In 1848, an explosion accident occurred at a railroad construction site in Vermont, USA. As a result of this accident, 25-year-old Phineas Gage, who was overseeing the railroad construction, suffered a severe injury when an iron rod pierced beneath his right eye, passed through his frontal brain, and emerged from the top of his head. Miraculously, he survived, but his personality and behavior, which had previously been gentle and outgoing, changed drastically, making him impatient and prone to using coarse language.
This incident became a significant issue in the field of 19th-century neuroscience, playing a crucial role in revealing the connection between personality and the brain.
Phineas Gage suffered severe damage to the frontal lobe, which is the front part of the cerebrum. The frontal lobe, situated in the forehead region, is a part of the cerebral cortex that plays a crucial role in regulating and controlling a person's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, thereby shaping their personality. Therefore, damage to the frontal lobe can result in severe personality disorders. Additionally, the frontal lobe is the last part of the brain to fully develop, and its development process into the twenties has a significant impact on personality formation.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is commonly known as a result of delayed development of the frontal lobe. As people age and undergo brain aging, the number of brain cells decreases, and the function of the frontal lobe declines. This can manifest as resistance to accepting new information or changes, leading to a tendency to persist only in what they already know or believe.
When this manifests as the authoritative language or behavior of the older generation, the slang term 'kkondae' is often used to belittle them. Typical 'kkondae' expressions such as 'Back in my day...' or 'I know because I've done it' are not exclusive to older people or bosses; they also appear among younger individuals.
In 2017, a second diagnostic report on the corporate culture and organizational health of Korean companies, announced by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the American management consulting firm McKinsey, identified outdated corporate culture elements in Korea, including habitual overtime work, inefficient meetings, and poor communication methods. One of the key points for improving this corporate culture was to support young employees just starting their careers...
A change to the corporate culture was the so-called 'jeans-wearing old-school bosses,' the immediate senior employees who make life difficult for young newcomers just starting their social careers. Now, new terms such as 'young-kkondaes' (young bosses) and 'old-kkondaes' (old bosses) have emerged, showing that aversion to the speech and behavior of bossy people transcends generations. The reason socially oppressive behaviors, such as those exhibited by 'kkondaes,' which cause harm to others, persist even when the frontal lobes of the brain are biologically intact or not affected by aging, may be due to other reasons for impairment, resulting in rigid thinking.
No matter what belief system one follows, if a person does not listen to others, does not empathize with their circumstances, does not recognize diversity, and treats others solely according to their own standards and principles, they are a 'kkondaes' in their home, workplace, and community. This is no different than the Gospel reading: 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead' (Luke 16:31).
Confucius said in the Analects, (The foolish and incompetent cannot change) We must reflect on whether we ourselves might be one of those whose frontal lobe is impaired.