Young Adults’ Perceptions of Social Insecurity and Fairness

Abstract

This paper examines young adults' perceptions of social insecurity, social inequality, and social security about fairness, aiming to explore the policy implications based on these perceptions. For this study, "young adults" are defined as individuals aged 19 to 34, according to the Framework Act on Youth. The analysis indicates that the level of social insecurity among young adults in Korea is quite high. Notably, social insecurity about fairness and social insecurity related to competition and inequality are significantly higher than other areas of social insecurity. Differences in levels of social insecurity were also identified across various demographic groups. Furthermore, groups experiencing high levels of social insecurity about fairness also perceived wealth/property inequality and income inequality as particularly severe. Young adults generally had a negative perception of social mobility both within and across generations, with especially negative views on intergenerational and intragenerational mobility among those with high levels of social insecurity about fairness. While groups with high levels of social insecurity about fairness exhibited significant dissatisfaction with life, it is noteworthy that even groups with moderate levels of insecurity about fairness showed considerable levels of life satisfaction. Based on these findings, the paper suggests several implications for alleviating social insecurity among young adults.