Pengsoo for President

What at first glance seems like the oversized mascot of an ice hockey team is nothing less than a modern hero for South Korea’s millennials. Pengsoo is the name of the 2.10-metre-tall, fluffy superstar from South Korean children’s television, who even outshone the popular K-pop band BTS in the vote for “Person of the Year 2019” and continues to set social media records to this day. The reason? Pengsoo speaks confidently about the concerns of the younger generation, without fear of violating the taboos and unwritten rules of South Korean society. This is how, within a very short space of time, this genderless penguin with a squawky voice has become a mouthpiece for young people who want to be treated with equality and respect – regardless of their status and age – but scarcely dare to express this wish aloud. In a conversation with the journalist Jimin Kang, we explore the role played by the fictional character of Pengsoo in the unspoken generational conflict in South Korean society.

Host: Regine Hader, Goethe-Institut