Jacobin Radio
Behind the News: Crisis in Korea w/ Tim Shorrock
Jan 16, 2025
Colette Shade, author of "Y2K: How the 2000s Became Everything," reflects on the cultural landscape at the millennium's turn, contrasting past optimism with today's disillusionment. Tim Shorrock, a journalist specializing in South Korea and U.S. foreign policy, discusses the current political crisis involving President Yoon Seok-yeol's controversial martial law declaration. He sheds light on public protests, impeachment proceedings, and the complicated dynamics of South Korea’s alliances with Japan and the U.S., set against rising tensions from North Korea.
53:01
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Quick takeaways
- Colette Shade discusses the impact of neoliberal ideals on personal identity, revealing how cultural trends affected mental health during the Y2K era.
- Tim Shorrock analyzes the political crisis in South Korea, emphasizing public protests against President Yoon's pro-Japanese policies and military governance attempts.
Deep dives
Nostalgia for the Y2K Era
The discussion reflects on the Y2K era, a time marked by economic optimism and internet utopianism that spanned from 1997 to 2008. This period was characterized by a pervasive belief in the triumph of American capitalism, further fueled by the dot-com bubble and later, the housing bubble. Individuals experienced a sense of political apathy, believing that traditional forms of protest were obsolete as they focused on personal wealth through stock markets rather than collective action. The conversations highlight how events like 9/11 and the subsequent Great Recession disrupted this optimism and pushed many to reconsider their political engagement.
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