[Korea Quiz] 'Nunchi'

Find the answer at the bottom.

"Nunchi" (눈치) is the skill of sensing others' thoughts and feelings. Literally translated as “eye measurement,” it reflects the ability to gauge the context and atmosphere of a situation and act appropriately.

This behavior is often seen in those who are sensitive to group dynamics. It is sometimes translated as "reading the room" or "having emotional intelligence."

Like any cultural practice, children in South Korea are raised to develop nunchi following their parents, teachers, and peers. It involves carefully observing who is speaking, listening, interrupting, or apologizing—without asking directly—and noting the subtle reactions of others, such as facial expressions and behavior, to grasp what is going on as well as who is in a relatively more or less powerful position in a given group situation.

The concept is prominent in Korean language and society. The expression “nunchi eopda” (눈치 없다), or "lacking nunchi," describes someone who fails to pick up on social cues. In contrast, “nunchi chaeda” means to get what's going on by understanding those cues. To "give nunchi to someone" refers to giving them a hint about a situation with the intent of pressuring them to behave accordingly without directly telling them to.

Nunchi is generally considered important in Korean society for social success. People with "good nunchi" are said to be better at managing social relations, valued by superiors, and less likely to be seen as "rude" or "inappropriate."

But there are also side effects to the practice, particularly in hierarchically organized Korean groups—such as people overinterpreting a situation leading to unproductive results or superiors excessively dominating subordinates.

Answer: (c)

By Kim Ha-yoon(Joanne0901@heraldcorp.com)