How are You? - Hand - Written poster spoke louder than protests

A handwritten poster is spreading across college campuses in Korea.. with a simple question, 'How are you?' Students are overwhelmingly answering 'not very well'... in a sign of the stresses and strains Korea's youth are under as they face an uncertain future Song Ji-sun reports. The simple greeting of "How are you?" can take on new meaning in these stressful times, when a growing number of younger people are weighed down by personal and social concerns. "Putting up large hand-written posters or daejabo on college billboards was considered a thing of the past -- when students called for changes in the '80s and '90s. This one poster in 2013 -- asking 'how are you?' became a catalyst, asking students to take part and speak up for society." More than a 100 other posters answering the question have been posted next to the original one and at other campuses around the country. The overwhelming answer, in the week since a business student first posted this daejabo, has been "No, we are definitely not fine." Ju Hyun-woo, the person who posted the original... says the younger generation must be aware of the gravity of the current controversies in the nation -- from striking railway union workers... to the privatization of other state-run institutions. "It wasn't about me. I, myself am struggling to get a job, and so are all of you students on campus. But we should make moves as one, to change our situation." Stronger than an SNS post, and more moving than a video -- the message was delivered directly to 20-somethings. "I think it is more touching reading the message, as each letter is hand-written. It's more effective than asking us to join protests or take part in aggressive tactics. I think that's why it's garnered such a reaction from us students." "Students are being pushed to endless competition and toward failure. They had no time to spare for these thoughts before. But this poster has given them a chance to reflect on their lives." High school students also joined the movement... with some schools banning such posters citing educational reasons. A Democratic Party lawmaker also put up a poster at the National Assembly saying he regrets the current legislative deadlock... and the lack of communication throughout politics. Song Ji-sun, Arirang News.