Basic information
- Name: Leo Kim
- Age: 10 years old
- Ethnicity: Asian (Korean descent)
- Gender: Male
- Residence: Urban city in South Korea, 21st century
- Family Background: Leo lives in a multi-generational household with his parents, younger sister, and grandparents. His family has a deep-rooted history in the area, and his great-grandfather was a victim of epistemic injustice, subjected to gaslighting, unequal justice, and unfair stigmatisation in a politically tumultuous period.
Demographics
• Location: Seoul, South Korea
• Schooling: Attends a private school with a rigorous curriculum emphasizing technology, history, and critical thinking.
• Socioeconomic Status: Middle-class family; parents work in tech and education sectors.
• Language: Bilingual, fluent in Korean and English, with a growing interest in learning Chinese and Japanese due to a broader interest in East Asian history and social justice issues.
• Tech Access: Leo has regular access to technology, including a tablet, smartphone, and computer. He is familiar with digital tools, social media, and online communities, using them to explore ideas, engage in problem-solving, and connect with like-minded peers.
Personality traits
Empathetic: Despite his young age, Leo is highly sensitive to issues of fairness and justice. His family’s history, especially his great-grandfather’s struggle, has shaped his strong moral compass.
• Inquisitive: Leo is deeply curious, always asking questions about history, politics, and society. He enjoys researching online and seeks out complex issues that puzzle adults.
• Outspoken: He is not afraid to voice his opinions, whether in class debates or discussions with friends. Leo is vocal about social justice, environmental issues, and the need for equality.
• Resilient: Leo exhibits emotional strength and resilience, taking pride in his family’s legacy and channeling their struggles into a determination to create positive change.
Smart goals
Understanding Epistemic Injustice: Inspired by his great-grandfather’s story, Leo wants to understand and raise awareness of epistemic injustice, particularly how marginalized groups’ voices are often suppressed or distorted by powerful systems.
• Advocating for Social Justice: Leo aspires to become a young activist, using digital platforms to promote equality, fairness, and justice. He sees himself as part of a broader movement to make the world more just.
• Solving Societal Problems through Technology: Leo is fascinated by technology and wants to explore how it can be harnessed to address real-world issues like discrimination, inequality, and environmental degradation.
• Building a Support Network: Leo aims to create online communities with other young problem-solvers to share ideas, promote social justice, and learn from each other.
Needs
Educational Support: Leo needs access to information and mentors who can guide him in understanding historical injustices and how to combat modern-day equivalents through activism, writing, and digital media.
• Digital Platforms for Expression: He requires safe, engaging platforms where he can express his views and collaborate with peers on social justice initiatives.
• Emotional Support from Family: Leo’s passion for fairness sometimes leads to frustration and emotional overload. He needs support from his family to manage these feelings, helping him channel them productively.
• Access to Historical Knowledge: To advocate effectively, Leo needs more information about Korea’s complex political history and the global context of injustice and inequality.
Pain points
• Frustration with Inaction: As a young boy, Leo often feels powerless in the face of large-scale social issues. He struggles to see how his actions can make a tangible impact.
• Generational Disconnect: Although his family supports him, Leo sometimes feels that his parents and grandparents don’t fully understand his passion for using digital tools for activism.
• Gaslighting Awareness: Leo is acutely aware of the injustice his great-grandfather faced, which makes him particularly sensitive to instances of unfair treatment or dismissiveness in school or in social settings. He can be hurt when others downplay or ignore the issues he finds important.
• Difficulty Finding Peers with Similar Interests: In his school environment, many kids are more interested in video games or entertainment, leaving Leo to feel somewhat isolated in his focus on history and activism.
• Exposure to Negative Online Spaces: While Leo thrives online, he can sometimes encounter hostile or dismissive attitudes, especially from adults or peers who don’t take him seriously due to his age.
Digital behaviour and patterns
Online Researcher: Leo regularly uses the internet to research topics like civil rights movements, historical injustices, and how marginalized communities are often misrepresented.
• Active on Social Media: Although he is young, Leo is already experimenting with platforms like YouTube or TikTok to discuss social issues. He looks up to content creators who use their platforms for activism and wants to follow a similar path.
• Problem-Solving Enthusiast: Leo often joins online forums, such as those for young coders or digital activists, to engage in problem-solving exercises. He’s interested in how technology (like coding apps or AI) can be used to address social problems.
• Gaming for Change: Leo enjoys video games but tends to be drawn to games that involve strategic thinking, collaborative problem-solving, or simulations of societal issues (e.g., games that simulate managing a city or addressing environmental problems).
• Collaborator in Digital Communities: He participates in online communities focused on youth activism, and he’s already begun reaching out to like-minded kids around the world, discussing inequality, climate change, and unfair social structures.
Family and cultural influences
Cultural Pride: Leo’s family instills a strong sense of pride in their Korean heritage and history. His great-grandfather’s story is a source of deep respect and motivation, reminding him of the importance of perseverance in the face of injustice.
• Close Family Ties: Despite the generational gap, Leo is close to his grandparents, who tell him stories about the hardships they and his ancestors faced. His parents encourage his education, but they sometimes worry about the stress he feels from focusing on such serious issues at a young age.
Future aspirations
Leo hopes to be an advocate for the marginalized, possibly using technology to build platforms where historically underrepresented voices can be heard. He sees himself growing into a thought leader who merges activism, technology, and storytelling to bring about social change in South Korea and globally.
Key takeaways
Leo is an empathetic and driven young boy with a passion for social justice, stemming from his family’s painful history. As a digital native, he uses technology to express himself, solve problems, and explore activism. His pain points revolve around feelings of powerlessness and the difficulty of finding like-minded peers, but his goals are ambitious: he wants to use technology to address epistemic injustice, advocate for equality, and build digital communities that foster collaboration and change.