Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate Korean's deep psychology reflected in tabooed words. The materials of this study were 625 Korean tabooed words. Contents analysis was administered and the major categories were extracted. The finding showed that human life, dream, animal/plant, and nature were the main theme of taboo. Especially human life related tabooed words were the most frequent. More specifically, the tabooed words related to human life were mainly about clothes/food/habitation, household effects, rite of passage, time, body, disease, human relationship, sex, and person. The tabooed words related to clothes/food/habitation and rite of passage were found more frequently than any others. In addition, contents analysis was administered on the consequences of breaking the taboo. Finally, all of these findings were discussed in relation to the Korean culture.