The World of Pre-COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19

Some people say that this is an era of change. However, the last four months were filled with unrest. COVID-19 has brought some dramatic changes. Let's find out what kind of reality we are going to face in the future. ................. Ed

   Kwon Joon-wook, the deputy director of the Central Defense Countermeasures Headquarters, said in a regular press briefing on March 11 that the world will never be the same following the end of COVID-19. We need to move to prepare for the upcoming post-coronavirus amid changes in our thoughts and behavior as a result of this pandemic

   Global digitization - The Untact Era

   The keyword for Post-COVID-19 is digital. ‘Untact consumption’ explains our society as a whole. ‘Untact’ is a newly coined term for combining ‘un’ from ‘non-contact’ with ‘contact’, which means ‘aviod contact’. The era of untact kicked into high gear for the following reasons. First is the strong wave of the fourth industrial revolution, the second is the increase in one-person households among the younger generation in their 20s and 30s, and the third is the spread of COVID-19. In particular, the spread of COVID-19 accelerates this trend. The use of video conferencing apps, online distributors and online education platforms emerged. A self-store is opened that does all the shopping without the help of employees, and kiosks are being used as well. Machines are replacing people. The increase in the untact consumption trend is also evident in people who are in their 40s and 50s. It has spread rapidly from the consumption trend of those in their 20s and 30s to the whole age and global trends.

   Western Supremacy

   COVID-19 has changed not only our behavior, but also our perceptions. One of them is a change in perception of the West. Although significantly weaker than before, Western supremacy continues to exist in our minds. For example, We blindly believe that western products are better than Korean product and thoughtlessly give recognition to the artist who became popular in the west . But when we saw the West collapsed miserably as a result of COVID-19, it became evident that Western supremacy has declined. We began to question the blind idea that the West is living developed life compared to the East. Of course, it is not just our perception that has changed. The view of Korea and the East has also changed in the West. The British Guardian said, “COVID-19 will also accelerate the shift in power and influence from west to east. The response in Europe and America has been slow and haphazard by comparison with China, South Korea and Singapore, further tarnishing the aura of the western brand.”

   On the other hand, the changes that COVID-19 has brought are significant, with bigger changes in the past two months than in the past two years. As a result, people have new experiences, new ideas and new lifestyles. Knowing that behaviors and perceptions change in people and preparing for post-COVID-19 will be of great help to Soongsilians.

Lee Hae-been (News Editor)

been0503@soongsil.ac.kr

Jeon Seo-yeon (ST Reporter)

seo1256@soongsil.ac.kr