The Korean Mind: Understanding Contemporary Korean Culture

by Boye Lafayette De Mente, Laura Kingdon (Revised by)

Overview

Understanding a people and their culture through code words and language.

Today, South Korea is an economic, technological and entertainment superpower. How, as a country, did they rebound from war, poverty and political unrest? And how can that success be replicated in other cultures? The answers can, in fact, be found by understanding Korean customs, values and beliefs. Author Boye Lafayette De Mente identifies the unique qualities that comprise the Korean identity and articulates their modern expressions of Korean culture and history in this book.

Organized alphabetically by topic, De Mente explains the critical cultural code words that make Korea the country it is today. Anyone interested in Korean etiquette, whether for travel or work, will discover that their meanings extend far beyond superficial English translations to deeper interpretations.

Cultural code words include:

• Aboji, Ah-boh-jee — The "Father Culture"
• Anae, Ah-negh — Wives: The Inside People
• Han Yak, Hahn Yahk — The Herbal Way to Health
• Innae, Een-nay — A Culture of Enduring
• Katun Sosuy Pap, Kaht-unn Soh-suut Pahp — Eating from the Same Rice Bowl
• And over 200 more…

This in-depth discussion covers the concepts and principles that are integral to the Korean way of life and provides all the Korean history and insight necessary for those readers eager to learn the secrets of this resilient and burgeoning, yet little-understood nation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780804848152
Publisher:	Tuttle Publishing
Publication date:	04/24/2018
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Boye Lafayette De Mente first went to Korea in 1949 as a member of a U.S. military intelligence agency, and was involved with the country for more than six decades as a student, journalist, editor, lecturer, and writer. He is the author of more than thirty books including Survival Korean, The Korean Way in Business and Etiquette Guide to Korea.

Laura Kingdon is a graduate of Yonsei University's Korean Language Institute. She has designed curricula and taught English as a Second Language to students of all ages, ranging from university students in Kazakhstan to elementary school children in Korea.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments viii

Understanding and Interacting with Koreans ix

A

Abeoji $$$ The "Father" Culture 1

Adeul $$$ The "Son" Culture 4

Aeyok $$$ Eroticism in Korean Life 6

Anae $$$ Wives: The Inside People 7

Anshim $$$ Peace of Mind 9

Arirang $$$ The Korean Soul Song 10

B

Baduk $$$ A Learning Game 11

Baek II $$$ The Hundredth Day Party 13

Bipyeong $$$ The Pitfalls of Criticism 14

Bohojuui $$$ Protectionism Korean Style 16

Bojeungkeum $$$ Paying "Key Money" 17

Bok/O-Bok $$$ Blessings from the Spirits 18

Boksu $$$ The Need for Revenge 20

Bulgyo $$$ The Buddhist Wave 21

C

Chaebeol $$$ The Industrial Colossi 26

Chae-Myeon $$$ Saving Everybody's Face 29

Chakeupjajok $$$ The Self-Sufficiency Syndrome 31

Chameulseong $$$ You Gotta Have Patience! 32

Changpi $$$ The Shame Culture 33

Chebeol $$$ Collective Punishment 35

Chimsul $$$ Needling Cosmic Power 36

Chingu $$$ Cultivating Friends 37

Chung $$$ Loyalty in a Korean Setting 38

D

Dabang $$$ Coffee Shops and Cafés 40

Dangol $$$ Creating Special Customers 41

Dodeok $$$ Circumstantial Morality 42

Dojang $$$ Sealed with a Chop 44

Dong Ari $$$ Hobby Groups 46

Dongchang Hoe $$$ Alumni Groupism 47

Dongnip $$$ Independence vs. Tradition 48

E

Eumju $$$ The Great Equalizer 49

Eunhye $$$ Social Indebtedness 53

H

Haekgajok $$$ Two-Generation Families 54

Haengbok $$$ The Pursuit of Happiness 56

Haksaeng $$$ The World of Korean Students 57

Hallyu $$$ The Korean Wave 59

Han $$$ The "Force" Is with Them 60

Han Yak $$$ The Herbal Way to Health 62

Hanbok $$$ People in White 64

Hangeul/Hanja $$$ Korea's Writing Systems 67

Hanguk $$$ The Korean Nation 71

Hanguksaram $$$ The Korean People 74

Hanguk Yeoksa $$$ Korea: A Historical Saga 77

Hanjeong Shik $$$ A Korean Meal 94

Hankuk Mal $$$ The Korean Language 97

Him $$$ A Passion for Power 101

Hoesa $$$ The Korean Company 102

Hwa $$$ Striving for Harmony 105

Hwangap/Jingap $$$ Celebrating Sixty/Seventy Years 107

Hyo $$$ The Power of Filial Piety 108

I

Ibonsaram $$$ The Japanese Factor 110

In'gan Kwan'gye $$$ Interpersonal Relations 113

Injong $$$ Affection and Compassion 115

Innae $$$ A Culture of Enduring 116

Insa $$$ Rounds of Greetings 118

Insam $$$ The "Man-Root" 120

Ireum $$$ What's in a Name? 121

Isangajok $$$ The Divided Families 125

J

Jayu $$$ The Power of Freedom 127

Jeol $$$ The Versatile Bow 128

Jeomjaengi $$$ The Fortune-Tellers 130

Jeong $$$ Ties That Bind 132

Jeongbu $$$ Big Brother 134

Jeongmal $$$ The Color of Truth 135

Jeongshik $$$ Doing Things by the Book 137

Jeongui $$$ Justice Korean Style 138

Jeontu/Ssa-um $$$ Fighting at the Drop of a Hat 140

Jip $$$ Getting Family Approval 141

Jiwi $$$ Paying Attention to Rank 143

Jiyeok Kaldeung $$$ The Scourge of Regionalism 145

Joguk $$$ The Mother Country 147

Jok $$$ The Korean Clan System 149

Jolbu $$$ The Suddenly Rich 151

Jonggyo $$$ Faces of Korean Religions 152

Jongyeong $$$ Paying Proper Respect 155

Jonjung $$$ Deferential Honor 156

Josang Sungbae $$$ Ancestor Worship 157

Joseon $$$ Land of Morning Calm 159

Juche $$$ Searching for Self-Reliance 162

Jungjaein $$$ The Go-Betweens 164

Jungmae $$$ Arranged Marriages 165

Juso $$$ Finding the Right Place 168

K

Kajok $$$ The Korean Family 170

Kamdong $$$ When Emotions Were Taboo 172

Kanan $$$ Taking Comfort in Poverty 174

Kateun Sosui Bap $$$ Eating from the Same Rice Bowl 175

Keomdo $$$ The Way of the Sword 176

Ki $$$ The Cosmic Force 178

Kibun $$$ Feelings Come First 180

Kidokyo $$$ Christianity in Korea 182

Kimchi $$$ The Spice of Life 184

Kisaeng $$$ The Pleasure Girls 186

Komun $$$ Getting Good Advice 190

Kongja $$$ The Master of Masters 191

Kongpyeong $$$ Korean Fairness 196

Kongson $$$ Courtesy vs. Morality 198

Kosa $$$ The Good Spirits 199

Kukje Kyeolhon $$$ International Marriages 200

Kukkajuui $$$ Korean Nationalism 203

Kunsa Munhwa $$$ The Military Culture 207

Kwageo $$$ Selecting the Brightest 211

Kwalli $$$ "Management Korean Style" 214

Kwallyojui $$$ Bureaucratic Authoritarianism 220

Kye $$$ The Group Approach 221

Kyeolhon $$$ Marriage Customs 223

Kyeong $$$ Controlling the Mind 227

Kyeongjaeng $$$ Competition Korean Style 229

Kyojesul $$$ Business Drinking 231

Kyoseop $$$ Korean Negotiating 232

Kyoyuk $$$ Education and Power 234

M

Mangshin $$$ Avoiding Shame 241

Matbeoli bubu $$$ Two-Income Families 242

Mi $$$ Worshiping Beauty 244

Mudang $$$ The Spirit Mediums 245

Munhak $$$ Literature and Culture 247

Myeongham $$$ Playing Your Name Cards 250

Myeongye $$$ The Need for Honor 252

N

Namja/Nampyeon $$$ The Outside Person 253

Ne/Anio $$$ A Yes and No 255

Noemul $$$ Bribery vs. Gift Giving 256

Nolli $$$ Beware of Being Logical 259

Nongbu $$$ The "Good" People 261

Norae $$$ Singing Your Way to Success 262

Noye $$$ The Pre-modern Slave Culture 265

Nunchi $$$ Korea's Cultural Telepathy 267

O

Oegugin $$$ Encounters with Foreigners 269

Omeoni $$$ Mothers as Saints 272

Ondol $$$ Hot Times on the Floor 274

P

P'a $$$ The Faction Syndrome 275

Pi Si Bang ("PC Bang") $$$ Getting Online 276

Pongnyeok $$$ The Violent Side 277

Po Teol $$$ Korean Internet/Portal Sites 281

Pulda $$$ Eliminating Office Stress 282

Pumjil $$$ Quality as a Cultural Thing 283

Pungsu $$$ Keeping in Cosmic Harmony 285

R

Room Salon $$$ Sex in a Glass 287

S

Sagwa $$$ The Role of the Apology 289

San $$$ Korea's Sacred Mountains 291

Sayang $$$ Keeping a Low Profile 293

Segyehwa $$$ Korean-Style Globalization 295

Seodo $$$ Writing as a Cultural Discipline 297

Seonbae/Hubae $$$ Seniors and Juniors 299

Seong $$$ Sexual Mores 300

Seonmul $$$ Gift Giving as "Social Oil" 304

Seulpeum $$$ Sadness in Korean Culture 306

Shigan $$$ On Fast Time 307

Shilpae $$$ Avoiding Failure 309

Shinyong $$$ Operating on Trust 310

Shipiji $$$ Living by the Numbers 311

Shisaem $$$ The Jealousy Taboo 313

Silhak $$$ The Coming of Practical Learning 314

Sogae $$$ Limiting Introductions 316

Sogaejang $$$ Letters of Introduction 317

Sokdam $$$ Wisdom in Proverbs 318

Sonnim $$$ Honorable Guests 320

Ssireum $$$ Korean Wrestling 321

Sujupeum $$$ The Shyness Syndrome 323

T

Tae Kwon Do $$$ Hand-and-Foot Combat 324

Taedo $$$ Manners as Morality 326

Tong II $$$ The Great Reunification Dream 328

U

Uimu $$$ Duty and Morality 329

Uiri $$$ The Burden of Obligations 331

Uishik $$$ Contents of the Korean Mind 332

Ujeong $$$ Friendships in Korean Life 333

Unmyeong $$$ The Demise of Fate 335

Uri Nara Saram $$$ Our Country's People 336

W

Wieom $$$ Dignity Comes First 338

Wonmang $$$ The Grudge Syndrome 339

Y

Yangban $$$ The Mandarins of Korea 340

Yatpoda $$$ Underestimating Koreans 346

Yeobo/Yeoboseyo $$$ Hey There, Darling, Hello! 348

Yeoja $$$ Korean Women 349

Yeoldeunguishik $$$ The Fading Inferiority Complex 357

Yeolshimhi Hapsida $$$ Let's Do Our Best! 359

Yeon/Yeonjul $$$ Relationships and Connections 360

Yeongeo $$$ The Language Burden 362

Yeonse $$$ Venerating Age 363

Yeui Beomjeol $$$ Etiquette as Morality 366

Korean-English Glossary 367

Index 372