Cheer Up, Emo Kid...

They call it Han.

Han isn't easily translated directly to English from the native Korean language. Korean theologian Suh Nam-dong once described Han as a "feeling of unresolved resentment against injustices suffered, a sense of helplessness because of the overwhelming odds against one, a feeling of acute pain in one's guts and bowels, making the whole body writhe and squirm, and an obstinate urge to take revenge and to right the wrong -- all these combined."

It is a unique word for a unique culture, one that has struggled through the ages against oppression, occupation, victory and defeat. An episode of The West Wing entitled "Han" delves slightly into this concept throughout.

In "Han," one of the characters in the episode is a noted pianist from North Korea who visits Washington D.C. to perform for the President of the United States, Jed Bartlet, in a special concert. The pianist, seeking to free himself from the oppressive government he lives under, finds a way to ask the President for political asylum.

President Bartlet finds himself unable to grant the pianist's request due to circumstances surrounding an important diplomatic meeting between the United States and North Korea. Bartlet decides to tell the pianist privately that if he chooses to claim asylum, the President wouldn't do anything to stop him but that this defection could directly affect the outcome of the ongoing diplomatic meeting.

While playing a piece by Chopin, the pianist asks Bartlet if he was familiar with the word "han." Bartlet admits that he has no idea and the pianist switches to a more somber, extremely dark lament piece to help illustrate the concept.

Towards the end of the episode, Bartlet is talking with one of his staff and muses, "There is no literal English translation. It's a state of mind. Of soul, really. A sadness. A sadness so deep no tears will come. And yet still there's hope."

There is still hope.