The true feelings behind saying "It's not for me": Leejung's definition of 'inferiority complex'

Everyone lives with a spoonful of pettiness in their heart, but there are emotions they cannot bring themselves to speak aloud. That is the 'inferiority complex.' Recently, in the content 'Who Has Something Embarrassing?' on the YouTube channel 'Yeouido Yukto Club,' Lee Eun-ji, Whole Chicken Angel, Gurum Yaksa, and guest Leejung gathered to have an unfiltered conversation about the inferiority complex, an emotion no one wants to be caught feeling.

"Jealousy is light, but inferiority complex touches my deficiencies"

On this day, the cast continued a deep conversation regarding the criteria for distinguishing between jealousy and an inferiority complex. Guest Leejung clearly defined the difference between jealousy and an inferiority complex. According to Leejung, jealousy is a relatively light emotion that can be felt when seeing the good situations of others (e.g., a nice car, money, etc.), even if it is not something you necessarily want to achieve. On the other hand, an inferiority complex is the emotion that arises when others possess what you want most.

Leejung explained, "The moment it touches my deficiency, if it doesn't end with a simple 'I wish I had that' but instead involves blaming myself or self-loathing, then it is an inferiority complex." In particular, she pointed out that an inferiority complex is a much heavier and harder emotion to face than jealousy, in that it can involve additional emotions such as hating the object of that feeling. Leejung mentioned that it is very difficult to acknowledge and face such an inferiority complex because it accompanies additional emotions that torment oneself.

Honest feelings felt in front of a friend's success in the same industry

Leejung shared her actual experiences feeling this while watching the achievements of her fellow dancers recently. Mentioning the achievement of a friend who participated in the recently topical 'Directors War,' Leejung confessed to feeling jealousy and envy as a member of the same industry, even while sincerely congratulating them. She honestly revealed the emotions she felt while watching her friend achieve right away what she could not achieve in Season 1.

Furthermore, when she heard the news of her acquaintance Lip J being selected as a model for a brand she usually likes, she conveyed complex emotions, saying, "I am so jealous and envious, but at the same time, I congratulate her," noting that she could feel the flow of this world. This was an honest reaction falling into the category of 'jealousy' mentioned earlier.

The defense mechanism hidden behind the words "It's not for me"

Lee Eun-ji revealed an anecdote about how an inferiority complex makes her shrink. She confessed to an experience where she had been interested in a job, hoping to become a fixed member of a female variety show in the past, but when she ultimately could not join, she drew a line for herself by saying, "It seems like it's not for me anyway." This was a defense mechanism chosen to avoid being hurt by an inferiority complex.

Lee Eun-ji added that she especially finds it difficult to even watch programs she could not participate in because it weighs so heavily on her heart. Mentioning her experience of failing the KBS open recruitment exam four times from 2010 to 2014, she confessed that the pain at that time was in the realm of an inferiority complex that went beyond simple jealousy. The cast members formed a consensus by sharing that swallowing emotions by 'pretending not to be envious' or dismissing things as 'not fitting me' to protect oneself is a universal process that everyone undergoes.

Source: original video (YouTube)