티스토리 뷰
Image source: Lisa Earle's blog
Here is my personal opinion about the cultural difference between Korea and the U.S.: When people want to be happy? If you had a choice to be happy, what would you choose—now or later?
After coming to the U.S., I found differences of values about happiness between Koreans and Americans. The most important difference is the timing when people want to be happy. In other words, Americans want to be happy right now, but Koreans want to be happy later. Let me show you examples. Suppose there are two families: an American family and a Korean family. Both families have a light financial burden. When families get a good opportunity to have a trip, the American family might go on the trip to have a good memory, even if they feel a financial burden. However, in the Korean family’s case, they might not go on a trip to save money. This is because Americans focus on being happy right now, but Korean not.
Koreans want to prepare to be happy in the future. People can see this example in another case, marriage. If an American couple wants a divorce it will be as soon as possible even though their children will experience shock regarding their parents’ divorce. They want themselves to be happy right now. However, Korean couples, which have really bad relationships, they will try to suppress their marriage-lives because of disadvantages of divorces. (Actually, some divorced women could get limited opportunities to be hired or promote in South Korea). For that reason, they stay in that situation, not as loving couples.
I think a main reason for the differences comes from a historical background. Koreans have had experiences of suffering from outside factors such as the Korean War or IMF crises—Korean economical collapse. It led people to have a habit that makes their future better. Of course, although some Americans also suffered an economical issue like the Lehman Brothers collapse, I think they still tend to be happy right now rather than later even they have a financial burden.
Everyone wants to be happy and should be happy. When is the best time for you? There is no right answer. It depends on your decision when you want to be happy.