrisy abound. Falsehoods and hypocrisy are not only legal issues but also moral and ethical problems, worse than illegality. Therefore, to become an ideal healthy society, each individual citizen must value morality, integrity, and the common good. In a healthy society, both the social elites and citizens should fulfill their social responsibilities without negligence. The primary social responsibility of citizens is to adhere to social norms, which serve as the foundation of social capital. To become a healthy society with high social capital, citizens need to be vigilant, honest, uphold moral principles, and have a sense of dignity. Even hypocritical or excessively individualistic individuals do not deny the importance of the public good. This is because they cannot deceive their conscience. Leaders must make efforts to manifest the virtues present in the hearts of citizens. As a society fosters a social atmosphere that upholds virtues and the common good, social debt decreases, and social trust increases.

- Accumulation of Social Capital

The severe conflicts in our society today reflect the level of weak social capital. In a society with persistent conflicts, trust and consideration cannot flourish. We must strive to understand others with a mindset of mutual understanding. The primary organizations that contribute to conflicts, such as political parties and labor unions, need to change their consciousness and behavior. Among them, politicians should take the initiative in demonstrating a posture of leading by example. Eliminating hypocrisy and falsehoods, starting from the realm of politics, will allow  bright and clear energy to permeate throughout society. This requires aligning actions with principles and realities. Only then can we cultivate a healthy society of inclusiveness and compassion, and elevate the level of social capital.

However, social issues are not easily fixed. The more systemic the problem, the more challenging it becomes. Structural issues require a long-term perspective and a continuous process of persuasion rather than quick fixes. In the process of problem-solving, the most desirable approach is to engage and persuade the stakeholders involved. Social problems cannot be addressed effectively through individual efforts alone. Therefore, it is crucial for leaders and citizens to collaborate and work together. When dealing with structural problems, it is more important to focus on the direction rather than speed, address root causes rather than superficial symptoms, and consider the whole picture rather than isolated parts. Taking such an approach is desirable for effective problem-solving.