Culture and Illness Behavior in South Korea

Abstract

This article describes characteristic illness behaviors in Korea, traces the traditional and medico-social roots of these illness behaviors, estimates the associated social and medical costs, and introduces relevant public policies and programs. The illness behavior of Korean lay people is characterized by seeking help from multiple sources, noncompliance with medical treatment, resort to medical facilities that treat exclusively physical illness (somatization), preference for magico-religious therapies, use of health foods, and reliance on word-of-mouth advice from lay persons. The author attributes these behaviors to traditional concepts of illness in shamanism, Oriental herbal medicine, Taoist tradition and a cultural tendency toward syncretism. This pattern of illness behavior hampers efforts at secondary and tertiary prevention. Public and governmental policies and programs to address this problem have been insufficient. The author emphasizes the need for policies and programs to promote better health care in Korea.

Concerns of South Korean Patients and Family Members Affected with Genetic Conditions: A Content Analysis of Internet Website Messages

“…Nevertheless, they still sought such information, hoping it would give them an idea of what they were going to experience. These results are consistent with traditional Korean reliance on lay persons' views (Kim 1999).…”

“…The prevalence of requests for information about their genetic conditions is similar to prior research findings for other health conditions (cf. Kim 1999). The desire for information might be explained in part by variability in the amount of information doctors providethe present findings suggest some doctors do not give much information about the patient's condition.…”

“…The themes and categories also reflect traditional Korean cultural views of health and illness For instance Kim (1999) characterizes Korean behavior as including help-seeking from multiple sources either simultaneously or consecutively, a preference for folk therapies, and reliance on advice from lay individuals. The author connects these behaviors to traditional views of illness in shamanism and Taoist philosophy.…”

Extending a structural model of somatization to South Koreans: Cultural values, somatization tendency, and the presentation of depressive symptoms

“…For example, South Koreans showed more passive attitudes toward help-seeking from mental health professionals compared to Americans (Yoo, 2001;Park et al, 2013). In fact, South Koreans who suffer from mental health problems will often resort to physician's consultation, herbal medicine, healthy foods, prescription drugs, and so on, for relief (Kim, 1999).…”

Modelo Procesual del estrés de la Dispepsia Funcional : implicaciones para la evaluación y el tratamiento

“…En este sentido, se ha podido constatar cómo en ciertas comunidades el modo predominante de comunicar el malestar emocional es mediante terminología somática, como por ejemplo en Corea, donde estar enfermo de la mente o tener emociones negativas es equivalente a tener sensaciones anormales en la región epigástrica. En este país las expresiones de malestar físico son más común-mente aceptadas que las expresiones de malestar emocional (Kim, 1999). Así mismo, está el hecho de que los chinos y japoneses informan más quejas gastrointestinales relacionadas con la DF (indigestión, peor apetito y gas) que otros grupos culturales (Marsella etal, 1973).…”