미래한국리포트

Considering the fact that birth, education, and work is the basic components of life, Korea is now facing serious problems in all three components, resulting in decrease of life quality, as we have shown in previous Future Korea Report. According to the survey that SBS and Korea Gallup had conducted in beginning of the year, life satisfaction rate has been decreasing rapidly for last 5 years.

Although Korea is now expecting to be top ten in size of the economy, quality of life indicators from UNDP rank Korea as world’s 28th. From the ‘World Value Survey’ research of Professor Ronald Inglehart and his team from University of Michigan, Korea ranks 3rd tier along with Uganda relevance to subjective happiness.

Related to this research, Professor Ed Diner had found through international comparison that there is a change in increase rate of happiness nearby national income of $10,000, that it does not positively relate anymore instead people require more happiness. Experts say that this finding is also reflected on recent trend of companies adopting theme of ‘Happiness’ to their management.

Therefore in the 4th Future Korea Report, we concentrated on more specific and practical issues on ‘Happiness’. OECD Secretary-General Donald Johnston says that measuring level of nation development by GDP is on its limit, therefore we are now developing GNH (Gross National Happiness) indicator. He actively participated on the 4th Future Korea Report.(SBS has chosen its catch phrase "Go together to Happy Korea" for 2006)

Why is it ‘Family?’

Rothwell and Cohen from U.K. who had organized indicator for happiness had found through experiments that ‘Personality’, ‘Existence’ and ‘Higher Order’ is the factors that determines happiness. They have concluded that ‘Existence’ factors that is, human relation, health and wealth, are the most important of all and therefore recommends to spend time with family, friends and for him or herself.

Also according to the survey by SBS and Korea Gallup, in social aspect, job ranks top on factor of happiness, and in personal aspect, it is family affiliation.

However, because of radical changes in social-economy, family is now in danger. Form of families have also changed that there are disputes about prospects of family, from ones who say it will disappear to others who insist that family affiliation will ironically strengthen.

In several advanced countries as U.S., policies emphasize ‘Family Value’ as basis for the society and the source of personal happiness. These policies are in consideration of population changes and financial matters.

Therefore, the 4th Future Korea Report in cooperation of OECD, government, and experts, insists to set year 2006 as the origin year of happiness, and promote quality of life to be the main objective of Korean policy.