episode_0018

Three days before the discussion, I was contacted by the PD and the panelists were all gathered together.

“First, we will proceed as per the script provided. The discussion method and precautions are…”

Hmm. I’m bored…

After listening to the explanation and answering the questions, I had the opportunity to talk with a panelist who believed that arcades like mine had no problems.

“I am Park Kyung-yool from the Korean Society and Culture Research Institute. It is nice to meet you.”

Although he looked quite old, he was an impressive person because he had an open mind and actively tried to embrace the new generation and new culture.

“The issue should be centered on the new culture of new generation music, not the arcade itself. If you look at the data here…”

Although it ended with the direction of the discussion and sharing of materials, it was not a bad thing to receive feedback on my materials and arguments from a more objective perspective.

And finally, the day of the debate.

“Let’s start the 100-minute late-night current affairs discussion.”

The debate began late at night.

“First, there are those who claim that [the current arcade is the birthplace of a new culture]. Park Kyung-yool, the director of the Korean Society and Culture Research Institute, and Yoon Yi-seo, a culture columnist, are here.”

The applause from the audience bursts out. However, for someone like me who has internalized the nature of a nerd, the gazes and applause from all sides are burdensome.

“And these are people who oppose the arcade culture. Kim Young-kyo, the president of the Korean Cultural Studies Association, and Kim Shin-ye, the vice-president of the National Parents’ Association, are here.

Once again, applause erupted from all sides.

I’ve given lectures a few times in my past lives, but having an audience looking at me in such an open space is a huge pressure. I just pray that I don’t stutter.

“Now let’s hear the opinions of the panelists. Those who support arcade culture, please speak up.”

After all the introductions organized in PPT were over, it was finally time for the discussion.

“Let me speak. First, I need to go over something that wasn’t mentioned in the introduction. According to our survey of arcade owners, all arcades in Seoul are experiencing a continuous decline in sales and deficits. I need to make it clear that what we’re discussing now is only one arcade near Seoul Station, as reported by the Dongjo Shinmun.”

First, it limits the direction the discussion is pointing to. If you bring up the arcade that has become a real den of thugs, it will never end.

“This is data compiled directly by Lee Seo-yang. According to this, when the settlement was made at 2 AM after business hours, most game machines except for game machines that are commonly called rhythm games, which are buttons pressed to the beat of a new style of song that is designated as a new culture, saw a decrease in sales. This means that the center of the arcade is shifting from the low-quality games that children used to play to music, which is a new culture. ”

= The bad culture you guys are talking about is being weeded out on its own. This is how new arcades have come to function as a new culture.

We present our arguments with precise figures and graphs, using the materials we have prepared. The intention is to make it easier to perceive that we are more objective by providing specificity that contrasts with the arguments that the other side has prepared, such as addiction and harmfulness, which are difficult to quantify.

“The arcades of the past are now a thing of the past. We must face the fact that the arcades of the past are disappearing and the paradigm is shifting to a new culture.”

End your argument with a concise conclusion.

“Then, I would like the opposing side to speak out now”

“Arcades are a social problem that lures growing children and young people and makes them addicted to the harmful substance of games. In addition, the new music represented by Seo Taiji that has been released recently has been pointed out as bad folk songs for various reasons including its content. It is a big problem to unconditionally package it as a new culture and defend it, and to openly play it in public places such as arcades.”

= The fundamental fact that arcades are harmful does not change. In the first place, the very idea of a new culture is unsightly. It is all bad content that criticizes society.

Well, as expected, it’s spot on. It’s not beyond my expectations.

It’s a more incompetent and strange frame than I thought. I think they’ve fixed their goal on music, but if they do that, we’ll have more to refute than I thought.

“Pointing out the harmful effects of new music and pointing out that it is wrong to play it publicly in arcades.”

The host’s neat summary. It’s my turn to step forward.

“I will object. If you have listened to music in that arcade, you will know that songs with lyrics containing anti-social content, which is the definition of folk songs, are not music played in the arcade. There is only one song with lyrics out of 20 songs, and even that one song is about love.”

The needle frame was knitted wrong. It would have been easier to press the energy from the beginning and go.

“In this situation, it is nonsense to criticize this as bad. Simply using digital means to suppress a new culture that is emerging naturally in our country is an act that denies the need to foster the power of culture as advocated by Baekbeom Kim Gu.”

Here, they will first reveal the cheat key. If you threaten them that if you refute them, it will be no different from saying that the great man who was honored as a founding father was wrong, then they will have no choice.

“Ugh… As I said earlier, the reason arcades are designated as a bad culture is not just because of the music, but also because of the atmosphere of the arcade and the harmfulness of the game medium. As you can see in the photo attached to the Dongjo Ilbo article, you can see that the atmosphere is dark and old, and it is easy for teenagers to go down the wrong path. ”

The vice-president has given us another rebuttal. At this point, isn’t it possible that they didn’t even think about the expected rebuttals and simply didn’t prepare for the debate?

“The black and white photos of the Dongjo Shinmun have lost the function of the photo that should convey the truth as it is due to the strong contrast. Here is a color photo of the arcade that I prepared. I took the photo myself with a digital camera and printed it. I can even swear to testify that I did not manipulate this photo at all.”

As expected, people need to be thoroughly prepared. The picture with the KIN logo cut out is probably being shown on TV as a reference screen.

“As you can see, the atmosphere is just a healthy atmosphere of watching other people play rhythm games and appreciating songs. I doubt that the vice president has ever visited an arcade to do research.”

“What are you saying? There’s no blood on this headㅡ”

” Columnist Yoon, Vice President Kim. Please refrain from attacking each other during the debate. ”

I got a little emotional and ended up saying something that wasn’t in the script. I’m not usually the type of person to get this angry, but is this because my body has changed? Why, they say the mind follows the body.

“I will object. What you see on the outside is not the essence of the atmosphere. The arcade where most young people gather naturally forms peer groups due to its nature, and it is an environment where natural class divisions are easily induced within the group. This vertical class division naturally makes it easy for the upper class to exert pressure on the lower class, and if this behavior continues, it becomes like a bully or gangster. ”

The president of the society has been using quite sophisticated words to refute the argument. It may seem plausible at first, but…

“I will argue back. Classification in peer groups does not occur unconditionally. I have never seen such classification occur as a player in the arcade. Rather, the sense of homogeneity of enjoying the same games and music and the sense of belonging within the peer group made them more united, and a culture of consideration was created within the arcade. I can say with certainty that the things the president mentioned do not happen in the arcade.”

There is a bit of subjectivity involved, but there is nothing more I can say. In fact, for me, this is no different from the devil’s proof. You can’t prove something that doesn’t exist.

“If arcades are recognized as a culture, arcades that claim to be a new culture modeled after that arcade will spring up like mushrooms. Can you be sure that the same thing won’t happen there? Human nature is truly evil, and if the environment is created, it will eventually lead to a bad path!”

The deputy intervened again. It seemed like he was trying to drag the conversation on somehow…

“Does everyone who grows up in a bad family become a bad person like a gangster? If people become bad people because their surroundings are bad, does that mean I, who grew up without parents, am a bad person? People don’t become bad people because their surroundings are bad!”

I’m sorry, parents of this body whose faces I don’t even know. Please sacrifice a little for the development of the Republic of Korea and its culture.

The room was abuzz. The opposing panelists were unable to come to their senses due to the 21st century self-pandering and kept coughing in vain.

“Keumkeum. Everyone, please be quiet, and we will continue.”

“I will speak. First of all, although it is classified as a game, I think that the game is closer to a comprehensive art. It is a comprehensive art that combines art and music, adding participation, interaction, and playfulness, breaking away from the one-way nature of music that was only listened to. That is why I consider the arcade where these rhythm games are the mainstay as a culture.”

“I object. Since it is so playful, it is still a game. The harmfulness of games has already been proven in the West, including the United States, and they are even legally restricted to a certain level. Is there a need for us to follow the same path in a situation where there is already a precedent? Adults rejecting games is a life wisdom that was formed after seeing the incident in the United States.”

Another challenge to release the bait got caught on the fishing line.

“I will refute. What the US legally restricts is not the comprehensive definition of games, but only cartridge games for home game consoles that are highly stimulating and sexually suggestive. Arcade games, which are centered around arcades, are also allowed in the US. Since you don’t seem to have any information, here, this will be helpful.”

“No, it is not necessary. Above all, the fact that arcade games are allowed is an example from the US, and it does not fit with our country, where home game consoles have never been introduced.”

…?

What? Did I mishear you? I thought you said just now that it should be banned like in the US?

The president of the society, sitting next to the vice president, momentarily shook his eyes. He felt like he was sweating coldly under his sideburns, which were barely there. Could it be because he was imagining things?

“There has never been a single proper proof that arcade games, including rhythm games, are harmful. In this situation, if we only fear new civilizations and unconditionally suppress them, our country will never be able to advance to the level of an advanced country that we showed the world at the Expo.”

***

In the end, the discussion ended with everyone just saying what they wanted to say.

The results were… not so good. The script and expected questions were messed up from the beginning, and the discussion ended up being freestyle, so I ended up making a lot of verbal mistakes.

As soon as I got home, I was so exhausted that I fell asleep as if I had passed out. I must have been working too hard lately, because my whole body was creaking and I felt so heavy.

And the internet community I checked the next day was in chaos.

Digital Inside’s server crashed due to traffic overload, and Manlian and Mytel also had an enormous number of posts uploaded in the early morning. Mytel’s server crashed in the early morning and was restored, but there was still an endless stream of posts.

[Do journalists have no eyes or ears?]

[It is clear that the hair of those idiots with braces contains their humanity]

MyTel, which is widely used by the younger generation, was filled with posts supporting me.

[Young man, you idiot, how can something like that,,,make sense?! Hey,,,huh!]

Let’s stop looking into Manrian, which is used relatively more by middle-aged and older people.

Anyway, the arcade debate has entered a new phase.

The fact that arcades, or more precisely rhythm games, have become a new culture for young people, like Seo Taiji.

The full support of the younger generation was pushing rhythm games forward.

While they were throwing away the existing arcade game machines and bringing in more rhythm games to sweeten the sales, something unexpected happened.

“This is the Agency for National Security Planning. Put down everything you have, stand up, and put your hands up.”

What the hell, all of a sudden?