Before taking away children's smartphones
Korea is moving to keep minors off social media and phones out of classrooms, but the adults writing those rules cannot look up from their own screens. A few days ago, heading home from work, I was standing seven stories underground at Daegok Station on Subway Line 3. Six elevators connect to the transfer platform, and long lines backed up at each. I picked the shorter one and waited. The…
In the bustling subway station of Daegok, situated seven stories below ground, commuters were glued to their smartphones. Each of the six elevators connecting to the transfer platform had long lines, and waiting passengers seemed oblivious to the issue. One reporter found himself in a similar situation, standing at the station and noticing a call button on a broken elevator.
Dismissing it as a malfunction, he pressed it anyway. As the doors opened, the passengers filed in, their eyes still fixed on their screens. This scene epitomizes the term "smombie," a blend of "smartphone" and "zombie," describing individuals who walk without looking up. The concept of smombies gained traction over a decade ago, initially treated as a novel phenomenon of the smartphone era.
However, the issue has become so commonplace that it no longer raises eyebrows. Commuters are often caught scrolling through their devices, neglecting their surroundings, much like the passengers in the Daegok Station elevator. The pervasive use of smartphones has led to a culture where people often become detached from their physical environment, engrossed in virtual worlds.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Before taking away children's smartphones koreatimes.co.kr
