Key facts
- Young South Koreans are experiencing 'climate anxiety' due to the climate crisis.
- This anxiety is influencing their daily lives, including exercise and shopping habits.
- The phenomenon is also affecting decisions about marriage.
- A common sentiment is that current summers will be the coolest of their remaining lives.
A growing number of young South Koreans are grappling with 'climate anxiety,' a psychological response to the escalating climate crisis. This anxiety is not merely a topic of dark humour but a tangible force shaping their everyday decisions and outlook on life. The sentiment that current summers will be the coolest of their remaining lives reflects a deep-seated concern about the immediate and personal impacts of climate change. This psychological burden is leading young people to alter their routines, including how they engage in physical activity, their consumer choices, and even their long-term personal plans such as marriage.