[Korean Culture & Language] When one's cousin buys land

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Koreans tend to place a high value on ‘success’ due to the culture’s encouragement of competitiveness and rivalry from an early age. Koreans are known to be diligent, and they also set the same high standards for their children. Every student must spend at least two-thirds of their day in the school system, and the admission process for high schools is highly competitive. Students are chosen based on their GPA, entrance exams, and recommendations by teachers.

Overly competitive individuals or environments often result in jealousy. A person will be the focus of slander and criticism when they become wealthy or renowned in a jealous culture. While people secretly aspire to be like them, they often criticize them and put them down.

There is a Korean expression “사촌이 땅을 사면 배가 아프다,” which is directly translated to “One gets stomachache when their cousin buys land.” It illustrates a situation where one becomes jealous of someone else’s success or good fortune.

Ex) 

A: 지영이 남편이 지난주에 지영이한테 부가티 사줬대
A: I heard that Ji-Young’s husband bought her a Bugatti last week.
B: 그런 걸 왜 사주지?
B: Why would he do that?
A: 으이그… 사촌이 땅을 사면 배가 아프다더니…
A: I guess this is the situation where we say “one gets stomachache when their cousin buys land (being jealous…).”

Have you ever experienced having a ‘stomachache’ for someone else’s happiness?