Jung Jun-sung's Yeomindongnak (349) 'FOMO' and 'Relative Deprivation'

FOMO, as defined by the National Institute of the Korean Language, refers to "a phenomenon where people feel anxiety about being left out of trends or falling behind others."

It is a type of social pathology and is more frequently cited as 'FOMO syndrome.'

A similar phenomenon is 'relative deprivation.'

It refers to negative emotions of "feeling like I'm the only one not living well" when compared to others.

The psychology field notes that FOMO's core is anxiety about exclusion, while relative deprivation centers on emotions such as dissatisfaction and anger resulting from comparison.

At its depth lies jealousy.

Of course, jealousy emphasizes personal emotions.

Relative deprivation differs in that it criticizes the social structures that provoke jealousy.

The opposite of FOMO is 'JOMO' (Joy Of Missing Out).

It refers to a psychological state where one does not fear being left out or falling behind, but rather enjoys it.

Recently, JOMO and FOMO have frequently come up in public discourse.

This is not unrelated to the surge in stock markets and the distribution of hundreds of millions of won in performance bonuses to employees of certain companies.

Alongside this, public anger toward Samsung Electronics' 'imperial labor union' has not subsided.

Along with criticism that it advocated benefits for only a select few by using national strategic industries and the national economy as hostages, 'relative deprivation' is also intensifying.

While the wage agreement has been concluded, confusion persists even within Samsung, which gives a sense of the public sentiment.

It is understandable, as there can be a '100-fold' wage gap even among Samsung Electronics employees.

The situation is similar for members of the public excluded from the surging stock market.

There are also growing concerns.

This stems from the prevalence of retail investors' blind following in attempting to ride the stock market rally through 'debt investment' and other means.

This is why caution against investment trends driven by collective momentum is more necessary than ever.

In such times, wisdom to avoid being swept unconditionally by the same flow as others and to uphold one's own judgment and life standards is necessary.

Particularly for young people, wouldn't this allow them to escape 'burnout syndrome' and 'fear of isolation'?