In South Korea, the myth of “fan death” has persisted for decades. This states that people die if they run their fans overnight. Although an actual danger has never been proven, Korean sellers continue to warn against using the devices. TECHBOOK explains what the myth is all about.
In South Korea, there is a fear that is closely related to fans. It even goes so far that hotel staff recommends guests turn off the fan completely at night or use its timer function. Many of these devices have this function there to prevent possible death from asphyxiation, hypothermia or poisoning. Since the 1930s, newspapers in South Korea have repeatedly reported mysterious deaths associated with ventilators.
According to the myth, the device is supposed to create a vacuum through the draft, which causes breathing difficulties. That’s why it’s also dangerous to put it directly in front of you, especially when the window is closed. In addition, it consumes the oxygen in the air and produces CO in the process2, which could poison the sleeping one. And if that wasn’t enough, the device could also create hypothermia in the room, which could freeze you to death overnight.
Myth about fans in South Korea scientifically investigated
To get to the bottom of the myth, many studies have explored the phenomenon. According to the WORLD Rim Chun-Paek, Professor of Energy at the KAIST Institute in Daejeon in South Korea, demonstrated minimal to no value changes caused by fans. But no matter how many studies debunk the myth, the populace continues to cling to it.
The media continues to fuel the superstition with reports. Even the government in South Korea is said to have played its part. Because they even advised users against buying fans during the energy crisis in the 1970s. Experts believe that myth itself, if anything, is responsible for these deaths. According to the nocebo effect (the opposite of the placebo effect), something harmless can have a negative effect on someone if they firmly believe in its effects. But that is also very unlikely. In fact, the people in question are more likely to have died of heat stroke, and a fan happened to be nearby.