Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pkang0202]

So, I thought I'd start a thread about Noonchi.

Do you know what it is? Have you heard this before?

Noonchi is the reason Koreans act the way they do. It is a behavior that we, as westerners, have a VERY hard time grasping. Sometimes, it defies common sense. Most of the time, it goes against our own social behavior.

There really isn't a solid definition of Noonchi because it applies on so many levels. Some might say Noonchi is "respect" but it goes way beyond that. I made this thread so that we can discuss it and help each other understand it.

[peppermint]

Um, from what I understood of nunchi, your explanation is well off. I've heard jeong described in similar terms to your post though...

According to wikipedia:
Nunchi refers to a concept in Korean culture, described as "the subtle art of listening and gauging another's mood". It is of central importance to the dynamics of interpersonal relationships in Korean culture. Nunchi is literally translated as "eye-measure".

There mightn't be a specific term for it in English, but tact and empathy come close, and they're both quite valued in the West.

[bluelake]

How about some experiences? I remember many over the years where I was saying something to someone and, later on, my wife gets upset with me about it and says something like, "You should have noticed my eyes."

[nautilus]

[Freakstar]

This is how I would define "noonchi" or 눈치- social perceptiveness, social awareness, social sense, social tact.

If you have no noonchi, then basically you're not very aware of others and how they perceive you, or you're unaware of the situation at hand.

Noonchi is not respect. They're totally different. Though someone who has no noonchi might be seen as disrespectful in certain situations, just because you have noonchi doesn't mean you're being respectful. So respect has nothing to do with it.

Also, noonchi alone doesn't account for why Koreans behave the way they do.

[peppermint]

I'm reasonably good with that sort of thing, at least most of the time, but my co teachers seemed to think I'd pick up very specific info, like say classes being cancelled, through nunchi, and I guess the force just isn't that strong with me, because I never managed that feat.

[nautilus]

[Ya-ta Boy]

Noon-chi is that inconvenient skill some Koreans display. You're stressed out for some reason, like a run-in with the boss or your girlfriend just dumped you, so you paste a fake smile on, walk into class determined to get through it and a hand shoots up and the student says, "Teacher, are you OK?" I've noticed more tactful students ask if you are tired.

It's downright creepy when you are trying to hide your feelings. It must be hell being a teenager with a mom who has good noon-chi.

[blaseblasphemener]

I've found that elementary kids haven't honed the skill as well, like the other day when I had a bunch of shit-heads at camp who couldn't pick up on my body language that Mt. St. Teacher was about to blow.

Maybe that's how they learn this trait so well, from pissing off the foreign teacher.

[Kikomom]

So it's intuition?

[Draz]

[Pooty]

[Kikomom]

[zpeanut]

[pkang0202]

Noonchi has a lot to do with Korean behavior. Noonchi goes hand in hand with the "Senior, Junior" relationship in Korea.

In my opnion, noonchi goes beyond just judging someone's mood.

It is very complicated and I can't really explain it myself, hence the thread for open discussion.