I originally got this link on Asian-American Materialism from Yush. At first glance, it seemed to be somewhat interesting ... but the more I read, the less I liked it. After I finished reading it, I've concluded that this is one of the worst op-eds I've ever read.

Right off the bat, this article starts off with a broad generalization that basically categorizes most of Korean-American culture into Prada-buying, Gucci-wearing, BMW-driving materialistic assholes. Besides the fact that this is somewhat sensationalized writing, this problem is implied to be an inherently Asian one.

Here is the first fault of the article. This overly extensive generalization, while on the whole being false, is not just limited to Korean-Americans. Most of the Western hemisphere has a natural obsession towards greater goods - Prada, Gucci, and BMW. Status symbols has always been important in creating a social hierarchy for all societies, not just Korean-Americans. India has long suffered under the caste system, and it was not more than a 150 years ago when the European monarchies were firmly in power. All the gripes of the author extend further than simply the Korean-American culture, and we would be folly to be so hard on our own culture when other cultures are just as guilty of this.

I also have a huge issue with the writing style. The op-ed starts off pretty promising ... but then it soon degrades into random observations about problems with the Korean-American culture without really bringing together a real solution or tying together all the arguments.

The whole article ends by saying "Your parents worked hard, and you're blowing their hard-earned money. So quit doing it." Oh really. This is mind-blowing.

Parents ... working hard for their children? Kids ... blowing money when they have it? SOMEONE STOP THE PRESSES. THIS IS AMAZING NEWS.


Sorry for the sarcastic outburst. In reality, these problems are not just limited to Korean Americans, but to the whole of culture. All cultures are starting to feel the freedoms (and limitations) imposed by the sudden increase in wealth. Kids are being born into higher classes than their parents. They have more money. It is only natural that they are more loose with their money.

Does this make it right? No. But to present an article that seems to limit this problem simply to the Korean-American audience is folly. The problem is universal, but there is no clear-cut solution. As long as parents are able to humble children and make them realize the value of a hard-earned dollar, materialism won't become as bad as this sensationalized op-ed makes it seem.

In any case, materialism is not just limited to those who blow their parents money - it's a problem for everybody. I blew a ton of money on photography equipment, but it wasn't my parents money I blew - it was my hard-earned cash. Although it wasn't as useless as a Prada bag or Gucci clothes, it still drives home the point that this materialism derives from our financial status in the world, and not limited to some Korean-American culture.


Koreans, quit thinking the world revolves around you. Our problems are not unique; our cultures share the same problems.