A Society That Tolerates No Failure

Not long ago, the 22nd National Assembly opened. As political conflict has recently reached a peak, the two major parties are fighting far more often than before. Fighting in itself is one thing, but… I was taken aback because a recent brawl in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee seemed to lay bare Korean society exactly as it is.

The gist of the fight was this. The committee chair said, “We will proceed according to the National Assembly Act,” then told the opposing party’s floor manager to “go study the National Assembly Act.” The other member, who had graduated from Seoul National University’s College of Law, shot back, “Wasn’t I the better student?”—taking aim at the chair’s educational background.

It was disheartening to see it as such a stark reflection of Korean society, where failure is not permitted and the university you attended becomes your social status for life. The college entrance exam is not the end of it. The list of things one must never fail at goes on and on: the company you work for, the apartment you live in, the car you drive, your spouse’s credentials, your children’s grades.

In a social climate like this, can we really expect startup founding — which demands taking on risk — to happen more often?