[suicide and hyperbole in korean culture]

Here’s a curious story of a Korean-American woman who committed suicide by driving her car off a cliff at Bear Mountain — with her two children in the back. Her husband supposedly heard her threaten suicide, which has led to charges that he aided her, but the Korean community feels this is a misunderstanding. In Korean culture, apparently, threats of suicide are common, much as Americans say “I could kill you!” without any murderous intent.