• Archives of design research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.359-368
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• 2002

This study was conducted to analyze the Korean inclination to visual equivocality. Similar studies conducted by several psychologists were reviewed in order to determine whether we can put equal value on the visual equivocality which is often shown in natural appearance. This Korean inclination was also investigated with the help of a public survey. The following conclusions were derived from the study. - In reality, there is no visual equivocality for Koreans except in some specific cases. - It is true that, on a screen, a diagonal line from the lower right to the upper left produces a stronger feeling of upward tendency than one from the lower left to the upper right. - The idea that the right side of a screen looks heavier than the left one was not supported and should be rejected for Koreans. - It was discovered that the user interface is working when a person is describing a natural appearance or looking at a description. This fact is generally accepted for Koreans, the majority of whom are right-handed. - Until now, the idea of a Korean superiority toward the left side in visual expression has been found in our culture. In short, it was uncovered that Korean people generally do not have visual equivocality but, instead, have an inclination to left side rather than the right from various aspects.