Letters from Morning Calm Korea

When I talk with people my age these days, I often notice that, even as everyone works hard to keep up with life, there are moments when they suddenly let out a deep sigh. The endless competition to build stronger résumés, an increasingly difficult job market, soaring housing costs, and even uncertainty about retirement. Young people run breathlessly just to keep from falling behind in a world where everyone seems to be on their own, yet when they finally pause, a sense of emptiness and uncertainty can suddenly creep in: “Why am I living this intensely in the first place?”   Recent news reports and statistics make this reality even clearer. Around 70–80% of people in their 20s and 30s reportedly identify as having no religion, with “lack of interest” cited by far as the most common reason for having no religious affiliation. For young people who are more immediately concerned with making ends meet or preparing for their next career move, ideas such as salvation in the a...

How have you been spending this unusually hot and long summer? As we endure the suffocating heat rising from the asphalt and the scorching summer weather, I think we’ve all found ourselves thinking at least once, “Our planet is really hurting.”   Throughout the city streets we pass by every day without a second thought, small signs of the climate crisis and environmental pollution are quietly adding up. 🌿 Against this backdrop, one activity has been gaining popularity around the world. It’s “plogging,” an activity that helps us stay healthy while taking care of the environment at the same time!   The word “plogging” combines the Swedish term “plocka upp,” meaning “to pick up,” with the English word “jogging.”   The movement took off in 2016 when Swedish environmental activist Erik Ahlström began picking up litter during his daily commute, a simple act that soon spread through social media.   The repeated bending, squatting, and standing invol...