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Climate justice beyond intergenerational conflict: youth climate activism in South Korea

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  • Just and Sustainable Transitions in Net-Zero Asia
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Abstract

Do we fully understand youth climate activism and their claims for climate justice? Previous studies have mainly focused on intergenerational inequality. However, this framing is inadequate when considering youth climate movements in South Korea. Korean school strikers are characterized by their ambivalent stance toward the term “future generations” and their critical views on social injustice. This study examines their generational consciousness and environmental concerns, exploring the manifestation of three different dimensions of climate justice—intergenerational inequality, historical responsibility, and critical climate justice. Through empirical analysis, this study demonstrates the evolution of their justice claims from a basis in intergenerational inequality, to one in concepts of historical responsibility, and finally a move toward critical climate justice. Korea’s history of poverty has neutralized criticisms of older generations; the age-based discrimination has led young activists to develop a fierce criticism of existing social inequalities; their experiences of political exclusion have developed a strong sense of solidarity with other marginalized groups, going beyond the narrow focus of the younger generation’s interests. In conclusion, this study defines contemporary youth climate activism as a movement that demonstrates the ramifications of civic inequality and endeavors to include diverse groups in the combat against climate change.

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Notes

  1. The interviews with the youth strikers, which were planned for 2020, were carried out in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two of the interviews took place online due to regional distance. The six face-to-face interviews were conducted in Seoul, and social distancing guidance was followed. In addition, the interviews were rigorously conducted according to the research ethic codes for interviewing young people (Powell et al. 2013). Every interview was recorded with the consent of the interviewee and transcribed in part for the analysis.

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  1. Department of Sociology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea

    Kyu Youn Choi

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Choi, K.Y. Climate justice beyond intergenerational conflict: youth climate activism in South Korea. Sustain Sci 18, 2169–2180 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-023-01374-5

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