Language has the power to unite. It begins with understanding and appreciating the unfamiliar, and continues by making the foreign familiar. As we continue to build our platform, we recognize our responsibility in using this space to celebrate, in any language, the words of those who need to be uplifted the most - the ones who have historically been excluded from the narrative.
Committed to the anti-racism work that we must do, we are working towards a more open and inclusive world where language is learned through curiosity and culture, and through respect and admiration. Charlotte Kwon, a Korean American travel enthusiast living in New York City, tells us about the Korean concept of 정 (Jeong), an important reminder for how acts, big and small, bring people and communities together resulting in lasting and deep-rooted connections.
While tricky to put into words, Charlotte portrayed the meaning of jeong as “a type of deep connection, attachment, sentimentality - even love - that is expressed to another person, object, idea or collective.” She continues,
“There is no one definition for this concept, as it can vary for different people and different circumstances; it can be about simple, everyday things or even about the mentality of a group or society. Even though this concept is Korean/East Asian, I feel that this is something that people around the world experience everyday in many different ways.”
She paints a picture of universality and the lessons we can all learn from jeong:
— Helping out anyone in need without expecting anything in return. Like when an elderly person is walking with heavy groceries, someone comes in and offers to carry it for them because that's what they would do for their own family. They are said to be showing jeong.
— When a restaurant owner gives extra food and portions to their customers as a way to show appreciation and treat each other as friends or even family - the restaurant owner is showing jeong.
— When a breakup seems to make sense for a couple who bickers and fights, they still stay together because of jeong. They have spent so much time together and/or have been through so much together that they have developed this bond despite the struggles.
— A wedding ring or a picture of a loved one or even an old blanket that reminds you of a certain time, can bring back memories and make you attached to that object. You are said to have developed jeong to that object.
Let Charlotte’s parting line ring in your ears: “Let us not forget the importance of jeong during these times when we all need it most.” Carry it with you as a reminder of the beauty of selflessness, a token of empathy in constant replenishment.
This article is part of DIMMI Digest: Roots. Whether or not it comes through in our daily actions, one's cultural background and roots, so to speak, have significance to people all around the world. Much like the roots of a tree, our roots, spreading deep beneath the surface and hidden in plain sight, give us strength, stability, and inspiration as we make decisions throughout our lives. It is also these roots that connect us, even in the most unlikely of places.
