Competitive relaxing? In South Korea, it’s a thing

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. "Facing unprecedented threats of the virus, people find it hard to stay still and keep worrying about what action to take next," says Shin Dong-won, a clinical psychiatrist at Seoul's Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. As a college senior majoring in social work, Lee is prepping for South Korea’s hypercompetitive job market, which is getting even tougher as many job opportunities dry up in the wake of the pandemic. “I miss keeping busy with customers who come to dine at my restaurant and having friendly exchanges with them in person.” During South Korea's third wave of coronavirus in November and December last year, restaurant sales dropped by more than a third compared to the same period in 2019, according to South Korean government data. A 2020 study by South Korea's Family and Environment Research found two-thirds of female survey-takers said the burden of child-rearing increased as family members spent more time at home.