63% of Men in 20s-30s View 'Young Forties' Negatively, Survey Shows

"Stussy cap + Nike sneakers + orange iPhone 17" They may look no different from someone in their 20s on the surface, but reactions often note something feels "awkward." These are the so-called "Young Forties." Once a lighthearted term for trend-conscious 40-somethings, it has now become a symbol of mockery and generational conflict. The term "Young Forties" (yeongpoti) originated as a meme describing "40-year-olds who want to look young." Typical examples include those who adopt street fashion popular among people in their 20s and 30s and consume the latest electronic gadgets. The BBC also took note of Korea's "Young Forties" phenomenon. In a January report, the British broadcaster described them as "middle-aged people in their 40s trying to stay youthful," while pointing out that negative perceptions have recently spread, viewing them as "a group that refuses to age and tries excessively to appear young." The BBC cited changing consumption patterns involving Stussy clothing, Nike shoes, and iPhones, analyzing that within Korea's strong age-hierarchy culture, younger generations' fatigue has been expressed through the mocking "Young Forties" meme. **Who Dislikes 'Young Forties' Most?... "63% of Men in 20s-30s Negative"** The group most actively consuming the "Young Forties" meme is people in their 20s and 30s, particularly men. According to a Hankook Research survey of 1,000 adults nationwide conducted February 6-9 and released on the 8th, 63% of men in their 20s and 30s who had heard the term evaluated it "negatively." This was higher than women in the same age group. In contrast, those 60 and older were more likely to evaluate it "positively," revealing a clear generational perception gap. The most frequently mentioned images associated with "Young Forties" were "40-somethings pretending to be young inappropriately for their age" (49%), "40-somethings copying younger generation culture" (48%), and "40-somethings who assert authority" (41%). Notably, 60% of those in their 20s associated the term with "40-somethings who inappropriately approach younger members of the opposite sex." Meanwhile, the economic image of "privileged 40-somethings" accounted for only 14%, showing that the backlash against "Young Forties" stems from "behavior" rather than "money." **"You Bought Houses in a Lucky Era"... Clash of Real Estate and Generational Perceptions** The "real estate privilege" frame frequently cited as central to generational conflict turned out to be less straightforward than expected. Responses were evenly split on whether "those in their 40s are a lucky generation that built assets during the real estate boom," with 47% agreeing and 44% disagreeing. However, agreement was higher among those in their 20s and 30s, while 69% of those in their 40s denied this characterization. Only 23% agreed that "those in their 40s are fairly sharing opportunities with younger generations." Interestingly, 59% of 40-somethings themselves also disagreed. In other words, while there are generational differences in perceiving "monopolized opportunities," the perception that "opportunities are not being shared fairly" is shared across generations. The patterns of generational conflict are also noteworthy. People in their 20s-30s and those in their 40s-50s identified each other as the generations they view most negatively, with high proportions feeling the other generation doesn't try to understand them. Only 28% agreed that "younger generations try to understand middle-aged people," while 46% agreed that "middle-aged people try to understand younger generations," revealing a perception gap. Within this structure where each side feels misunderstood, the "Young Forties" meme functions as a language of conflict. **"Politically Biased?"... A Matter of Experience, Not Ideology** Generational divisions were also evident in political perceptions. On whether "those in their 40s are politically biased," 65% of conservatives agreed while only 29% of progressives did. By age, agreement was highest among those 70 and older (65%) and those in their 20s (57%), while 57% of 40-somethings disagreed. On whether "those in their 40s are authoritarian toward younger generations," 58% of those in their 20s and 52% of those in their 30s agreed, but a majority of 40-somethings denied this. This suggests that experiential perceptions of being "authoritarian" or "not understanding" are fueling conflict more than political orientation itself. The "Young Forties" debate thus reveals aspects of generational conflict beyond a simple meme. The BBC also interpreted this as "an extended form of 'kkondae' (condescending elder) culture," identifying it as a result combining economic deprivation and cultural fatigue. At the same time, the report highlighted that 40-somethings see themselves as a "sandwich generation" burdened between older and younger generations. Ultimately, the core issue is closer to "how we view each other" rather than "which generation has more advantages." Lee Dong-han, senior researcher at Hankook Research, said, "Negative perceptions of 'Young Forties' stem from behavioral images like 'pretending to be young,' 'authoritarianism,' and 'inappropriate approaches' rather than 'economic privilege,'" adding that "rather than stigmatizing specific generations, we need approaches that try to understand different experiences and values."

63% of Men in 20s-30s View 'Young Forties' Negatively, Survey Shows

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