Many Koreans (especially women) love to torture their tongues by eating very spicy food. Some of my friends say it's actually a masochistic kind of pleasure, a good stress relief. What do you think?

Some Korean women I know go to restaurants that serve very spicy food that will absolutely torture their tongues – you know, spice is actually the sensation of pain, not a flavor.

When there’s a big exam or stressful events, some of these girl friends used to go out to eat Yeopgi Tteokbokki (really hot spicy rice cakes), bul-dak (really hot spicy chicken), etc.

Some friends jokingly said that it’s actually a masochistic pleasure – pain is felt as pleasure, and the intense sensation sort of relieves you from stress. It’s a good stress coping mechanism, they said.

([https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2005/12/12/features/Octopus-for-masochists-nakji-bokkeum/2655566.html](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2005/12/12/features/Octopus-for-masochists-nakji-bokkeum/2655566.html) this article also mentions the same thing.)

What do you think? Did you ever feel the same way?