Study Finds Hwabyung Has a Unique Psychological Signature, Distinguishing It from Depression (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
BUSAN, Nov. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean researchers have scientifically identified the psychopathological traits of “Hwabyung,” a culturally specific mental disorder long recognized in Korea and listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic standards.
Busan National University announced that the study, published on October 30 in the BioPsychoSocial Medicine journal, provides the first systematic clinical profile of Hwabyung, a condition rooted in Korea’s Confucian traditions and the emotional concept of han—a form of deep-seated sorrow or resentment.
Hwabyung, often described as “anger illness,” is believed to stem from prolonged emotional suppression and unresolved stress, leading to both psychological and physical symptoms such as anger, insomnia, depression, facial flushing, and chest tightness. Though once regarded as a uniquely Korean syndrome, cases have been rising among younger generations and even foreign residents in Korea.
The research team—comprising experts from Busan National University, Kyung Hee University, and Kyungsung University—analyzed 118 patients using a standardized Sasang Personality Questionnaire. They found Hwabyung patients displayed higher behavioral impulsivity, lower cognitive rigidity, and reduced emotional isolation compared with other mental disorders.
Professor Chae Han, who led the study, said the findings provide “a unique psychopathological fingerprint” for Hwabyung, enabling clearer differentiation from depression and other mental illnesses. He added that the results could support more tailored mental health treatments.
The researchers concluded that Hwabyung typically progresses from emotional repression to physical symptoms such as heat sensations, eventually reaching an explosive stage of anger when stress surpasses a threshold. They suggested treatment approaches that promote emotional expression, cognitive balance, and behavioral stability.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
