From 1964 to 1969, there were 1,987 psychiatric admissions to Seoul National University Hospital and only 34 of them (1.71%) were diagnosed as alcoholic psychosis or alcoholism. In this study ofalcoholism ill Korea, one distinctive finding was the high rate of alcohol use and drunkenness with a remarkable absense of alcoholic psychosis. Another characteristic finding was the fact that alcoholic psychosis is confined to men.
Alcohol is consumed with meals in Korea and the author considers this as a major etiological factor for the absense of alcoholic psychosis in Korea.
The Korean infant, unlike the Western !infant who grows up in rational and individualistic world with heavy emphasis laid on id-ego-superego differentiation, grows up in a family centered "undifferentiated esthetic continuum". His early oral need is met with no obstacle until the arrival of next baby. At this time, the infant is abruptly displaced. He is soon taught, not anal sphincter control but the control of his aggressive drive. He learns that his aggression if directed toward animals or ghosts or outsiders is alright but it should not be-directed toward his younger siblings and other family members. Thus the control of aggression is inconsistenf in Koreans.
When a Korean is in the company of non-family members he is at a loss. He is shy, insecure and uses retreatist mechanisms as a defence. In contrast to this is the social setting when drinking withoutsiders. He can permit himself to be warm with others which his tradition had discouraged. Group harmony is maintained´ since the expression of verbal resentment, hostility, redicule, critisism and slander under the influence of alcohol is regarded as having no meaning. When in toxicated, he can beat his wife in reality or in fantasy.
He can act out protests which do not need to be carried further or to have social consequences, since they are´ enacted under the influence of alcohol. Drinking with´ others, facilitates social intercourse which his culture-had denied.
At a Korean drinking party, the most important thing is to consume a large amount of food rather than to show ones ability to resist the effect of alcohol. The drunkenness is used as a culturally sanctioned outlet for latively poorly integrated aggressive drive.
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