I don't think I'm a Kkondae, so am I one?

     A few days ago, my Facebook newsfeed showed me an interesting post.

BBC Word of the Day for September 23rd, 2019

     Below the comments were:

Never thought I'd find a nickname for my mother in law... 

It's so my mother-in-law who I don't contact anymore

Yes, elderly people claim "to have it all, done it all, seen it all..."

   
     And what struck me was that I did not realize this word was Korean, until I saw a comment explaining the origin and the Korean usage of this word. Some of the Koreans also commented below, explaining the real usage of this word. One person described it as a "slang commonly referring to teachers" while some other person tried to explain it as "a common norm around the world" and that they are "not really proud seeing this as a Korean".

     Fairly enough, BBC did a great job explaining what "Kkondae" is. Proven by the comments on the Facebook post, it is a universal feeling on the people who claim to be superior to you. What some people missed was that 'Kkondaes' don't necessarily point to the elderly, who tell you their hero stories. There are also young kkondaes, who can often be spotted in a vertical society. Everyone can be kkondae everywhere at any time.

     Neuroscience explains old kkondaes as inevitable byproduct of aging. As your brain ages, it is harder for it to make new connections between neurons, which makes it difficult to understand new concepts. As a result, it is common for people to have become conservative. But young kkondaes? Neuroscience doesn't give a good explanation for that.

     A possible reason it suggests instead, is that young kkondaes have suffered to stabilize their lives that they are not fond of the newbies who are following their steps. It is said that the feeling of loss causes them to tend to overestimate what they have done and underestimate the works of a developing person. Some similarize this to the emotions young children face when they have a sibling, since it shares the same emotion of envy towards an innocent being. By this post being universal, it can be said that the feeling is innate and may be inevitable.

     But before being so hasty to judge, is it right to label everyone believing themselves as a right person a kkondae? Quoting from BBC's definition, Kkondae is "an older person who believes they are always right (and you are always wrong)". But in some cases, believing oneself to be right and to correct someone else is needed. Confucius once said, "Those who speak of my good will are those who harm me; those who speak of my bad will are my masters. (道吾善者는 是吾賊이요 道吾惡者는 是吾師니라)" He also emphasizes the importance of introspection and reflection, but these are what are often condemned of, as being a nagging kkondae. But at the same time, introspection and reflection are the way to help set oneself to be right and to guide others to be 'right'.

     One of the comments claimed, "The moment you think you are not kkondae, you are one". So let me ask a question: I don't think I'm a Kkondae, so am I one?