There is a pervading pessimism taking over the globe at large, stemming from the sense that we’re existing in a world with a hundred problems all at once. That was what I thought would be reflected in James Gunn’s 2025 film Superman. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was, in fact, not. The film was refreshing for its optimistic idealism as embodied by Superman, as well as the critical thinking demonstrated by the reporter Lois Lane. While the film’s hopeful portrayal of Superman is nothing new, it provides a takeaway that is profoundly relevant and necessary in the present day.

The message of the aforementioned strengths continues to matter—especially in South Korea, where pessimism towards society has been increasing for years. A prominent example of this phenomenon is the coinage of “Hell Joseon,” which gained traction in the 2010s as a satirical critique of the tough socioeconomic state of the country. The phrase quickly spread and became popular with the younger generation as a reflection of their frustration with limited opportunities and widespread pressures. Still, this attitude is not without its drawbacks. “Hell Joseon” has often gone hand-in-hand with “Tal Joseon,” referring to the wish to escape Korean society and its problems entirely. Used together, these terms paint an unfortunate picture: young people are growing increasingly fatigued and disheartened by persistent societal hardships.

“Hell Joseon” and “Tal Joseon” largely fell out of fashion during the latter half of the 2010s and fell entirely off the public radar during the COVID pandemic. Still, the pessimistic mindset continues to persist among the younger demographic. After all, issues such as job scarcity and widening wealth inequality have only worsened since the 2010s.

Even then, this cynical image of South Korean youth isn’t the full picture. Korean youth voter turnout has continued to rise since 2007, peaking at 66.7% in the 21st presidential election. Demonstrations such as the 2016 candlelight vigil and the 2025 impeachment protests have also shown high levels of youth civic engagement. Furthermore, the advent of the digital age has allowed people of all ages to be informed of societal ongoings and to vocalize their opinions more than ever before. Hence, although “Hell Joseon” was a prominent buzzword of the 2010s and 2020s, one could say that it does embody an underlying desire for a better society. But for this desire to persist, there needs to be resilience—and this is where optimism becomes a necessary attitude.

Optimism can seem like passivity towards societal issues, but that is not inherently true. Maintaining a more positive outlook protects people from the risk of overwhelming stress and anxiety. In engaging active coping rather than avoidance, optimism makes people care about an existing problem; it combats apathy. Apathy stems from a kind of pessimism that believes there is no point in caring, thus prolonging the existence of addressable problems and exacerbating the distress they cause. In fighting that, optimism shows itself effective in strengthening resilience against adversity—and equally effective in motivating action toward change.

While optimism can protect against harsh situations, optimism alone lacks the substance that guarantees apt solutions. There must also be deep, critical thought put into solving complex problems. These two concepts can seem contradictory, and Superman acknowledges this from the start. The reporter Lois Lane realistically assesses the global implications of Superman’s individual actions of preventing one nation from invading another, and this is presented as being at odds with Superman’s idealism. Yet by the end of the film, we see that the ability to think critically is not diminished by the presence of optimism. In fact, the two qualities are mutually beneficial. Superman’s optimism inspires Lois Lane to continue pursuing the truth, and Lois’ subsequent investigations into the villain Lex Luthor give solid support to his beliefs. It is because of this dynamic that Luthor is placed firmly behind bars. Neither a positive attitude nor a critical mind is sufficient alone, but in combination, they offer a solid basis for societal transformation.

There is no fault in people who are exhausted or those who feel angry and helpless when the odds seem stacked against them. But while “hell” can be a lot of things, it should not be a place that we dwell in. To escape that hellscape, what is needed is optimism and critical thinking as a basis for action. Superman reminds us that these attributes can function as a firm foundation to confront systemic issues—ultimately leading us to a better future.