📄 This report is wellness reference content and does not imply official endorsement, approval, or medical diagnosis by the institutions cited (Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare, Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, etc.). For serious mental health concerns, please consult a professional.
TL;DR
Korea's emotional suppression, captured by the culture of 'nunchi' (reading the room) and 'chemyeon' (saving face), gives rise to Hwabyung, a distinctive mind-body syndrome once listed as a Korean culture-bound syndrome in the DSM-IV-TR. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, a substantial share of Koreans experience emotional exhaustion, and long-term emotional suppression is linked to cardiovascular disease and weakened immunity.
Source: Korea MoHW; Korean Psychological Association; APA DSM-IV-TR
01 A society where 'enduring' became a virtue
Korean culture has three core concepts that suppress emotional expression.
Nunchi
The ability to quickly read another person's feelings and the mood of a room, and act to fit the situation rather than your own emotions. Those who lack nunchi face social criticism.
Chemyeon (saving face)
Not showing personal emotions in order to protect social face and standing. It's especially demanded of men and elders.
In (忍, endurance)
A Confucian tradition that treats patience and emotional restraint as virtues, as in the proverb 'fortune comes to those who endure.'
Reference: Matsumoto, D., Yoo, S. H., & Nakagawa, S. (2008). Culture, emotion regulation, and adjustment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94(6), 925-937.
02 Where does Korea's mental health stand now?
27.8%
have experienced a mental health issue at least once in their lifetime
Korea MoHW, 2021
7.7%
lifetime prevalence of depressive disorder
Korea MoHW, 2021
9.3%
lifetime prevalence of anxiety disorder
Korea MoHW, 2021
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's 2021 mental health survey, among those who experienced a mental health issue, only 12.1% received professional help. Most did not seek help because they 'tried to solve it alone' or 'didn't want to burden their family.'
Per Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service data (2022), the number of people treated for depression in Korea passed one million, but the population actually in need is estimated to be far larger. Experts believe the scale of 'hidden depression' is several times the official figures.
Source: Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (2022). Depression treatment status.
03 Hwabyung, Korea's culture-bound syndrome the world has noted
🌡️ What is Hwabyung?
Hwabyung (literally "fire illness") is a psychosomatic disorder that appears after long suppression of emotions such as resentment, anger, and grief. It brings a tight, stifling chest, waves of heat, and is accompanied by chronic fatigue and digestive trouble. It was officially listed as a culture-bound syndrome in the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-IV.
Key symptoms of Hwabyung
Reference: Min, S. K. (2009). Hwabyung in Korea: culture and dynamic analysis. World Cultural Psychiatry Research Review.
⚠️ If similar symptoms persist for more than two weeks, please consult a medical professional or counselor. This content is not for self-diagnosis.
04 When you suppress emotions, the body reacts first
Emotional suppression can hold back expression for a moment, but the inner emotional response itself doesn't disappear. If anything, the physical stress response, including a higher heart rate, increased cortisol, and elevated blood pressure, continues unchanged.
In Gross & Levenson (1993), participants instructed to suppress emotions showed no outward expression, yet their physiological responses such as heart rate actually increased.
Source: Gross & Levenson (1993). Emotional suppression: physiology, self-report, and expressive behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Over the long term, repeating emotional suppression as a habit can negatively affect chronic stress, immune function, and cardiovascular health, according to a body of research.
05 3 steps to emotional recovery you can start right now
Notice emotions without judgment
Set aside the thought 'I shouldn't feel this way' for a moment. Emotions aren't right or wrong. Recognizing what you feel right now, exactly as it is, is the first step.
Write your emotions for 5 minutes a day
If it's hard to say emotions out loud, try expressing them in writing first. Spelling and logic don't matter. Something as simple as 'Today I felt ___. I think it's because ___.' is enough.
Ask for help
Asking for help isn't weakness. Mental health support is expanding. In Korea, regional mental health welfare centers offer free counseling, and the 1393 crisis line runs 24/7. Outside Korea, you can find a local line at findahelpline.com.
📞 If you need support
🇺🇸 USA: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text)
🇦🇪 UAE: Aman Dubai 800-4673
🇰🇷 South Korea: 1393 (24/7, free) · regional mental health welfare centers (free counseling)
🌍 International: findahelpline.com
'It's okay to not be okay'
To you, who have read the room, saved face, and endured for so long, we want to say:
your emotions aren't wrong. They're just waiting to be expressed.
With Ongi, let's gently bring out today's emotions.