It’s a sad story that may apply for most of 30’s mostly in Asia. In Korea there is a very depressing term called “X-Giveup Generation” (X포세대) refers to young people who have abandoned or given up on certain aspects of life, such as stable jobs, homeownership, marriage, or personal aspirations, often due to economic hardship, social pressure, or systemic challenges.
My parents were great people, they wanted me to experience many things as possible. I also wanted and liked challenging new things.
Taekwondo, Hapkido, Kendo, Go(Baduk), Violin, Piano, Flute, Guitar, Drum, Street dancing, Acting and the list goes on.
However hobbies were easy to pursue during our elementary and teenage years. But as soon as I entered university, things changed. Due to both financial constraints and limited time, I had to narrow my hobbies down to just one—breakdancing. I genuinely enjoyed dancing, creating my own moves, and improving my skills. The high-energy music, the excitement—everything seemed to be in my favor.
However, after graduating from college, I started to realize that my knees and ankles weren’t as strong as they used to be. And as I got older, I could no longer participate in a university dance group. More and more of my friends also graduated, got jobs, started families, and now we’ve all entered the “golden age” of our 30s. Being only with our family and very small social group.
Before I knew it, all the hobbies I once loved, all the eccentric activities I used to enjoy, had disappeared. Everything had a reason for fading away. Living in an apartment meant I couldn’t make loud noises, so I had to give up playing musical instruments and dancing indoors. I found myself feeling a bit sad about this. So, I continued breakdancing alone in the park. It felt like exercising, but with dance—just alone.
Breakdancing has always had a small community, and since it’s not a widely popular dance style, it was hard to find others to practice with.
Also as I aged, I also started paying more attention to my health than ever before. Back in my teenage years, all I cared about was my appearance—my pimples, my skin, my hair, my overall look. But now, I care more about my internal health. I no longer focus on style or outward appearance but rather on my well-being—staying healthy and avoiding illness.
After starting a family, I also felt that I needed to spend my evenings with them. Dancing wasn’t something I could easily enjoy with my family. Maybe I could do a few TikTok dances, but that wasn’t my style. So, I started searching for a new hobby.
I tried roller skating, but I quickly realized there weren’t many skating parks near my home. After buying the skates, I enjoyed them once or twice, but now they just sit in my garage collecting dust. Looking back, I think I just gave up on it.
I also considered joining a reading or study group, but that felt like I was deliberately avoiding spending time with my family. Balancing everything has been difficult. And now, with a newborn daughter arriving in just two weeks, I might have to give up even more of my personal time.
I think this is why 70 to 80% of people in their 30s end up with mediocre hobbies—watching TV, Netflix, or occasionally going on a hike. But hiking is more about refreshing yourself in nature rather than being a real hobby.
I wonder if people in their 30s and 40s from other countries have had similar experiences. If you’re reading this, please comment and share your thoughts. How did you deal with it? Was it a good or bad change? Honestly, I’m unsure whether to see this as a positive or negative shift in life. I’m just going with the flow, living in the moment. So please share your experiences with me—I’d love to hear them.
The Newsdom 