Why South Korean society is angry

She ordered the chief flight attendant to deplane over the way she was served macadamia nuts when the plane she was on was taxiing at a New York airport to depart for Seoul early last month. Cho might have been justified for becoming angry with the crew’s failure to follow what she believed to be the proper procedure for serving nuts to first-class passengers. But her temper drove her too far. Overwhelmed by her rage, Cho ignored aviation safety rules and inconvenienced more than 250 passengers aboard the Korean Air flight to force the flight attendant to leave the plane. If she had contained her anger, she might not have had to resign as vice president of the national flag carrier and could have avoided being arrested and indicted on charges of obstructing aviation safety.

Ironically, the eldest daughter of Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho has been subject to public anger that her family members might have considered somewhat excessive. Judicial officials here concede that the national uproar over her conduct put pressure on the prosecution and the court to request and issue an arrest warrant for Cho, the mother of two 2-year-old sons. No prosecutor or judge would have wanted to make themselves the target of such tremendous anger by treating her in a manner that went against the prevailing public sentiment.

Besides Cho’s case, which was described by the media as “nut rage”, a string of man-made disasters, abusive acts at barracks and scandals involving leading social figures have enraged the Korean public throughout the past year. It may be no exaggeration to say that most Koreans have been more or less gripped by anger. Coupled with their perceived short tempers, Koreans seem ready to burst into anger at the slightest provocation. It seems anger is the most contagious feeling. The result of irrational and excessive anger is usually fed back to oneself, as shown in Cho’s case. It is desirable that this perception is now spreading among managerial officials at public institutions and private companies, making them reflect on their past behaviour and remarks that might have been disproportionately swayed by anger. 

But anger is not necessarily a negative feeling. As some psychologists point out, anger may motivate individuals to try to achieve their goals and serve as a catalyst for striking a compromise between people who confront each other. What one should know is that anger could carry out these positive functions only when it is detached from the self-destructive feeling of hatred. In this context, political leaders and corporate executives need to ask themselves whether they mix anger with hatred or not, if they want to be an efficient and sincere communicator.

Justifiable anger may also provide momentum for changing our society for the better. The Internet and social networking services facilitate the formation and spread of what experts call collective anger. This sweeping public rage can result in correcting entrenched irregularities and malpractices in society, which might otherwise have been untouched. But collective anger also has the risk of becoming irrational or being politicised. It may be overly amplified by groundless rumours and end up only with finding a scapegoat. Some considerate Korean citizens saw both aspects in the public uproar over Cho’s conduct.

The “nut rage” case and other incidents that enraged Koreans over the past year have been matched with their increasing frustration with widening economic inequality and deepening social injustice. In these circumstances, anger needs to be channelled into restoring public values, not consuming one’s emotion and energy. Anger not blended with hatred may transform our society into a community of active harmony. What is especially needed in this work may be good leadership that can facilitate true communication.

It may sound ironical, but the former Korean Air vice president put behind bars may have to become angry once again to learn her lesson, this time with herself. At least, we hope, she will not harbour hatred towards the cabin crew. While seeing Cho stand trial in the months ahead, all ordinary Koreans also need to commit themselves to being more considerate to others and trying to avoid resigning themselves to uncontrolled rage. If so, Cho’s nut rage will have inadvertently served to calm our society charged with anger.