• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.103-139
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• 2002

Korean society has significantly changed with the onset of a dramatic economic crisis in 1998. From 2000, however, the Korean economy has recovered and currently Korea is enjoying a similar standard of living and economic growth as the pre-1998 levels. This study is a follow-up analysis, comparing the results examining the success attribution of Korean students and adults in 2001 with the results obtained before the economic crisis in 1997. Using the indigenous psychological approach, this study compares the similarities and differences in Korean students and adults' attribution of their personal success before and after the economic crisis. A total of 988 participants, consisting of 481 primary, junior high, senior high and university students and 507 adults (236 fathers and 271 mothers of the students) completed the questionnaire developed by Kim and Park (1998). The results indicate that students perceived their academic achievement and adults perceived successful family life as their most proud achievement. Successful family life included items such as academic success of children, healthy development of their children, and harmonious family life. The person who provided the most significant support for students were parents and for adults, it was their spouse. For students, the importance of friends' social support increased during the high school years. In terms of type of social support, emotional support was reported to be the most important for both students and adults. As for the reason for their success, majority of students and men reported self-regulation and for women, supportive family environment was reported as being the most important. Comparing 2001 results with the 1997 results, the importance of family increased after the economic crisis. Even with the dramatic economic crisis, however, some of the underlying pattern remain strong (such as importance of academic achievement for students, family life for adults, the importance of social support, especially emotional social support from family members, and believing that self-regulation would lead to success). The similar pattern of results obtain before and after the economic crisis indicate that the above results reflect a fundamental values and belief system deeply imbedded in Korean mentality.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.91-119
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• 2005

This study examines the perception and trust of Korean society and people among students and adults using the indigenous psychological analysis. A matched sample of 1,107 participants, consisting of 369 students, their mothers and their fathers completed a questionnaire developed by the present researchers. The results indicate that parents more likely than adolescents to hold negative views of Korean society. Adults are more likely than adolescents to view Korean society as showing high ingroup favoritism, to be insecure, to be conservative, to be corrupt, and to have social inequities. Both groups agree that Korean society is not rational nor democratic, but believe that it has the potential for progress. Second, parents are more likely to hold negative views about Korean people. Adults are more likely than adolescents of viewing Korean people as overly conscious about social face, emotional, selfish, exclusionary, and conceited. Both adolescents and their parents agree that Koreans are cooperative, full of jung (deep affection and attachment), and sincere. Third, adults are less likely to trust Korean institutions than adolescents. Adults are less likely than adolescents to trust National Assembly, political parties, and unions. Adolescents are more likely than their parents to trust family members, school friends, teachers, and government employees. These results indicate that adolescents have higher trust of Korean society and people than their parents. Fifth, the overall results indicate that both group perceive Korean society as showing high ingroup favoritism and corruption. In terms of Korean people, respondents had a more balanced view of perceiving them as highly sensitive to social face and being emotional, while also perceiving them as cooperative and full of jung. The trust of Korean institutions were generally low, especially the National Assembly and political parties. However, the trust of family was very high, followed by trust of school friends and teachers. The trust of government employees was low and this was especially the case for politicians.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.43-61
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• 2010

In Korea, Pbichim refers to a psychological state caused by emotional damages that can occur within close relationships. In this state, one might feel reluctant to express one's feelings directly to the other party. It is also possible that Pbichim transforms into anger. This study is aimed to define the term Pbichim as an indigenous psychological concept. In Korea, it is common to express one's feelings indirectly and read the other party's inward thoughts. Pbichim reflects those cultural aspects. In order to examine the representation of Pbichim in Korea, we developed a questionnaire consisting of 15 open-ended questions. The participants were 119 undergraduate and graduate students at Korea University, and the data was analyzed qualitatively. As a result, four different aspects of Pbichim (unsatisfied expectation, being ignored, being alienated, and power struggle) could be differentiated by the situation in which people are likely to present Pbichim. The personality traits of Pbichim, the way of relieving it, as well as positive and negative functions of Pbichim were also elicited. In addition, it was found that Pbichim (the concept that has been negatively perceived) has an important function in maintaining and improving an interpersonal relationship in Korea. Lastly, the importance of mind reading within a certain cultural context is discussed.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.14 no.1_spc
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• pp.427-468
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• 2008

This article examines the role and influence of educational achievement on Korean society and its future. Four major factors that associated with and influence educational achievement in Korea (i.e., trust, efficacy beliefs, quality of life, and societal transformation) are reviewed. First, the role of educational achievement on establishing a basis for trust in Korean society is examined. By reviewing studies of perception of Korean society, people and institutions, the importance of establishing trust in Korean society is outlined. Second, the role of efficacy belief in promoting educational achievement is examined. The importance of collective efficacy, at the adolescent, adult and political levels is emphasized. In addition, the concept and application of self-efficacy for teachers and parents is reviewed. Third, the role and influence of educational achievement on quality of life is outlined. Studies indicate that educational achievement plays an important role in improving the quality of life. The pressure to achieve, however, can have negative impact on stress and mental health and support systems need to be developed to alleviate their impact. Fourth, the future and prospects for Korean society through educational achievement is discussed. Through education, the importance of bridging the divide with North Korea is an important agenda for the future of Korean society. Finally, the importance of indigenous psychological perspective in understanding Korean society and providing direction for the future is discussed.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.103-137
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• 2004

This study examines the basis of trust in relationships by adolescents and their parents using the indigenous psychological approach. Using the indigenous methodology, adolescents were asked the reasons why they trusted their mother, father, friends, and teachers. Parents were asked why they trusted their children, spouse and their children's teachers. A total of 1,737 participants completed an open-ended survey: 579 adolescents (274 middle school and 305 high school students) and their parents (579 fathers) and (579 mothers). The results indicate that adolescents trust their parents because of their sacrifice, followed by consanguinity (i.e., blood relationship), respect, their trust in me, dependability, and their advice and counseling. The reasons why adolescents trust their teachers is because of the academic guidance they provide, unconditional trust of teachers, their concern and care, respect for teachers, advice and counseling they provide, they are like parents, and because of their sacrifice for the students. The reasons for trusting their friends are as follows: Dependability, closeness, unconditional trust of friends, their understanding of me, and their emotional support. The reasons why parents trust their children are: Children's sincerity, honesty, consanguinity, parents' expectation and communication with the children, children's obedience, and since they are diligent in their schoolwork. The reasons for trusting one's spouse are reported to be sincerity, their sacrifice for the family, honesty, unconditional trust of a spouse, and because of mutual support. The reasons why parents trust their children's teachers are reported as follows: Unconditional trust of teachers, their sacrifice for the students, and their sincerity. There were no significant differences across the type of school and academic grades in terms of trust of parents. However, middle school students are more likely to trust their teachers, and high school students are more likely trust their friends. The male students rather than female students and those students with higher academic grades are more likely to trust their parents, friends, and teachers. For parents, there were no significant differences across age, sex, and educational status concerning the trust of their children, spouse, and children's teachers. There was a positive correlations between parents' trust of their spouse and children and their children's trust of their parents. There was also a positive correlations of mothers' trust of children's teachers and the children's trust of their teachers.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.143-181
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• 2005

This article examines factors that influence health and quality of life. In addition to the symptomatology and physiological functioning, the influence of the psychological functioning and interpersonal relationship on the overall health and quality of life are also investigated. Using a case-study approach, a total of 70 patients suffering from allergy or asthma were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire developed by the present authors. It assessed the following six areas: Cause and onset of illness, psychological functioning, health management, trust, social support received and overall health and quality of life. Based on the transactional model (Bandura, 1997; Kim & Park, 2005), the results of the case studies have been integrated and divided into three aspects: (1) Cause and onset of illness that includes physiological and environment factors; (2) mediating influences that includes psychological functioning, health management, interpersonal relationship and social support received; and (3) outcome factor that includes symptomatology, health and quality of life. The psychological functioning includes self-efficacy (self-regulated efficacy, efficacy for enlisting social support, efficacy for managing the environment, and efficacy for overcoming difficulties), positive outlook, life goals, experience of stress, and proxy control. Interpersonal relationship includes trust of family members and the physician. Health management includes receiving proper health assessment, following the advice and prescription given by the physicians, control of the environment and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The results indicate that physiological, psychological, relational and environment factors interact with each other and affect individual's overall health and quality of life. Self-efficacy, social support received from family members, trust of physicians, and the health care system are key factors promoting healthy lifestyle and quality of life. The results indicate the need for further interdisciplinary, indigenous and cultural psychological research.