빨리 빨리 (hurry, hurry)
Like many countries ravaged by war and colonization, South Korea has undergone a dramatic economic explosion in the decades following the 1950s. Industrializing and globalizing feverishly, the country has now become a global leader in the industries of tech, automobile manufacturing and culture/arts.
This effect is most observable in the capital city and most populous urban area: Seoul. Dubbed The Miracle on the Han River, Seoul led the way in this period of rapid economic growth. This massive collective attitude of worker productivity and efficiency is aptly given the name “빨리 빨리”, which translates to “hurry, hurry”. In the name of maximizing profits, this hustle culture mentality has lifted many above the poverty line. But like many examples of the aggressive pursuit of capitalist gains, there are side effects. Wealth disparity in Seoul is the highest it has ever been. Overall mental health is at its worst. The birth rate is declining at an alarming rate.
This work seeks to document the 빨리 빨리 ethos playing out in real time in Seoul. Workers control their small cube of commerce, pumping out food, goods and services in an effort to climb the social ladder and achieve financial success as quickly as possible. Documenting workers and labourers contributing to the machine of capitalism, this work is both empathetic of those most affected by the widening wealth disparity and also critical of the systems that led to its existence.
