K-Wellness & Emotion Wellness Glossary

The psychological act of putting emotions into words. Research by Lieberman MD et al. (UCLA, 2007, Psychological Science) showed via fMRI that labeling an emotion immediately reduces amygdala activation — the brain's threat-detection center — while activating the prefrontal cortex. Simply writing "I feel anxious" physiologically reduces the intensity of that anxiety. Ongi's emotion tagging and diary features are built on this principle.

Source: Lieberman MD et al. (2007), Psychological Science

Listed in WHO ICD-11 (code QD85) as an "occupational phenomenon" — explicitly not classified as a medical condition or disease. It results from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. WHO defines three dimensions: (1) exhaustion/depletion, (2) increased mental distance from one's job or cynicism, (3) reduced professional efficacy. Key differentiator from fatigue: burnout does not resolve with rest.

Source: WHO ICD-11 QD85

Free professional support services for suicide or self-harm crisis situations. Ongi detects crisis signals in conversation and shows country-specific numbers immediately.

Source: 보건복지부; SAMHSA; Dubai Health Authority

The practice of writing about one's thoughts and feelings. James Pennebaker (UT Austin) pioneered research showing that 15–20 minutes of expressive writing per day over 4 days significantly improves immune function (NK cell activity), sleep quality, and psychological well-being. UCLA's affect labeling research (Lieberman, 2007) confirms via fMRI that simply labeling emotions reduces amygdala activation.

Source: Pennebaker JW (1997), PMC; Lieberman MD (2007), Psychological Science

A Korean cultural syndrome characterized by the chronic suppression of anger, resentment, and frustration — often due to social pressures to maintain harmony. Symptoms include chest tightness, heat sensations, palpitations, fatigue, and depression. It was listed in the DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000) Appendix I as a culture-bound syndrome. Note: it was not included as a separate entry in DSM-5 (2013).

Source: APA DSM-IV-TR Appendix I; 보건복지부

A wellness category rooted in Korean emotional culture. Unlike K-Beauty (skincare) or K-Pop (music), K-Wellness focuses on the inner emotional landscape — emphasizing warmth (온기/ongi), interpersonal empathy, and community-based emotional support. It draws from Korean cultural practices of attentive emotional care and combines them with modern AI technology for accessible mental wellness support.

Source: Ongi Editorial (2026)

The Korean social skill of quickly and accurately gauging the moods, feelings, and reactions of others — often described as "reading the room." While nunchi helps maintain social harmony, chronic over-reliance on it can lead to emotional suppression, self-silencing, and burnout. The concept was popularized internationally by Euny Hong's "The Power of Nunchi" (2019).

Source: 한국심리학회; Euny Hong (2019), The Power of Nunchi

"Warmth" in Korean. Also the name of the AI wellness companion service at ongi.app. Powered by Claude (Anthropic), Ongi provides empathetic, judgment-free conversations for people experiencing burnout, loneliness, or anxiety. Available in Korean and English.

Source: ongi.app

The virtual otter mascot character of Ongi. Oni is a distinct entity from the AI service itself — a companion the user names and grows together with. Oni earns XP through the user's conversations, diary entries, and routines, leveling up through 5 evolution stages: baby → junior → member → senior → master.

Source: ongi.app

Treating oneself with the same kindness, care, and understanding offered to a good friend in times of failure or suffering. Defined by Dr. Kristin Neff (University of Texas at Austin), self-compassion has three components: (1) self-kindness vs. self-judgment, (2) common humanity vs. isolation, (3) mindfulness vs. over-identification. Higher self-compassion is consistently associated with lower anxiety, depression, and burnout.

Source: Neff KD (2003), Self and Identity; self-compassion.org

An AI-based emotional support service that helps users understand and process their emotions without providing clinical diagnosis or treatment. Distinct from: (a) psychotherapy — requires a licensed therapist, (b) psychiatric services — requires a licensed psychiatrist, (c) crisis intervention — requires emergency services. A wellness companion like Ongi provides conversation, mood tracking, and self-care guidance as a supplementary emotional tool.

Source: Ongi Editorial (2026)