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A critical moment in Korea's mental health narrative

In recent weeks, news outlets across Korea have been providing coverage of the tragic event in Daejeon, in which an elementary school teacher stabbed and killed a young student. As the story unfolded, one detail seemed to dominate the headlines: the teacher’s prior diagnosis for depression. As the public and media alike tried to make sense of this shocking act, there was an implicit assumption that the teacher’s mental health condition, a clinical diagnosis of depression, was directly related to the violent act. The instinct to seek explanations for a senseless act of violence is understandable, however we must stop and consider the dangerous implications of this rush to judgment. Headlines that so readily link mental illness — specifically depression — with violent behavior only serve to perpetuate stigma surrounding mental health, a stigma that remains all too prevalent in Korea. The ongoing stigma of mental health Korea, despite its remarkable economic development and technological advancements, has long struggled with a deeply ingrained cultural stigma surrounding mental hea

RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK Wich Craft's Patty Melt put a spell on me

I know I'm not a great food reviewer. For one thing, in order to properly review a restaurant, one really should visit multiple times and try multiple menu items.

BWAHAHAHAHA 3 'Three Brothers Talking Crap'

“Bwahahahaha” is a weekly column that explores the roots of Korean humor by sharing translated passages from the joke book “Kkalkkal Useum,” originally published in 1916. –Ed. By G.S. Hand Does entertainment need to provide a positive role model? If an audience watches a character in a story behaving badly, does it influence them to behave badly, too? This is a question that always comes up in some form in commentary on popular entertainment, underlying criticisms of violence, drug use or risqué clothing. In early 20th-century Korea, opinion leaned strongly toward the idea that writing should provide a moral example of “encouraging virtue, discouraging vice.” The humor collection “Kkalkkal Useum” stands out within this context. The fact that it was a book of humor allowed it to break norms without coming across as dangerous. The book is filled with anti-role models, characters who do the opposite of what social norms say they should and go unpunished. This week's joke is an example. An important element of traditional Korean morality is showing respect and deference to

BWAHAHAHAHA 6 'You’re a Complete Idiot'

“Bwahahahaha” is a weekly column that explores the roots of Korean humor through the joke book “Kkalkkal Useum,” originally published in 1916. By G.S. Hand Some of the jokes I’m translating from “Kkalkkal Useum” were presumably funny to their original audience in 1916, but come off as odd or even off-putting to a contemporary reader in translation. The one I’m translating today, though, made me laugh out loud (OK, more like a snort). It was also one of the easiest to translate. I’m interested in considering why this joke in particular translates easily into English. Like a lot of the jokes in “Kkalkkal Useum” the humor is based on a hierarchical relationship (between father-in-law and son-in-law). A lower-status figure unintentionally insulting the higher-status figure is a trope throughout the book. And as with many of the other jokes, the humor is verbal, depending on statements with multiple possible meanings. However, in this case the ambiguity lies not in wordplay or puns (which present obvious challenges in translation), but in pragmatics. That is, the confus

TRC confirms 31 children sent overseas for adoption through infamous Brothers Home

At least 31 children had been improperly sent overseas for adoption through the notorious Brothers Home in Busan, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Korea (TRC) confirmed in January. This finding was issued during the commission's 96th plenary session, marking the fourth decision related to Brothers Home and its affiliated facilities. Originally established as Brothers Infantorium in July 1960, the main facility was shut down in 1988 after its crimes were exposed. Brothers Mental Sanatorium was allowed to keep operating until August 1992. Previous investigations by the commission revealed that, like other "social welfare corporations" across Korea, Brothers Home forcibly confined so-called vagrants under government directives. Facility staff, in collaboration with police and politicians, engaged in enforced disappearances, forced labor, violent assaults and other human rights violations, leading to numerous deaths. This latest investigation identified 130 additional victims admitted to Brothers Home. For the first time, it also confirmed that the facility collaborated with other

American's journey to lead Korea's first nationwide union for foreign English teachers

Musical showcase explores toxic relationships

A new musical concert, titled "When an Empath Meets a Narcissist," explores the many questions in relationships and how we deal with them, asking if we do these things purposefully, whether we can change or if we are always stuck in these patterns of behavior and thinking.

RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK Is Bonny's Pizza really worth that wait?

Huge lineups out front might make a restaurant look popular, but they also tend to antagonize nearby residents. Is the food really that good, or are all the customers just acting like lemmings?

Lawmaker says Korea should back out of ILO convention to pay less to foreign nannies

A prominent ruling party legislator has called on the government to begin discussions on whether Korea should withdraw from a global anti-discrimination convention for foreign workers, blaming the minimum wage and international regulations for problems associated with the foreign nanny trial program here.

Skunk Itaewon hosts DIY fashion pop-up

An American artist named Kylee is officially launching her upcycled fashion brand Eyeronxc this weekend in a collaborative pop-up with her friend Tejin's brand, Flirty, at Skunk on the Sunset, the punk headquarters of central Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood.