Han (恨) is a Korean concept that might best be described as 'suppressed emotions' such as hate, despair, or a kind of a grudge that grow more intense with time. Over the centuries, Koreans have developed a lot of 'Han.' Much of it can be attributed to historical reasons, namely, being stuck in the middle of conflicts between China and Japan. Korea holds a particularly deep-rooted grudge against Japan for the atrocities that were suffered during the Japanese Occupation. Furthermore, the Confucian element of Chemyeon and the tendency of holding back emotions in favor of preserving harmony in relationships, such as marriage, also contributes to Han.
In a collective society such as Korea, individual hopes, wishes and feelings are often suppressed in favor of the greater good of the whole. This suppression necessitates the creation of outlets for release, to which some attribute such social problems as severe alcoholism, and manic driving by bus drivers and cabbies.
[edit] See Also
|
