Korea JoongAng Daily - Daily News from Korea

Kim Sung-jae

The author is a business administration professor at Furman University and author of "The Story of Tariffs" (2025).

On Nov. 4, 1979, at the height of the Iranian Revolution, student protesters stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Fifty-two Americans were taken hostage. Ten days later, Jimmy Carter ordered the freezing of roughly $12 billion in Iranian assets.

Washington attempted negotiations to secure the hostages' release, but Iran's revolutionary government refused to yield. In April 1980, the United States severed diplomatic relations and imposed further sanctions, including a ban on Iranian oil imports. With hostages on one side and frozen assets on the other, the standoff dragged on. Mediation efforts by Algeria failed to persuade Ruhollah Khomeini, who remained committed to revolutionary legitimacy.

The deadlock broke only with the outbreak of another war. On Sept. 22, 1980, Iraqi forces led by Saddam Hussein invaded Iran. Seeking regional dominance, Iraq targeted a weakened Iran grappling with internal turmoil and strained U.S. ties. In need of war funding, Tehran returned to negotiations. The hostages were released in January 1981, after 444 days in captivity.

As geopolitical tensions escalated, global oil prices surged from about $12 per barrel to $40, triggering the second oil shock. Despite the resulting energy crisis, U.S. equity markets remained resilient. By the end of 1980, the S&P 500 had risen 26 percent from the previous year. Energy companies, buoyed by rising oil prices, became dominant market drivers, with the sector accounting for as much as 28 percent of the index.

A similar concentration is visible today. Five hyperscale firms leading investment in AI infrastructure account for roughly 30 percent of major stock indexes. Market concentration is even more pronounced than in 1980. At that time, seven of the top 10 companies by market capitalization were energy firms. Today, eight of the top 10 are AI-related technology companies.

The rally of 1980, however, proved short-lived. As oil-driven inflation climbed to 14 percent, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates to 21 percent. The economy fell into recession and corporate earnings weakened. By the first half of 1982, stock indexes had dropped 21 percent.

Recent gains in U.S. markets have been supported by strong corporate earnings. Yet rising energy costs and broader inflationary pressures could eventually weigh on a narrow group of leading firms. If their performance falters, the broader market may decline sharply.

History suggests that war can both fuel and end a market rally. In 1980, conflict helped drive gains, but its economic aftereffects ultimately reversed them. Today's rally began before large-scale conflict. Whether its trajectory will differ remains uncertain.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

Myoung Hoon

The author is the head of clinical services and public care center, Seoul National University Dental Hospital.

An older adult colleague in the Korean Academy of Geriatric Dentistry often visits his mother in a long-term care facility, sharing meals and conversation. Drawing on his dental training, he carefully cleans her mouth using a toothbrush, toothpaste, several types of interdental brushes, floss and a tongue cleaner. For families caring for parents with limited mobility, this is a scene that is both admirable and difficult to replicate.

Since March 27, home-visit medical care has been formally enabled under the Integrated Care Support Act. Previously, while the Medical Service Act did not explicitly prohibit house calls, they were largely treated as one-time visits similar to emergency calls. The new framework provides a clearer legal basis for ongoing care delivered outside hospitals, including in private homes and long-term care facilities, marking a shift toward more continuous and accessible services.

As people age, many experience conditions that make daily life difficult without assistance. Some receive care at home while attending short-term care centers, while others reside in nursing facilities. Diseases such as cerebrovascular disorders or Parkinson's disease can impair hand movement, and cognitive decline, including dementia, can make basic oral hygiene tasks such as toothbrushing difficult. In these situations, family members or caregivers often step in, but without professional training, there are clear limitations. Regular visits by dental professionals are therefore essential not only for hygiene management but also for timely treatment.

Oral health also has a direct connection to quality of life in later years. Few individuals wish to live in complete dependence on others. The ability to walk, eat and use the bathroom independently is closely tied to maintaining dignity. As life expectancy increases, reducing the duration of frailty and dependency has become a shared objective. Within this process, oral health occupies a central position.

When appetite declines and oral function deteriorates, adequate nutrition becomes difficult. This leads to a decrease in muscle mass, which in turn reduces physical activity and further suppresses appetite. If falls or fractures occur, the cycle can accelerate, resulting in rapid physical decline. Many studies identify impaired oral function as a key gateway in this progression. For this reason, professional intervention is necessary to sustain a longer period of independent and non-frail living.

Comprehensive oral care involves strengthening the muscles of the lips and tongue, improving swallowing function to reduce choking and managing dryness in the mouth. These measures play a decisive role in maintaining overall health among older adults. However, for home-visit dental care to become established, institutional preparation is essential. It is also necessary to acknowledge that such care cannot achieve the same level of completeness as treatment delivered in fully equipped clinical settings.

In practice, dentists cannot transport all necessary equipment, and diagnostic tools such as radiographic imaging are often unavailable. In addition, sufficient support staff may not be present. Under these constraints, the goal inevitably shifts from achieving perfection to providing the best possible care within limitations. Understanding these realities is crucial for both providers and patients.

From the perspective of patients and caregivers, it is important to approach home-visit dental care with realistic expectations. Rather than seeking complete treatment, the priority may be to relieve symptoms and improve daily comfort. Because care is delivered outside conventional medical institutions, there is also potential exposure to legal risks. To encourage greater participation by dentists, appropriate compensation must be accompanied by institutional safeguar...

Yeh Young-june

The author is the head of the editorial board at the JoongAng Ilbo.

President Lee Jae Myung recently said he watched the film "My Name Is," which portrays the unhealed trauma of the Jeju April 3 Uprising. The story follows an older woman who, having lost all memory before the age of 8 due to that trauma, has lived her entire life under a different name and begins searching for her original identity buried deep in her memory. The director's decision to place "name" at the center of both the story and its title reflects a broader truth: A name carries the weight of a life and symbolizes an identity that cannot be replaced.

This principle extends beyond individual lives. Naming others or objects reflects one's perception, but it also works in reverse. Once a name is assigned, it shapes perception and eventually guides behavior. The Korean poet Kim Chun-soo captured this idea in a well-known line: "When I called his name, he came to me and became a flower." Cognitive psychologists describe a similar phenomenon as the framing effect, showing through repeated experiments that people's choices and actions differ depending on how the same information is presented.

Against this backdrop, a recent academic conference raised questions about naming in inter-Korean relations. Titled "Naming for peaceful coexistence: North Korea or Joseon" — "Joseon" being Pyongyang's own term for the state — the event was hosted by the Korean Political Science Association, with support from the Ministry of Unification. Officials explained that the forum aimed to gather academic views after Minister Chung Dong-young suggested using the term "Korea-Joseon relations" instead of the commonly used "inter-Korean relations."

Although described as a platform for public discussion, the presentations reportedly leaned in one direction, emphasizing that changing terminology would be acceptable or even necessary. This raises questions about whether the process is genuinely open-ended or part of a broader effort to build consensus around a predetermined conclusion.

Supporters of renaming argue from a pragmatic standpoint. North Korea is a member of the United Nations and is treated as a sovereign state in the international community. From this perspective, using its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, appears consistent with international practice. When U.S. officials, including U.S. President Donald Trump, use the initialism "DPRK," it carries little more than formal recognition. The implications differ, however, when the same terminology is adopted by South Korea itself.

South Korea's Constitution states that the national territory includes the entire Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands. It also defines peaceful unification based on a free democratic order as a fundamental national objective. The 1992 Basic Agreement between the two Koreas describes their relationship not as one between two separate states but as a special, interim arrangement formed in the course of pursuing unification. This formulation has been maintained across administrations and has guided inter-Korean agreements for decades.

Changing how North Korea is named could therefore raise questions about consistency with this legal and political framework. Even setting aside constitutional concerns, such a potential shift could undermine the principles that have shaped inter-Korean relations for more than 30 years. If altering that foundation is not the intention, it is unclear why the issue is being raised now.

Some argue that since the North has begun referring to the South by its official name rather than "South Joseon," reciprocity can be justified. However, Pyongyang's change is not necessarily rooted in goodwill. It is often framed within what it calls a "two-state theory," which emphasizes division and hostility. Simply adopting a different name is unlikely to produce a sudden improvement in relations.

There was a time when inter-Korean exchanges...

As school outings, field trips and other forms of experiential learning rapidly shrink, President Lee Jae Myung has personally called for countermeasures. Teachers' groups, however, have pushed back, saying the president's understanding of the issue is incorrect.

At a Cabinet meeting earlier this week, Lee said schools were "depriving students of good opportunities" because they did not want to take responsibility. He also said, "You cannot get rid of a jar just because you fear maggots might appear." The Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations and the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union said the remarks failed to reflect conditions in schools, and urged the government not to shift responsibility onto teachers. That may not have been the president's intent, but the decline in field trips cannot be reduced to teachers avoiding responsibility.

The top demand from teachers' groups is legal protection that would allow educators to organize experiential learning without fear. The decisive turning point was a 2022 student death during a field trip at an elementary school in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. The homeroom teacher was indicted on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and was found guilty in both the first and second trials. Student safety is essential, but it is excessive to make an individual teacher face the risk of criminal punishment whenever an unexpected accident occurs.

Since then, reluctance to organize outings and school trips has become clear in the data. Of 605 elementary schools in Seoul, only 51 percent conducted one-day field learning programs last year, compared to 99 percent in 2023. The share of elementary, middle and high schools in Seoul planning overnight experiential programs such as school trips this year fell to 17 percent, down sharply from 42 percent last year.

The Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations said normalizing experiential learning will remain difficult unless the structure requiring individual teachers to bear all legal responsibility in the event of an accident is changed. The teachers' union made the same point, saying the system that places all responsibility on teachers must be revised. Their argument is that safety personnel and financial support, as mentioned by Lee, are not enough to ease teachers' anxiety in the field.

The Ministry of Education has said it is pursuing legal revisions to give teachers stronger protections from accidents during experiential learning. It should move quickly to produce effective measures. Field trips should not disappear from schools, but restoring them requires more than urging teachers to be brave. It requires a system that protects both students and teachers.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Seo Ji-eun and read by an artificial voice.

PHU QUOC, Vietnam — A year ago, the southern coastline of Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, held only open water.

By the autumn of 2027, the area will be ready to host one of the most consequential gatherings in its history: the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

A 3-kilometer (1.86-mile) boulevard lined with 10,000 coconut palms and flanked by 15 international hotels will lead toward a convention center housing the world's largest ballroom, a 4,030-seat theater where a Cirque du Soleil troupe will perform nightly and a 69-story tower visible from the sea.

World leaders will arrive at a new terminal and travel to the summit venue on Phu Quoc's first urban rail line.

Currently, Vietnamese workers in helmets navigate the sprawling 58-hectare (143-acre) construction site on motorbikes — the fastest and most comfortable way to get around a worksite this size in temperatures that can reach 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).

This Korea JoongAng Daily reporter joined a Korean media group for a walk-through of Ruby Beach on April 18, two months after construction began on the reclaimed land.

The investor is Sun Group, a Vietnamese conglomerate active in multiple industries, including tourism, hospitality and infrastructure, and the company's goal is straightforward: set APEC 2027 as a fixed deadline to build infrastructure that will outlast the summit by decades, shifting Phu Quoc from a beach destination into a permanent meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) hub — with no direct regional competitor.

Vietnam has hosted APEC twice before: Hanoi in 2006 and Da Nang in 2017. Korea hosted the most recent summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, in 2025. Just days after this reporter completed the media tour, President Lee Jae Myung pledged full technical and diplomatic support for Vietnam's hosting during his state visit to Hanoi.

Architecture as identity

The development site's "Hotel City" zone alone comprises 15 properties, including lodging belonging to global hotel brands such as the Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Korea's Lotte, all of which will house delegations during the APEC summit before transitioning into the commercial core of the island.

The design of every building has been inspired by its locale. The Lotte building, for instance, draws its palette, centered on an off-white that shifts shades in the coastal sunlight, from the island's pearl farms. The exterior of the island's Westin hotel, owned by Marriott, will be curved to resemble waves, and that of the Grand Hyatt hotel will reference the silhouette of the Phu Quoc Ridgeback, a rare and intelligent local dog breed.

"Foreign guests will learn the identity of this place through the buildings themselves," said Truong Hoang Hai, the design manager for the APEC 2027 project.

To support the Hotel City zone's long-term viability, Hanoi has granted a rare policy exception: The casino at the forthcoming W Hotel, also owned by Marriott, will be open to Vietnamese nationals, a privilege ordinarily reserved for those who can afford the entry fees or hold foreign passports.

At the center of the site, APEC Boulevard — 68 meters (223 feet) wide and nearly 3 kilometers long — will be lined with 10,000 newly planted coconut palms and connect the island's two coastlines.

A 69-story tower will mark one end, and the APEC Convention and Exhibition Center will stand on the other.

The center will span more than 157,000 square meters (1.69 million square feet) across four floors, excluding the basement, and have 30 meeting rooms.

The building's highlight will be the 81-meter column-free ballroom — meaning that it is not supported by any pillars — that can seat 10,000, a figure that would make it the largest of its kind in the world.

The center will also house a 2,000-seat dining space developed under the creative direction of Dragone, the production company behind some of the world's mo...

This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice.

Hyundai Glovis has introduced the world's largest car carrier, capable of transporting up to 10,800 vehicles in a single voyage.

It is the first time a global car carrier has deployed a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) with capacity exceeding 10,000 units, making it the largest PCTC currently in operation.

The ship, named Glovis Leader, measures 230 meters (754 feet) in length and 40 meters in beam, weighing 102,590 tons. It has 14 cargo decks.

Equipped with an alternative maritime power (AMP) system, the vessel can draw electricity from shore while docked, which, Glovis says, will allow it to comply with tightening environmental regulations, including the European Union's emissions trading regime.

AMP systems supply onshore electricity to vessels at berth, reducing reliance on onboard fuel-powered generators that typically emit sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter. By eliminating the need for such generators, emissions can be significantly curtailed.

Hyundai Glovis plans to deploy the vessel across its global shipping routes.

Hyundai Glovis aims to expand its PCTC fleet to 128 vessels by 2030, with a goal of increasing the annual volume of finished vehicle shipments from 3.4 million to 5 million units, around 20 percent of global seaborne finished vehicle transport.

This article is by Kim Su-min and read by an artificial voice.

In Korea's corporate sector, AI is no longer just a tool — it's reshaping who gets promoted and whether new workers are hired at all.

Major local conglomerates are making the AI transformation (AX) a key part of employee management, according to industry sources on Tuesday.

But as firms focus on enhancing the skills of existing employees, hiring for entry-level positions is slowing. Surveys and industry voices suggest that as AI takes over routine tasks traditionally handled by junior staff, companies are rethinking the need for new hires altogether — raising concerns about shrinking opportunities for young job seekers and the long-term impact on talent pipelines.

One of the fastest adopters of AI in the workplace has been LG Group.

LG Display, the display manufacturing arm of the company, now requires employees to complete AX Level 1 — an introductory AI training course — to be eligible for promotion to manager-level positions. Candidates must also submit an AI-related proposal on a topic of their choice and pass an evaluation. As of the end of last year, about 80 percent of LG Display employees had completed AX Level 1.

LG Electronics has taken a similar step, making AI-related task performance a required part of executive evaluations starting this year.

LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo recently emphasized the importance of this shift, reportedly saying at a recent executive meeting, "AX is not a task for any single organization alone."

Samsung Electronics, which has pledged to apply AI across all its operations by 2030, is also stepping up its efforts to build AI capabilities within its work force. Since mid-March, the company has been running specialized AI training programs for some 600 executives at the vice president and senior managing director levels in its Device eXperience division, which oversees its TV, home appliance and mobile businesses.

All employees in the division have already completed the basic course of the company's GenAI PowerUser Program, which includes skills such as prompt engineering — the practice of crafting questions to get the most effective responses from AI systems.

SK Group has made AI literacy a required part of training programs for new employees, as well as for new executives and team leaders, at its training centers such as SK Academy in Yongin, Gyeonggi. Some of the conglomerate's affiliates have also made completion of AI training a basic requirement for performance evaluations.

Hyundai Motor and Kia have similarly been running their own AI training programs by division since late last year.

However, efforts to strengthen in-house AI capabilities are expected to further cool an already weak hiring market.

In a survey of 227 corporate human resource managers conducted by the JoongAng Ilbo and the recruitment platform Incruit between April 20 and 23, new hires were seen as the primary target for work force reductions linked to AI adoption, cited by 64.8 percent of respondents.

The most common reason, chosen by 48.5 percent, was that many basic tasks can now be handled by AI. As a result, the most widely cited response strategy was a gradual reduction in new hiring, selected by 45.2 percent of respondents.

The shift is even more pronounced among global tech giants.

Meta said it will lay off about 8,000 employees — roughly 10 percent of its work force — starting next month, and has also canceled plans to hire 6,000 new workers. Microsoft recently offered voluntary early retirement to about 7 percent of its U.S. work force, or around 8,700 employees.

"We're starting to see projects that used to require big teams now be accomplished by a single very talented person," Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said during a conference call in January.

There are growing concerns that as AI takes over routine tasks — traditionally handled by junior staff — it could weaken the career pipeline that helps develop future midlevel talent.

"Until recent...

This article is by Lim Sun-young and read by an artificial voice.

Lunch at work used to mean waiting in line with a tray in hand, then carefully examining the large hall to spot a table for all your teammates. Now it can mean grabbing a meal from your car, squeezing in a simple yoga routine during a workout, or ordering a menu inspired by a video game.

Korea's group catering industry is evolving into a more personalized service. Cafeterias at workplaces, military bases and schools have emerged as a key form of welfare, while rising prices — often referred to as "lunchflation," a blend of "lunch" and "inflation" — have driven more people to rely on them. At the same time, higher expectations for food quality and increasingly individualized eating habits have pushed cafeteria dining beyond a simple means of filling a meal.

In Posco's steelworks in Pohang, North Gyeongsang, workers can make a quick visit to the drive-thru cafeteria, roll down their window and get themselves a takeout boxed lunch instead of driving to the cafeteria from their offices.

Posco introduced the drive-through system at its Pohang plant in July 2021 and expanded it to its steelworks in Gwangyang, South Jeolla, in February. Employees can place orders in advance through an app and pick up items such as boxed lunches, salads and burgers without leaving their cars.

The system reflects on-site needs. The Pohang steelworks in Nam District, Pohang, spans 9.5 million square meters (102 million square feet). Travel distances within the site are long, and it can take up to 20 minutes by car to reach the central cafeteria from the farthest office.

Employees have responded positively since the system was introduced.

"It saves time on parking," employees said. "I don't have to leave my desk for long."

"We introduced the drive-through system following Posco's suggestion to reflect the unique conditions of the steel mill," a source from Pulmuone Food & Culture, which runs Posco's employee cafeteria, said. "It has become popular, with about 250 meals served [through the drive-thru] each day."

Health-focused meals are also gaining traction. Hyundai Green Food runs a lunch fitness program at some worksites. After a light meal, employees can use their remaining lunch break to take free fitness classes, such as yoga, Zumba or posture correction, led by in-house instructors.

From January to March this year, about 30 percent of meals served at Hyundai Green Food catering sites were quick meals, a sevenfold increase compared to 2022. The rise reflects the growing trend of eating alone and a lifestyle focused on productivity, where people opt for lighter lunches and spend time on exercise or hobbies.

"The program was designed in response to growing demand for quick meals," a Hyundai Green Food source said. Samsung Welstory, another catering company, analyzes user health data to provide personalized meal plans.

The catering industry is also targeting Gen Z.

Catering company Pulmuone Food & Culture offers preordered vegan meals at a few military bases and is expanding its menu to include alternative options that accommodate allergies and religious dietary restrictions. It has also strengthened special menus tailored to the tastes of younger service members.

Samsung Welstory has introduced menu items based on the popular online game PUBG: Battlegrounds at military bases and university cafeterias to attract customers in their 20s. Last year alone, 12 million people tried menu items created in collaboration with 90 brands, including video games and celebrity chefs. The company also rolled out a program that uses customer health data to provide personalized nutrition coaching and tailored meals for those focused on their health.

Demand for premium cafeteria dining is also rising. Hyundai Green Food operates stations with wood-fired ovens serving freshly baked pizza and live cooking counters where chefs prepare dishes on the spot. Ourhome recently became the first in the industry...

This article is by Fergus Goodall Smith and read by an artificial voice.

Residents of Seoul are stuck between a rock and a hard place. While tourism is one of the economic backbones of the city, many are decrying its effect on the price of goods at beloved food spots such as Gwangjang Market.

Some restaurants thrive while others struggle, as social media now funnels overwhelming crowds into a handful of venues. Still, that intensity can push out locals, raise prices and leave competing businesses with little foot traffic.

Social media has become one of the most common ways for tourists to plan their to-do lists. Just type in "Seoul" on Instagram and start scrolling. Food and travel influencers recommending the best salt bread, tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and mandu (dumplings) in all of Seoul — those are the kind of videos you'll find.

The price of popularity

Gwangjang Market is packed with people, many of whom are tourists. Here, Gohyang Kalguksu, more commonly known as the "Netflix Lady" stand, offers a bowl of dumpling soup for 7,000 won ($5) and almost always has a line of people waiting to be seated. In fact, the owner had to keep rushing away from our interview to serve banchan (side dishes) to new customers.

People think these kinds of tourist trap businesses are a problem — one fueled by trends shaped by social and corporate media — that leads to higher prices and a drop in quality and authenticity.

"Man, I really don't want to say this, but at this point, I want to say that Gwangjang and Myeongdong's rip-off prices are somewhat the fault of the tourists. Spread the word. Don't go to these tourist traps, and break the vicious cycle," wrote Reddit user jkpatches in a thread debating the touristification of Seoul's markets.

"The majority of tourists are ignorant of local prices, and [...] even many locals aren't aware of food costs. I'm sure folks wouldn't bat an eye at paying 2 pounds [$2.70] or [2] euros [$2.30] for some overpriced rice cake," added another user, jae343.

Most business owners, of course, don't mind the tourists. "It's good. People come after seeing Gwangmyeong Market itself on social media more than specific restaurants," Hwang Doo-jin, the manager of Hansabal Pocha at Gwangjang Market, said, referring to the portmanteau of Gwangjang Market and Myeongdong.

According to jkpatches, it's "common knowledge" that places such as Gwangjang Market are overpriced. As a result, people began recommending other markets, including Mangwon and Tongin, on the Reddit thread. The Korea JoongAng Daily went to these spots.

Mangwon Market has a completely different vibe from Gwangjang's. The former is much less busy, and its avenues are mostly filled with Koreans, not tourists. You can buy potato croquettes for 1,000 won, a large bowl of kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) for 4,500 won and gimbap (seaweed rice rolls) for 3,500 won.

Similarly, Tongjin Market maintains affordable prices while having fewer people, including tourists, than Gwangjin Market does. A huge pile of oil tteokbokki costs 5,000 won — a reasonable price for the serving. The same goes for takoyaki (Japanese fried octopus dumplings).

Che-yung, who works at a takoyaki stand, said the food is cheaper at Tongin than it is at Gwangjang. "There are more tourists at Gwangjang, and that makes [its food] more expensive."

He confirmed that he still sees influencers at Tongin and that they're generally good for the business.

However, this seems to be the exact opposite of what people want: for local markets to be "discovered" in the way that Gwangjang was, leading to ramped-up prices.

"It's sad and ironic that the more a place becomes popular with tourists looking for an 'authentic' experience, the less authentic that it becomes," wrote Reddit user Letter_Effective.

"Mangwon is [so] nice, but I fear as more people discover it, it [...] will fall into the same problem," another Redditor on the thread, Fellers, added, referring to increased prices.

This problem also...

Choi Hoon

The author is a professor at Hallym University.

A recent controversy arose after an athlete appeared to mouth an expletive during a game. The athlete later explained that the remark was not directed at others but at himself and offered an apology. With the rise of live television broadcasts, moments like these have increasingly been captured on camera, but the public reaction has not been especially severe. Self-directed swearing is often interpreted as a sign of competitive drive and is sometimes even described in Korean through playful euphemisms that soften its tone.

Swearing can function as a threatening signal when directed at others, but it tends to be interpreted as a way of releasing emotion when aimed inward — and it is. Swearing can help regulate emotions. When events do not unfold as expected and cause frustration, for example, a person can utter an expletive into the air and find a sense of relief.

Research suggests that swearing has other positive effects. People often report feeling slightly better when they swear in response to pain, and studies indicate that it can have a mild analgesic effect. By evoking strong emotions, swearing activates the sympathetic nervous system and can dull the perception of pain. One experiment found that participants who used expletives while immersing their hands in ice-cold water were able to endure the discomfort for a longer period. Swearing among close friends can also strengthen social bonds since the act signals familiarity and trust. Some studies have even suggested that people who swear more frequently may score higher on measures of honesty.

Despite these functions, swearing remains a form of verbal aggression that can negatively affect others. Its emotional intensity tends to spread quickly, influencing those nearby. Even when not directed at a specific person, those exposed to swearing can still become uncomfortable or irritated. While it may occasionally appear harmless or even amusing, swearing clearly operates as a source of stress in social interactions.

In the age of the internet, anonymity has facilitated the widespread exchange of criticism, mockery and profanity. Those who use such language may feel a temporary release of tension, but the cumulative effect may be to increase stress within society as a whole. It may be worth considering, even briefly, the value of choosing more careful words in daily life.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.