[New Word Dictionary] Noejeol - Repetition Close to Obsession

Brain overload, which refers to obsessive repetition, is commonly used with a negative connotation, but Kim Deuk-shin's extensive brain overload became an opportunity to overcome his shortcomings and achieve academic success. Illustration by O Seong-su

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Kim Deukshin, a renowned poet of the late Joseon period, was widely recognized as a bookworm. According to his own record of books he read throughout his life, the Doksugi (讀數記), he read the "Records of the Grand Historian" (Sagi) Bai Yi chapter 110,300,000 times, and texts like the Laozi, Fenwang, and Byeokryeokgeum 20,000 times. He even humbly (?) boasted, "I do not record the number of times I read Zhuangzi, Sagi, the Great Learning, and the Doctrine of the Mean because they did not exceed 10,000 times." His study was named 'Eokmanjae' (meaning 'Ten Million Studio'). Kim Deukshin believed that one must read a book 10,000 times to understand it and 100 million times to truly have read it. Behind his extensive reading was a hidden effort to overcome his own shortcomings. Kim Deukshin’s grandfather was Kim Si-min, a famous general of the Battle of Jinju, one of the three major battles of the Imjin War, and his father, Kim Chi-ro, was a Gyeongsang Province governor and an elite who passed the civil service exam at age twenty. Born as the son of a prestigious family with high expectations, Kim Deukshin suffered from smallpox in childhood and narrowly escaped death but reportedly suffered brain damage that somewhat lowered his intelligence. He barely learned to read at age 10 but would forget what he learned soon after, and he only wrote his first piece at age 20. However, his father Kim Chi did not give up on him. When Kim Deukshin wrote his first poem at age twenty, his father danced with joy and supported him despite others advising to give up on his studies because he was slow-witted. Encouraged by this strong support, Kim Deukshin devoted himself to studying by reading books he did not understand over and over again. He passed the preliminary civil service exam at age 39 and finally passed the higher-level exam at age 59, gaining fame in the world.

The term 'brain freeze' (noejeol) originates from a technique in the manga Naruto and is used negatively to describe the act of repeating the same words or actions to the point of annoying others. Kim Deukshin’s lifelong obsession with reading, which has been talked about for generations, stemmed solely from knowing his own shortcomings and never giving up. To those who easily give up after several setbacks, Kim Deukshin offered this advice: "Those who strive in learning should not limit themselves by thinking their talent is inferior to others. There may be no one more foolish or dull than me, but in the end, I achieved success. Everything depends on effort alone. (又勉學者無以才不猶人自晝也. 莫魯於我.終亦有成. 在勉强而己)"

Example Usage

A: It’s almost lunchtime. Where should we go eat today?
B: Why worry? The manager will probably suggest going to the gukbap (rice soup) place again.
A: No way, we had gukbap Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Gukbap again on Friday? Isn’t that a bit much?
B: That’s a real brain freeze. But at least he’s buying, so we have to take comfort in that. What else can we do?
A: Ugh, I’m going to say I have a hospital appointment and skip it today. Have a good lunch~