Indigenous Psychology of Mental Health in South Korea

This study examines the development of indigenous psychology in South Korea, with a particular focus on how cultural, historical, and social factors shape emotional experiences and mental health expressions.By combining conceptual analysis with three in-depth qualitative studies, the research investigates uniquely Korean psychological constructs, including Han (deep sorrow or resentment), Jung (affectional bond), Chaemyun (face and social propriety), and Hwa-byung (a culture-bound syndrome of suppressed anger).These culturally embedded concepts reveal that psychological distress in Korean society is frequently expressed somatically, deeply rooted in interpersonal relationships, and governed by collective moral frameworks.Such findings problematize the universal applicability of Western, individualistic models of mental health and underscore the necessity for culturally congruent approaches.In response, the study proposes a new model-Areumsari Counseling Psychology-that integrates person-centered and focusing-oriented therapies with traditional Korean relational values such as communal harmony, emotional attunement, and an interdependent conception of self.This model unfolds through four therapeutic stages: Pausing, Exploring, Resonating, and Articulating.Each stage is designed to support clients in cultivating embodied self-awareness, emotional resonance, and autonomous decision-making within a collectivist cultural framework.By advancing a culturally grounded therapeutic paradigm, this research contributes to the growing field of indigenous and crossvergence psychology.It emphasizes the importance of developing psychological practices that are not only theoretically sound and empirically informed but also contextually sensitive and reflective of the Korean cultural psyche.The proposed model offers a promising foundation for practitioners and researchers seeking to expand culturally responsive counseling and psychotherapy in Korea and other collectivist societies.