How to Win Friends and Advance Your Career with Korean Nunchi (Noonchi/눈치)

You either have it or you don't. Or that's the saying at least when it comes to Korean nunchi (눈치있다 / 눈치없다). Essentially, it's the universal concept of emotional intelligence or 'reading the room' applied to Korean society. However, in Korea, if you lack noonchi, it's like going into battle weaponless. With so much at stake from non-verbal cues, being 'nunchi-less' can get you fired, bullied, or just plain misunderstood. Using it to your advantage can help you smooth over arguments, find friends you vibe with and avoid unnecessary drama a mile away.

Asking Korean people to explain it to you can lead to all sorts of confusing answers. Let me break it down simply for you and give you a real world example of how you can use it to slay your enemies and advance your career!


Previous
Previous

Korean Immigration Horror Story - BBC Reporter Complains of "Awful" and Abusive Experience

Next
Next

Oh, No She Didn't! - The "Real Housewives of Seoul" Don't Want Her in the Neighborhood!