Life&Culture
AtoZ into Korean Mind In series
Decoding the Korean psyche through keywords
#Psychology
# Korean mindset
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AtoZ into Korean Mind In series
Decoding the Korean psyche through keywords
Would you like to subscribe?
Ever noticed some Koreans talk to themselves?
Some Koreans practice self-talk, wittingly or unwittingly, for such reasons as self-affirmation, indirect communication and coping with negative emotions An older Korean person at your usual bus stop mumbles something that sounds almost like a question about the weather. To be polite, you respond, o
Nov. 3, 2024 - 17:40:54
Sexless marriages: Why more prevalent in S. Korea?
How and why do married couples become sexless? The Korea Herald investigates Ever since the arrival of her daughter six years ago, the precious little being has become the center of Park Eun-jeong‘s world. It also marked the beginning of a new dynamic in her marriage: a sexless, more companionate re
Oct. 20, 2024 - 16:21:33
The price of numbers: How rankings shape lives in Korea
Quantifying everything, from school to social progress, once worked wonders for S. Korea. Now, number obsession makes Koreans unhappy. Jang Yun-jeong, 28, grew up in a world where numbers defined her worth. From academic achievements to salary and social status, her standing was calculated in terms
Oct. 6, 2024 - 11:52:57
Koreans do things quickly. Is it efficiency or lack of patience?
Korea‘s fast-paced culture is credited with many achievements, but it’s time to learn when, how to slow down In South Korea, speed is key. What needs to be done quickly? Virtually everything. As encapsulated in the running joke that “ppalli ppalli” -- where “ppalli” translates to “quickly” or “hurry
Sept. 16, 2024 - 16:00:47
Patriarchal values lose hold: Korean fathers want to change but lack role models
From patriarchal provider to balancer between work and family, Korean fatherhood is starting to change Oh Yoon-suk, a 43-year-old office worker in Busan, addresses his father -- but not his mom -- using honorifics. “I call my mother ‘eomma,’ but with my father, it’s always been ‘abeoji,’” he explain
Sept. 1, 2024 - 11:12:52
‘Ojirap,’ navigating the fine line between care and intrusion
Often viewed as meddling in another‘s business, the caring spirit behind ojirap shows concern, desire to help Kim Eun-hye, 36, instantly regretted mentioning she had gone on a blind date over the weekend. Immediately after her remarks, the usually dull lunchtime conversation with her senior colleagu
Aug. 19, 2024 - 09:54:43
How to say ‘no’
S. Korea‘s social norms and pressures amplify the challenge of declining After a second date, Lee Tae-hyung, 26, wanted to ask the woman out again. He sent her a KakaoTalk message saying, “Do you have time this weekend?” and the reply he received was, “I don‘t think I can make time. I have plans thi
July 21, 2024 - 14:29:23
Money paradox: Why money speaks louder than anything else
In era of prosperity, obsession with wealth only grows In South Korean society‘s contemporary lexicon, the neologism “financial treatment” posits that the mere act of monetary gain serves as a kind of therapy or cure for all manner of psychological and physical ailments. The term, especially popular
June 30, 2024 - 12:51:05
Korea‘s broken ladder of social mobility
Frustrated by the lack of upward mobility through education and home ownership, young Koreans turn to stocks, cryptocurrencies Choi Kyung-min, 33, describes himself and his wife as having been born with a “dirt spoon” in their mouths, meaning they come from less privileged backgrounds. Both graduate
June 16, 2024 - 15:06:15
Unspoken code of K-cool
Delving into the evolution of South Korea‘s cool values and the psychology behind the admiration for effortless style “K-everything: The rise and rise of Korean culture” (The Guardian) “The art market: Korean cool” (Financial Times) “Hallyu: ‘Cool Korea’ and the art of soft power” (Le Monde Diplomat
June 3, 2024 - 10:40:55
World of the in-laws, where gender stereotypes persist
Why do Korean mothers-in-law act superior? The psychology behind Korea‘s tricky ’si-world‘ dynamics Shim Yeon-sun, 40, was surprised by her mother‘s behavior during her brother’s formal engagement dinner, where her family met the bride-to-be’s family for the first time to discuss wedding plans. “My
May 19, 2024 - 17:11:31
Does your job define who you are? Should it?
What Korea‘s job scene today reveals about Koreans “What do you do for a living?” Lim Eun-hye came to understand the power of this one simple line after losing the title of college student. Wanting to explore her true desires before settling into a mundane work life, she dabbled in various pursuits,
May 6, 2024 - 14:08:59
Humor in Korea: Navigating the line between what‘s funny and not
Beneath Koreans‘ laughter, intricate interplay of sensitivity to hierarchical structures, power relations in different group settings Yoon Jin-hee, 37, describes herself as a bubbly and funny personality, always cracking jokes first when around friends. But at work, she seldom reveals her witty side
April 22, 2024 - 16:45:51
Battling ‘gapjil’: The quest to tame the tyrants among us
Korea in transitional state towards restoring balance in relationships across nearly every facet of society In many social relationships, whether personal or at work, power dynamics can create problematic imbalances. There are many words to describe them -- unjust, abusive, coercive, exploitative —
April 7, 2024 - 14:27:33
Fatphobia pervasive in Korea
Why remarks about another‘s body size might not necessarily raise red flags in Korea “Your face looks good.” When Justin Ku first heard this remark from one of his relatives here, he took it as a compliment. He later discovered that the phrase is more often used by Koreans to point out when you‘ve g
March 24, 2024 - 17:22:28
