"Uncomfortable with Unknown Child's Mother Being Called 'Aunt'...Netizens in Heated Debate"

Netizens Divided Over This Story
Growing Discomfort with Terms Like 'Ajumma' and 'Ajusshi'

Netizens are divided over a woman’s story about feeling uncomfortable being called "imo" (aunt) by the mother of a child she does not know. On the 21st, a post titled "I wish baby moms wouldn’t call unrelated women 'imo'" was uploaded to an online community. The author, Ms. A, began by saying, "There are many terms to address ordinary women, but at some point, women of ambiguous age groups started being collectively called 'imo'."

A woman's story about feeling uncomfortable being called "Auntie" by a stranger's mother has sparked mixed reactions among netizens. On the 21st, a post titled "I wish baby moms wouldn't call unrelated women 'Auntie'" was uploaded to an online community.
[Photo by Asia Economy]

Ms. A explained, "I thought about why it feels so unpleasant to be called 'imo' by a stranger who is a mother, and I realized it’s because the treatment of 'imo' in our society is not very positive, which makes me sensitive to it." She added, "When a stranger mother calls me 'imo,' it feels like I am being seen as a woman who is close to household chores and friendly to children, which causes unpleasant feelings."

She continued, "'Agassi' (young lady) was also controversial for similar reasons, and many women felt uncomfortable. Of course, the person calling it probably doesn’t think of 'bar hostess' when using the term, but since many women feel uncomfortable, it was understandable. Shouldn’t the term 'imo' also be avoided if it causes discomfort to the listener?" she questioned.

Netizens’ reactions to the story were mixed. Some argued against Ms. A’s opinion, saying things like, "It’s more embarrassing to be called 'unnie' (older sister) by a baby," "You should be grateful not to be called 'ajumma' (middle-aged woman)," and "What’s wrong with calling people in their 20s or 30s 'imo' or 'samchon' (uncle)?" On the other hand, some supported Ms. A, saying, "Whether 'imo' or 'ajumma,' it’s right not to do things the other person dislikes," and "I don’t like being associated with a stranger’s child by the term 'imo'." One netizen commented, "We also used to call adult men 'gunin ajussi' (soldier mister) when we were in elementary school. If there’s a 20-year age difference with a child, being called 'imo' or 'samchon' is natural."

The Rude Connotations of 'Ajumma' and 'Ajussi'

According to the Standard Korean Language Dictionary, 'ajumma' refers to "a term casually used to address or refer to an older woman," and 'ajussi' refers to "a term casually used to address or refer to an adult man among men." It was a casual way to address close friends’ parents, neighbors, or adults working in shops or restaurants, but now, calling strangers 'ajumma' or 'ajussi' can be misunderstood as rude or confrontational behavior.

Aside from the dictionary definitions, social conventions in the past generally referred to married women or women with children as 'ajumma.' However, as the number of unmarried or late-married women in their 30s and 40s has increased recently, many find the term 'ajumma' quite unpleasant. In this context, women have started avoiding the term 'ajumma' among themselves, leading to the use of more neutral terms like 'imo' or general attention-getting phrases such as 'yeogiyo' (here) or 'jeogiyo' (excuse me) to address unspecified groups.

In several surveys, it was found that men have relatively less hostility or derogatory feelings toward the term "ajeossi" compared to the negative feelings women associate with the term "ajumma." This is because the expression "ajeossi" has been used romantically in movies like Ajeossi and dramas like Goblin. However, as conflicts between men and women have intensified recently, young men who are sensitive about military enlistment tend to perceive the term "military ajeossi" as derogatory, leading to a trend of avoiding its use.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

On the other hand, various surveys have shown that men have relatively less hostility or derogatory feelings toward the term 'ajussi' compared to women’s feelings about 'ajumma.' This is partly because the term 'ajussi' has been romantically portrayed in movies like "Ajussi" and dramas like "Goblin." However, as gender conflicts have intensified recently, young men who are sensitive about military service also tend to avoid being called 'gunin ajussi' (soldier mister), as it is perceived as derogatory. Additionally, as the number of unmarried men in their 30s and 40s increases, more men are finding the term 'ajussi' uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Employment and Labor has requested the use of the new title "Gasa Gwanlisa (Gwanlisa-nim)" for domestic workers. Domestic workers refer to those who perform cleaning, laundry, kitchen work, and care and protection of household members within the home. Until now, domestic workers have been called various terms such as 'ajumma' or 'imo-nim' on site, which has led to a perception that they are not professionally respected enough. As a result, there has been a continuous call within the industry for a new title that reflects professionalism and dignity.

In response, the "Comprehensive Support Center for Domestic Services" took the lead in gathering field opinions, interviewing domestic workers, and conducting a public preference survey. As a result, among 10,623 participants, 42.5% chose "Gasa Gwanlisa (Gwanlisa-nim)" as the new title, and they recommended the Ministry of Employment and Labor actively promote it. It was found that 42.5% of domestic workers prefer the title "Gasa Gwanlisa."