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Jan 21 - Kibeun

5
stavrosthewonderchickenPerson was signed in when posted
01-22-2002
10:44 PM ET (US)
 I'm with you there, Joanne, on the TV drama. Screaming, weeping ajuhmas in histrionics because their beautiful son wants to marry a waitress or be a deli-owner (or fill in equivalent plotline here) get old when it's day after day after day.

(Actually I finally understood an upset mother at deli-owner son plotline from one of the evening soap operas a couple of days ago. Historically, in the extremely caste-conscious bone-rank dominated Korea, butchers were the lowest of the low. Thus the mother being upset...)

Gives me some perspective on how brave my betrothed/common law wife is, though.
4
joanne
01-21-2002
12:03 PM ET (US)
 Interesting... I never thought of it that way. I never used it to mean anything more than happy (kiboon jo-ah) or pissed off (kiboon nabbuh). But I think you're right on about the massaging social relations part. The importance of kiboon is perhaps the most apparent in the unbelievably complex relationships among family members (which I have been unlucky enough to experience first hand, and which is why I don't understand why there are so many Korean tv dramas that revolve around them-- I get mentally drained after watching for just a few minutes)
3
bearmanPerson was signed in when posted
01-21-2002
11:53 AM ET (US)
I've been told of westerners having difficulties dealing with Japanese people ('maybe' instead of 'no', etc) too. Is this an Eastern concept common to most of the countries over there (just wondering, not sure if you have an answer)?

The closest thing here in the West I can think of is from the pop culture of the late 60's/early 70's - one's aura.

Good post, Stav!
Edited 01-21-2002 11:54 AM
2
Sennoma
01-21-2002
05:59 AM ET (US)
 Thanks for the cultural improvement, Stavros. Every now and then I bump into something intrinsic to another culture that just seems alien to me; this kibuen thing is one of 'em. I am having enough trouble understanding it (by which I do not mean to imply a lack of eloquence on your part!); the idea of dealing with someone whose decisions are in large part based on this just spins me out. I have a feeling it will do my selfish, individualistic Western ass good to keep trying to get my head around the idea.
1
stavrosthewonderchickenPerson was signed in when posted
01-21-2002
03:15 AM ET (US)
 Original post here.

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