Growing up in Seoul, all of the information that I was fed about North Korea compelled me to fear the country. As an 8 year old in 2010, I remember coming home from school wide-eyed with fear after hearing the news that North Korea initiated an attack on Yeonpyeong Island, the northwestern border island situated between North and South Korea. The blank expression on my mother’s face as I got off of the school bus, the strongly-worded news clips rattling the nation and my trouble falling asleep at night all remain vivid memories inside of my head. Even at such a young age, just the thought of another bloody conflict frightened me. To this day, I pay careful attention to any story related to North Korean affairs.  

My country is one that has clawed itself out of poverty. South Korea is a country characterized by resilience, resourcefulness and han (한), or the feeling of collective grief and sorrow that the people of Korea share. While more and more of America and its culture is influencing me as I study here, I am always proud of being a Korean citizen. The more I attempt to trace my roots, the more I have to remind myself that while there are currently two Koreas, they started off as one. 

As I developed an interest in journalism and North Korean affairs, I could not shake the impression that Western media covers North Korea in an incredibly biased, hyperbolic manner. While it is no longer surprising to hear the typical “little rocket man” comment, I am always met with a pang of concern when I realize how most of the world associates North Korea with nothing more than nuclear weapons, poverty and a third-generational dictatorship.

Western media has been criticized for its imperfect coverage of North Korea for years. Stories about North Korea are often popular, as the public views the isolated, frozen-in-time country as a form of entertainment. And indeed, provocative stories speculating that Kim Jong-un banned leather coats, lost a lot of weight or entered a coma can truly spice up a boring day at work. As a result, journalists are strongly tempted to derive quick, provocative conclusions that lack credible sources or fact-checking to rack up hefty views and subscriptions.

This profit-driven mentality is not a new problem, nor one exclusive to the coverage of North Korean affairs. The problem is that Western media applies too much of its own interpretation when approaching the country of North Korea as compared to its coverage of other nations. As a result, in the process of producing content tailored toward maximizing the number of clicks and gasps, accuracy no longer takes priority and false or unfounded information is published. As a result, there is an overemphasis on negative news when it comes to stories related to North Korea. 

Western media often focuses on negative news and events in North Korea, including human rights abuses, nuclear threats and missile tests, while ignoring positive developments or avoiding the coverage of other topics altogether. When topics such as the culture of the country or the plight of North Korean defectors are overlooked and unaddressed, North Korea will not be understood in a comprehensive, rational manner. A lack of sufficient context and historical background of a nation-state can be extremely harmful, as it can lead to a distorted understanding of the country and its political situation.

While informing the readership of salient national security issues is necessary, it is concerning when such information becomes muddled with sensationalist, inflammatory language. Reporting accurate, fact-based information is the most viable way of preventing the masses from perceiving and replicating a skewed picture of the already-misunderstood country. When such principles are agreed upon and met in news covering domestic and other international affairs, it is difficult to grasp why the same understanding cannot be extended to North Korea. The harms of continuing such practices are as clear as day, and threaten the foundations of journalistic integrity and ethics. 

Of course, one could form the argument that there is not enough reliable information carrying news from official North Korean sources. After all, North Korea does have extremely high levels of censorship and security, and the Kim regime can be highly selective with the information that they share. However, shifting the blame on North Korea is nothing short of justifying pure ignorance; North Korea cannot be blamed for outright bad reporting, and it is the responsibility of all journalists to conduct proper research before publishing stories that will be read by a frighteningly large, diverse readership. Good research starts with talking to qualified experts, rather than picking up stories from other outlets or heavily relying on biased sources.

Instead of resorting to sensationalism and exaggeration that distorts the readership’s understanding of the country, Western journalists should make more active, genuine attempts to converse with reputable North Korea experts that may not necessarily speak their language. The Sejong Institute, The Asan Institute for Policy Studies and the Korea Institute for National Unification are just a few of the major South Korean research institutes conducting research on the Korean Peninsula. In addition to consulting more credible sources, media outlets ought to hire reporters with an eye for journalistic integrity and ethics, topics briefly mentioned during the first few onboarding meetings early in one’s career then often forgotten altogether.

The media’s flawed coverage of a country impacts real people and bears horrible consequences. During my time serving as president of my home university’s only central club dedicated to North Korean matters, it pained me to learn firsthand that thousands of North Koreans who have relocated to the South struggle with discrimination and prejudice from South Korean society. Unsurprisingly, such comments were almost always paired with the observation that media outlets paint the North Korean state and defector community in a negative manner. It’s about time journalists distance themselves from poor research and start putting in the hard work that goes into a good, truthful article about real people. 

Every day, I try to sweep aside what I write on my resume, what I tell my parents and what I say when asked about my goals. When I’m not an “undergrad interested in pursuing opportunities in politics, law and international affairs,” I am a college junior born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. I want people to better understand my country, and to understand the stuff outside of kimchi, K-Pop and speculations of a nuclear war. Surely, there is a consensus that media outlets should strive for accuracy, objectivity and fairness in their coverage of information, including content about history and North Korea. This consensus should include providing context, seeking out diverse perspectives and sources, and avoiding inflammatory language or bias. 

From Seoul, South Korea, So Jin Jung is an Opinion Columnist with a passion for politics and journalism. She can be reached at sojinj@umich.edu.

The post On western media’s coverage of North Korea appeared first on The Michigan Daily.

Being an exchange student from Seoul, South Korea should mean time to relax, have fun and immerse oneself in a foreign country’s culture. During the past semester in snowy Michigan, however, I don’t think I succeeded in bringing myself to do just that. I felt compelled to join myriad extracurricular activities, and as all sorts of meetings pulled me away from bed and peace, I constantly worried about how I’d somehow get an A+ for the four classes I’d enrolled in. Now that the school year is about to end and all my fellow college juniors seem to be off in the real world securing cool internships, I slightly fear the relaxing summer ahead that I have planned — is it okay to just sit back and do nothing for a while?

Come to think of it, I cannot remember a single moment where I felt content with my achievements. There was always just one more debate competition or one more internship to really turn things around. What I have right now isn’t good enough, and I still need to do better. I was constantly comparing myself with my peers: When one of them succeeded, it felt like I had failed. I still don’t think I’ve completely grown out of my 5-year-old self crying at the dining table of my family’s tiny Seoul apartment — a tear-stained math assignment in one hand and a cup of milk in the other.

“Tiger parenting” is often associated with strict, demanding and controlling behavior. Coined by Amy Chua, an American author and law professor, in her book “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,” the parenting technique prioritizes pushing children toward superior academic performance. In her book, Chua lists the various cutthroat measures she imposed on her Yale- and Harvard-educated daughters, including banning sleepovers, receiving any grade below an A or playing any instrument other than the piano or violin. Though it is not a common parenting style, even among Chinese-American families, tiger parenting ignited huge backlash from around the world, and almost always for good reason.

Research, inspired by the publication of Chua’s book, already indicates that tiger parenting does not automatically produce positive educational outcomes for children. Upon interviewing Chinese parents who employed either supportive, tiger or easygoing parenting styles, results indicated that tiger parenting was “not associated with better outcomes in either boys or girls.” In fact, results indicated that consistent, supportive parenting was associated with children better prepared for school, but not with easygoing or tiger parenting styles. 

In addition to the best developmental outcomes being found among children of supportive parents, having overly strict or authoritarian parenting can have negative consequences for children’s mental health, including increased risk of depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. Research has found that the children of tiger parents have a higher risk for anxiety disorders, especially as demands for academic excellence become increasingly valued in competitive societies and job markets.

That said, it seems misleading to automatically conclude that tiger parenting is an absolute evil because it inhibits autonomy and creativity. While tiger parenting may emphasize obedience and academic achievement over having fun, it still seems to work wonders on some children, including Chua’s eldest daughter Sophia Chua-Rubenfeld, who wrote an open letter to the New York Post in response to the overwhelming controversy surrounding her mother’s book. The following is an excerpt from Chua-Rubenfeld’s letter:

“One of our assignments was to interview someone who had experienced war. I knew I could get a good grade interviewing my grandparents, whose childhood stories about World War II I’d heard a thousand times. I mentioned it to you, and you said, ‘Sophia, this is an opportunity to learn something new. You’re taking the easy way out.’ You were right, Tiger Mom. In the end, I interviewed a terrifying Israeli paratrooper whose story changed my outlook on life. I owe that experience to you.”

Indeed, tiger parenting does seem to encourage the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake — so long as it is directly related to the child’s academics. However, while tiger parenting might allow exploration and independent thinking in this sense, it still seems reasonable to question whether all that parental hostility is really worth it. It is still important to acknowledge the critical shortcomings of tiger parenting compared to parenting styles that provide more emotional support. 

Supportive parenting should involve parents acting with love and care, listening to their child carefully, asking for their child’s opinion before making decisions, explaining and knowing the whereabouts and safety of their child. If children do not experience enough of these behaviors, it is clear that parent-child bonding will be limited and the child will feel more alienated from the parent. Children should feel comfortable sharing their opinions and emotions with their parents, who are often the singular source of unconditional love and support in their lives. Children should not be yelled at or insulted, let alone have their anxiety spike when they fail to perform perfectly in school.

As a 20 year old living in the heart of Seoul, I (sadly) find myself still being part of the rigorous education system in South Korea, the type that creates private education markets worth billions of dollars and torments just about every South Korean kid. As I pick up tutoring jobs that pay me significantly more money than a regular part-time job would, I always see desperate mothers dragging their purses and children into windowless classrooms that teach competitive English debate. Within minutes of starting the class, however, I notice that half of these 7 year olds can barely complete a full sentence in English, let alone pronounce their own names properly. 

Most of the children I tutor cannot answer me when I ask why they are here and only nod silently when I ask if they are tired from all of the other hagwons (private academies) that they attended earlier today. These kids should be playing in the grass under the sun, probably under the watchful eye of a supportive parent. That is why my future child — in case you couldn’t tell — will not be raised by a tiger mom. My child, if I decide to have one, will probably not be invited to perform at Manhattan’s Carnegie Hall. But they will most certainly have the opportunity to appreciate the leaves turning from green to red and orange in the fall. The opportunity to drive to McDonald’s with some friends after school. The little things in life children should get to enjoy growing up. 

From Seoul, South Korea, So Jin Jung is an Opinion Columnist with a passion for politics and journalism. She can be reached at sojinj@umich.edu.

The post Why I will never be a Tiger Mom appeared first on The Michigan Daily.

As spring flowers bloom, the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs has been offering an April full of opportunities to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. With the second week of April focusing on the Pacific Islander community, MESA hosted this year’s annual Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Gala at the Michigan Union this past Monday. Boasting a diverse lineup performing in celebration of the two communities, the event drew statewide collaboration from various university organizations including but not limited to the University of Michigan’s Spectrum Center, Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences, and the Michigan Student Power Alliance.

Rackham student Wren Palmer, a board member of the Oceania Student Association and performer at the gala, expressed her excitement at how the gala allowed performers to share the culture of Pacific Islander students and create a welcoming atmosphere.

“For us, (the gala means) being included in a label that often uses our name but doesn’t offer us space, so we are really happy that they reached out to collaborate with us,” Palmer said. 

Before 2021, when the OSA registered as an official student organization, the University of Michigan also did not have a student group to represent individuals from the Pacific Islands and Oceania. To LSA sophomore Carly Salazar, a fellow performer, the gala served as an opportunity to give attendees a taste of her heritage.

“I am just excited for us to have a space to be able to share our culture and connect with other Pacific Islander students, not just here at (the University of Michigan), but across the state of Michigan,” Salazar said. “We just really want to create this welcoming atmosphere for them, show them that the PI voice is here at the University of Michigan, that we do matter, and that we do have our own space.”

After a land acknowledgment statement, as well as opening remarks reminding attendees of the importance of supporting the Pacific Islander community, the performance section of the gala started off with LSA junior Sanya Bhatia singing Hindi film song “Iktara” from the movie “Wake Up Sid.” The soothing, deep voice of the singer paired delightfully with the romantic message conveyed by the lyrics.

After Bhatia’s mesmerizing performance, the OSA danced to the song “Ulupalakua.” The hula, a traditional Hawaiian dance performed in the pāʻū (wrapped skirt), provided attendees with an opportunity to understand the many dimensions of Pacific dance traditions as performers danced barefoot and inserted chants throughout the song.

A series of Asian American student organizations also performed to celebrate their community’s rich heritage, influence and contributions. rXn, a dance group under the University’s Chinese Student Association, performed both traditional Chinese dance and modern American hip hop, featuring an array of props including swords, umbrellas, fans and flags. 58 Greene A Capella, an all-gender a cappella group, also introduced an enjoyable musical experience with the song “Fallin’.”

Following the acapella group’s vocal melodies, Music, Theatre & Dance alum Smarani Komanduri sang a song from the movie “Nenunnanani.” To close off the performance section, the Vietnamese Student Association sent a traditional Medley group to dance to the songs “Lắng Nghe Tim Em” and “Ghen.” A version of this dance was performed for the VSA’s annual cultural show “Dem Viet Nam” earlier this year, and attendees had a chance to see the dance again in which performers waved fans and ribbons throughout their dance.

The gala ended with an awards ceremony recognizing the efforts of Asian American and Pacific Islander students, staff and organizations to raise awareness of their respective communities, along with opportunities for photo ops and mingling. After the end of the event, organizers Public Health and LSA junior Amber Wei and LSA Senior Dalena Hoang spoke on their philosophy behind the event they had planned. 

“We seek to acknowledge the regional, historical, linguistic, religious, ethnic and cultural differences present in the term AA&PI,” Wei stated. “Support for the PI community is essential, and as we continue to learn from each other, we hope to honor, uplift and amplify the Pacific Islander as a separate community from the Asian American community.”

As an audience member, I could instantly recognize the efforts that MESA and its staff were making toward generational change and healing. In particular, seeing audience members hailing from diverse ethnicities and cultures, as well as the strong passion of students who planned the event, made the experience all the more rewarding and special. 

MiC Columnist So Jin Jung can be reached at sojinj@umich.edu.

The post MESA hosts annual AA&PI Heritage Month Gala appeared first on The Michigan Daily.

I still remember one of my first Uber experiences during high school. Hiding my disbelief that technology had allowed me inside a total stranger’s car, I stared at downtown Los Angeles rushing past. My feet thumped along to the optimistic lyrics of  “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus, my designated driver’s song of choice. Noticing my familiarity with his playlist, the driver opened his mouth to say, “Man, I really miss Miley before she went crazy.”

Since hearing that comment, I have heard countless individuals utter similar scornful remarks, grieving that their blonde-hair-blue-eyed babe has now “hit rock-bottom” or “gone crazy,” amid a slew of controversies and lawsuits.

Gossiping is an activity that almost everyone indulges in, at least to some extent. It’s a risky behavior, yet also a soft skill that gives people something to talk about, especially when there’s some ice that needs to be broken. But, with the harms of gossiping low-to-nonexistent when the subject is a renowned celebrity, people feel entitled to be as brutal and provocative as possible; after all, there’s no way Britney Spears would find out I talked ill about her bald head from 2007.

The problem, however, is deeper than it seems: celebrities’ profiles are watched closely by their fans, and public criticism of drastic shifts in their image has an effect on their often young and impressionable audience. Given this fact, how celebrities choose to express themselves should not be met with pejorative backlash, but rather viewed as a natural part of their process of growth.

Cyrus first rose to fame after she was cast as the lead role in the Disney Channel television series “Hannah Montana,” an American sitcom about a teenage girl living a double life, toggling between life as famous pop singer Hannah Montana and life as a typical teenager. The extreme success of “Hannah Montana” landed Cyrus with “teen idol” status, as viewers worldwide celebrated the singer’s charming demeanor, catchy songs and iconic performances. While it is easy to assume that acquiring lots of money and fame at such a young age was a dream come true, the reality was anything but: Years after filming, Cyrus revealed in an episode of the podcast “Rock This,” that starring in the sitcom made her feel like “without being Hannah Montana no one cares about (her).” Indeed, following the transition period after her Hannah Montana phase, Cyrus succeeded in tearing down her teen star reputation by engaging in “shocking” actions including twerking, smoking marijuana and cutting off her glossy brown locks.

In another interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Cyrus provided an incisive description of how she believes the media portrays her: “Hair’s long and blond, she’s sane right now… It’s when her hair is painted or she’s growing out her armpit hair (that) she’s on drugs.”

How close a woman’s hair is to society’s definition of “acceptable” — i.e. long, healthy, flowing blonde hair — should not be the barometer that determines one’s perceived level of sanity. Questioning a celebrity’s sanity just because they choose to present themselves differently is unacceptable as it reinforces a stereotypical view of femininity, for young people in particular. 

This practice is problematic because the acceptance of different sexualities and gender expressions is essential for creating a supportive environment for everyone. This is especially true since comments about growth, gender and sexuality resonate with children, not to mention millions of adults. It is time for audiences to progress beyond traditional boy-girl norms, and continuing to push celebrities into rigid molds perpetuates outdated norms that counteract this goal. 

When skewed gender norms continue to permeate pop culture, the impact of these conversations bleeds past the celebrities and onto the general public. Celebrities influence the public’s understanding of gender and sexuality by raising awareness and reducing stigma. “The first (celebrity) that actually mattered to me who has since come out as not straight is Miley Cyrus,” singer Troye Sivan said. Given how the public’s perception of top celebrities can influence opinions on sensitive topics, continuing to perpetuate the narrative that Cyrus had a “crazy phase” increases stigma and stress for gender minorities, which is harmful to their mental and physical health.  

While one could argue that much time has passed since the media coverage of Cyrus and her deviation from Hannah Montana’s image, the public still reacts horribly to influential celebrities significantly modifying their brand. For instance, while American singer Joelle Joanie “JoJo” Siwa came out as part of the LGBTQ+ community in 2021, Siwa still faces bigoted responses regarding her sexual identity, including from her own employer. In addition, while many of the singer’s fans and influential friends openly expressed their support, Siwa opened up about having trouble sleeping for days after coming out and struggling to accept myriad homophobic comments: “A lot of them were: ‘I’m never buying your merch again. My daughter’s never watching you again,’ ” Siwa said. “I couldn’t sleep for three days.” 

Despite problematic responses to the personal growth of influential women, however, society is also bending in the opposite direction toward fostering a safer, more inclusive environment for all. A great example is the generally positive public reception of former One Direction star Harry Styles, who is now at the center of numerous conversations about sexuality and gender-fluid fashion. While a minority of viewers criticize Styles for his alleged queerbaiting, the consensus still seems to be that such accusations are regressive and that Styles ought to be met with nothing short of support. If the public can clap when Styles rocks a flamboyant Gucci dress, it is difficult to understand why the same support cannot be, or was not, extended to female celebrities then and now. After all, gender identity or gender expression can remain the same or change over time, and it is also not uncommon for gender fluidity to continue indefinitely throughout one’s life. There is nothing wrong with a once-teenage star deciding that she no longer fits into the narrow, heteronormative box defined by Hannah Montana. 

From Seoul, South Korea, So Jin Jung is an Opinion Columnist with a passion for politics and journalism. She can be reached at sojinj@umich.edu.

The post No, Miley Cyrus never had a ‘crazy phase’ appeared first on The Michigan Daily.

At the beginning of March, my landlord sent me an unwelcome message: “Your utility statement due on 3/1/2023 is ready. Current charges due are $154.32.” Not only did I have to pay rent for my high-rise apartment, I also had to cough up well over twice the average amount an Ann Arbor resident pays for water, electricity and sewer charges. While high-rise apartments here are touted for their convenient location and awesome amenities, a plethora of factors indicate that the housing option may not be as luxurious nor lucrative as leasing offices make it out to be.  

One of the major problems of high-rise apartments is their active contribution to the declining home affordability in Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor’s housing prices are already quite high, as demand outweighs the supply of housing and a large volume of residents desire to live in a very small city. High-rise apartments are already unaffordable to the majority of undergraduate students at the University of Michigan, and the increased presence of high-rises in Ann Arbor also drives up the housing prices of nearby residences. This is because rents are based on whatever the market allows, rather than the quality of the home itself. As new properties make an area seem more desirable and stimulate activity, the values of existing homes also increase. While construction companies may have been responding to a demand, the impacts on Ann Arbor residents who cannot afford luxury housing options ought not to be overlooked.

When rent for a four-bed plan can be upwards of $1,419 per bedroom, and other high-rises swiftly follow suit in their predatory increases, the average student can only question whether living in a high-rise is worth the cost. Granted, being steps away from campus, Instagram-worthy restaurants and shopping options are very convenient. Leaving my apartment at 9:57 a.m. for a 10:00 a.m. class is an amazing advantage. However, the extra 10 minutes of sleep come with an incredibly steep cost: not including utilities and fees, floor plans for high-rises close to campus start at over $1,300, with deluxe private room or studio options spanning from $1,800 to over $2,500 a month. How much more will prices leap from here before the city of Ann Arbor faces an irreversible, universally harmful affordability crisis?

The unreasonable prices of high-rise apartments are compounded by the low quality of the apartments and surprise utility fees that residents are regularly charged with.

In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Samyak Srikant, Z West resident and LSA sophomore, described his apartment as having “super thin walls and poor amenities, such as a dryer that does not work properly or weak water pressure.”

Indeed, the walls at most high-rise apartments are so thin to the extent that phone calls or sneezes made in adjacent rooms can be overheard, and guests are pressured to speak at a volume close to murmuring to avoid conflicts with roommates. Compromising one’s privacy and living in constant fear of being too loud or overheard should not happen when an apartment’s monthly price totals nearly $2,000. 

In addition, it is not uncommon for students discussing potential housing options to advise one another on which apartments charge hidden fees. In an interview with The Daily, Anna Wang, Hub Ann Arbor resident and Nursing junior, said that “there are lots and lots of random fees (that are charged) unannounced. (I paid) a new year, updated parking increase fee of $10.99 that just popped up without notice.” 

Despite the many drawbacks that garner students’ attention, many residents of high-rise apartments are still satisfied with their experience, and oftentimes with good reason. Despite her dissatisfaction with arbitrary fees or imperfect maintenance, Wang said, “(Her home) feels like a dream apartment on TikTok and feels fortunate to afford such a nice apartment.” 

In an interview with The Daily, LSA juniors Ranya Sareen and Lilah Shandel also agreed that they love their apartment building. Sareen and Shandel said, “(We) love the convenient location and good amenities (offered by the apartment).” 

They specifically cited its gym, penthouse study lounge and helpful staff. Both Sareen and Shandel are residents of Six11 and will be renewing their respective leases for the next year.

It seems unlikely that developers will slow the construction of high-rise apartments in Ann Arbor any time soon. Under such circumstances, the University and the city of Ann Arbor should actively implement policies that alleviate the housing problems faced by students on a daily basis. Subsidizing lower-income residents in Ann Arbor with more public resources for housing, providing more public transportation options for students living in areas far from campus and actively encouraging more rent-controlled housing at a community level are just some of the many solutions that may help mitigate the terrible affordability of housing in the Ann Arbor area. The skyrocketing prices of housing and living can seriously affect students’ financial and physical well-being. If you’re on the lookout for a house to live in for the fall 2023 semester, it might be worth conducting some serious research before signing a lease for that glossy high-rise.

From Seoul, South Korea, So Jin Jung is an Opinion Columnist with a passion for politics and journalism. She can be reached at sojinj@umich.edu.

The post High-rise apartments in Ann Arbor: Why they aren’t worth it appeared first on The Michigan Daily.

From comfortable get-togethers to productive coffee meetings, there are always opportunities for students to eat and drink outside. And the start of a new semester always creates many, many occasions that require such forms of socializing. As Asian food expands and consolidates its strong presence in America, the popularity of boba is now tantamount to that of any given coffee shop, slipping away from its cultural origins in the process. As they explore Ann Arbor’s vast boba scene, many students find their “favorite boba shops” and “go-to combinations,” inevitably noticing the costs adding up in the process. 

For anyone unfamiliar, boba is a sweet milk or fruit tea-based drink that was invented in Taiwan in the 1980s. Also called bubble tea, the drink often features black, chewy tapioca pearls and other toppings such as jelly and pudding. An average cup of milk tea will cost anywhere between $4 to $7 with tax, and each added topping costs 50 cents or more. Thus, in addition to the time invested in seeing someone over boba, the typical cost for a cup of the drink will cost a student at least $5. This is way too expensive. 

With the same amount of money used to purchase a typical cup of boba, students could purchase multiple filling sandwiches at fast food chains, three pounds of apples and enough gas to last a 20-minute to 40-minute drive. Restaurants try to keep their costs at about 20%-40% of menu prices. This means that a $5 drink should cost at least $1 to make.

However, the cost of production for boba hovers far below this expected price, as the total per cup comes down to a mere 65 cents after one cent for the straw, three cents for the tea, five cents for the plastic cup and seal, 14 cents for the tapioca pearls and 42 cents for the bubble tea powder. Using the 20% of cost to menu price ratio, boba should cost at least $3.25. Even if one were to consider the higher-than-average labor and rent costs in Ann Arbor, the profit margins remain much more reasonable; the wholesale cost for a basic fried chicken sandwich from Fleetwood Diner hovers around two dollars, and is sold at around $8.

The exorbitant price hike of boba makes those nostalgic for the hey-day of the drink question whether what made it so special exists anymore. The taste of boba hits close to home for many Asian American youth, and was a vital element of many East Asian cultures starting from the 1980s. Boba is not just a sweet drink, but rather a cultural cornerstone for many Asian Americans: Shops serve as a venue for warmth, conversations and unity. 

Now, the definition of “boba” has changed. Impacted by contemporary social and health trends, it is not difficult for the students to see the newer, “hipper” shops in Ann Arbor offering organic milk, flavored syrups and loose-leaf teas, with accompanying premium pricing. This evolution of boba seems to be pushing the drink further and further away from its cultural origins of a cheap drink that everyone can afford and enjoy.

What makes this phenomenon all the more concerning? Unlike coffee, boba is a growing industry, meaning that costs are only anticipated to increase even further amid the limited supply and unprecedented surge in demand. Boba in the United States cost merely 89 cents in the 1990s, but witnessed a 500% to 800% price increase in a remarkably short span of time. The global bubble tea market is projected to grow by over $1.5 billion by 2029. As the boba trend continues to gain traction nationwide, the drink will continue to place a strain on young college students’ wallets.

Talking with a friend over a drink should not induce groans of financial concern. Despite boba shops being incredibly easy to locate across campus, resisting the temptation to stop by just twice saves a student enough money for a full meal at any one of the university’s dining halls. This means that when students are socially pressured to chat with a colleague over a drink they cannot afford, and this is repeated enough times, they may have to cut corners in other aspects of their lives in order to stay afloat. 

There is no denying that boba is accessible, delicious and even addicting. But whether it is sustainable for both businesses to continue selling drinks at such unreasonable markups, and for students to continue purchasing boba in lieu of foods that can fuel their bodies for longer at better prices, is up for debate. 

Indeed, at this rate it is not difficult to envision boba experiencing a slow but steady decline, as we’ve seen with other popular foods like rolled ice cream, coconut water and cake pops. There may even come a time when boba becomes so popular and yet too expensive that H-Mart’s moderately cheaper Instant Boba Tea Packs start flying off the shelves. Under such circumstances, consumers have a choice to make: As the Westernization of Asian cuisines impacts everything from the substance to the price of cultural foods, it is up to each of us to put our money where our mouth is. And as for business entrepreneurs, Ann Arbor urgently needs cheaper boba shops.

So Jin Jung is an Opinion Columnist and can be reached at sojinj@umich.edu.

The post The gold-plated black balls: Make boba cheap again appeared first on The Michigan Daily.