- Source: Spoon class theory
The spoon class theory (Korean: 수저 계급론) refers to the idea that individuals in a country can be classified into different socioeconomic classes represented by the materials used to make spoons, based on the assets and income level of their parents, and that one's success in life depends entirely on being born into a wealthy family. The term appeared in 2015 and was first widely used among online communities in South Korea.
Theory
The term is based on the English idiom "born with a silver spoon in one's mouth". In the past, European nobility often used silver dishes, and children were fed by nannies using silver spoons, which indicated the wealth of the family. In South Korea, this idea was taken further to establish several categories to classify individuals based on their family's wealth. Unlike the western idiom which simply denotes those "born with a silver spoon", Korean usage divides society into those born with a variety of spoons ranging from clay, bronze, silver, gold, and even platinum based on their parents' economic status. Those from low-income backgrounds are described as "dirt spoons".
Usage
Spoon class theory began widely appearing among online communities in South Korea in 2015.
In 2019, Justice Minister Cho Kuk was engulfed in a corruption scandal after revelations that he and his wife had falsified documents for his children's college applications. The scandal resulted in his resignation after acknowledging being a "gold spoon" and led then-president Moon Jae-in to apologize. At the time, The New York Times reported:The scandal has exploded into the biggest embarrassment of Mr. Moon’s presidency as he has struggled with an ailing economy and a lack of opportunity for many young people. It has particularly fueled outrage about the “gold spoon” children of the elite, who glide into top-flight universities and cushy jobs, leaving their “dirt spoon” peers to struggle in South Korea’s hobbled economy.
Sociological analysis
= Gold Spoon as Simulacrum
=Hyo Chan Cho links the concept of the "gold spoon" to Jean Baudrillard's simulacrum. He argues that the "gold spoon" exists within a simulacrum, representing an image without an origin that has become a hyperreality in modern society. Gold spoon imagery, perpetuated by media and advertising, idealizes nonexistence as existence, wielding significant influence. According to Cho, society increasingly accepts these reproduced images as more real than reality itself. This aligns with Baudrillard's theory of simulacrum, where substance is secondary to the power of the image.
= Economic Polarization and Social Mobility
=Young adults preparing for life transitions such as college, marriage, or employment often feel disadvantaged, particularly when compared to their wealthier peers. Many corporations in South Korea demand exceptional academic performance and English fluency, prerequisites more accessible to the upper class due to their financial resources. In contrast, middle and lower-class individuals face the dual burden of working while studying and lacking comparable monetary support.
Economic inequality influences not only employment prospects but also broader aspects of life, such as marriage. The persistence of generational poverty has created distinct social classes. While some individuals manage to transcend their socioeconomic origins, others criticize the systemic unfairness perpetuated by the "spoon class" theory. This inequality increasingly burdens young adults and mirrors societal structures described in spoon class theory.
= Park Jae-wan's Research on Social Mobility
=Park Jae-wan, a professor at Sungkyunkwan University, analyzed the spoon class theory through the lens of social mobility. He noted that South Korea's income distribution aligns closely with advanced nations, citing indicators like the Gini coefficient and relative poverty rates. However, he argued that the evidence supporting "gold spoon" or "Helos" claims is weak.
Park's research estimated the likelihood of income groups maintaining their socioeconomic status: 29.8% for the low-income class, 38.2% for the middle class, and 32.0% for the high-income class. While mobility remains possible, stratification has slowed since the financial crisis due to entrenched poverty, particularly among the elderly.
Park identified five causes behind the spoon class theory:
Youth unemployment
Intergenerational wealth transfer
Government regulation and vested interests
Relative deprivation among Koreans
Weak social capital
= Han Jun's Recommendations
=Han Jun, a sociology professor at Yonsei University, emphasized the importance of enhancing social mobility to improve societal vitality and integration. He advocated for targeted policy interventions, such as improving the physical and mental health of children from low-income families and supporting their academic and cognitive development. Han highlighted the need for focused educational investment in rural and low-income areas.
= Lee Byeong-hoon's Observations
=Lee Byeong-hoon, a sociology professor at Chung-Ang University, explored public perceptions of inequality. He found that negative views on opportunistic inequality stem from hierarchical structures and experiences of discrimination. Younger, highly educated individuals expressed stronger criticisms of opportunity inequality. Lee's analysis revealed that perceptions of inequality were most pronounced among the lower-income class, followed by the middle class and, to a lesser extent, the upper class.
= Conclusion
=The gold spoon phenomenon highlights the complex interplay of economic inequality, social mobility, and public perception in South Korea. While some argue that mobility is still possible, systemic barriers persist, exacerbated by entrenched poverty and intergenerational wealth disparities. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts to reduce inequality and foster greater social cohesion.
See also
Hell Joseon
Lottery of birth
Sampo generation
Economic inequality in South Korea
Poverty in South Korea
References
External links
""It Is Fortunate That I Wasn't Born as a Korean," Ex-Japanese Envoy to Seoul Says in Column - Masatoshi Muto Stirs Controversy in South Korea". The Seoul Times.