After visiting South Korea, many impressions always remain. For example, observing relations in society will not leave anyone out. We have already considered the relationship between parents and children, between younger people and older people, and now let’s consider the relationship in society between brothers and sisters.
In the Korean language the words “brother” and “sister” are just used simply. There are different words for older or younger brothers and for older and younger sisters. For example, for a boy, the older brother is “hyung”, and for a girl, the older brother is “oppa”. For the younger brother, the older sister is “nuna”, and for the girl, the older sister is “onni”. It is clear that it is unacceptable for a boy to call his older brother as oppa, and the same goes for girls. That is, there are clear concepts. What we find most interesting is that these words are used outside of the nuclear family or family relationship.
In Korean society the word brother or sister is also used between non-native brothers and sisters, as well as to people in society. That is, any man, even one year older, should be called an elder brother. I saw with my own eyes when a girl addressed a stranger as “oppa” and he immediately changed his behavior. That is, the position of the older brother in relation to the younger sister or the younger brother requires a certain responsibility. And this attitude towards non-native brothers and sisters is almost the same as towards native ones. This is also a special emotional “jon” relationship.
We can open a brotherly and sisterly shimjon for ourselves through horizontal relationships. We often have problems in relationships with our brothers and sisters because we want to receive more love. Because in such situations we think first of all about ourselves.
Many relationship problems arise when we start comparing ourselves to others when we think we should be given more attention by our parents.
The love between brothers and sisters is based on their unity with their parents. Father and mother like it when children treat each other with equal warmth. All parents are like that. This applies to the average family and society as a whole. Although there is not one “father” or “mother” for the whole country, instead of them, there is a united shimjeong of all parents in society. I have noticed many times in Korean society that siblings quickly resolve conflicts because they do not want to hurt their parents; they understand that they are equally valuable to their parents.
People who have good relationships with siblings are more likely to be able to get along better with neighbors and friends in society.
Family is the best school of love for humanity. Children who have grown up in parental love and care will go out into the world and care for those having a hard time, the way they learned it in the family. And people who grew up in cordial relations with brothers and sisters, going out into society, will love and care for those around them. If a person grows up in an atmosphere of love, he treats the people he meets on his way as family members. That is why the first step to a real family is the ability to love, treat strangers as family members, and be ready to share everything in the world with them.
Photo on the cover of kormedi.com
