Maybe now I finally have a word to describe my own parallel experience - of being separated from my family across continents. It's liberating to be able to put a name to the emotions I've felt for so long. When I spoke to Michael Shin, he said han is a term that expresses the pain and trauma of Korean families divided across the border. He said as the years go by, the sadness and regret I feel from our time apart will eventually turn into my own version of han. He told me we should've spent more time together and made more memories as a family. (Submitted by Eunice Kim)Ĭonversations with my father about our separation - or feelings in general - are few and far between, even though our family has lived on two different continents for over a decade now.īut when I finally asked my father if he thought I had han, his answer caught me off-guard. Once her mother left, Eunice kept herself busy with extracurriculars like sports, including rugby (Eunice is on the very left wearing black headband). I couldn't believe it had taken me so long to learn about this concept that supposedly affects all Koreans. The more I read about han, the more confused and, frankly, embarrassed I felt. Scholars say it's a uniquely Korean characteristic borne out of the country's long history of invasion, oppression and suffering.
In fact, it's so Korean that there's no equivalent for it in the English language.Īlthough han is considered indefinable, it is often described as an internalized feeling of deep sorrow, resentment, grief, regret and anger. is often described as an internalized feeling of deep sorrow, resentment, grief, regret and anger. Some say it runs in our blood and is embedded in our DNA.
When I dug a little deeper, I was surprised to discover that han is not just a word, but an inherent part of being Korean. It said han is a potent form of Korean rage - a type of anger so severe and all-consuming that some believe you can die from it.
Written by Euny Hong for the now-defunct publication Lenny Letter, the article, called Kimchi Temper, mentioned a Korean word I'd never heard of before: han (한 / 恨). I can speak the language fluently (albeit clumsily), I can make a mean kimchi stew, and noraebang (Korean karaoke) is my religion.īut last summer, I stumbled upon an article that made me question how Korean I really am. I was born in Korea and immigrated here when I was five years old. Well, Korean-Canadian to be more specific.
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