In Unit 3, we discussed in length about adversity. According to www.dictionary.com, adversity is defined as adverse or unfavorable fortune or fate; a condition marked by misfortune, calamity, or distress.
Now describe how Koreans confront adversity. On page 33 of your textbook, there are some ideas that some people might struggle with to overcome adversity. What type of adversity faces many Koreans today? What are some steps taken to overcome it? That are the people's attitude toward this adversity? What can be learned from this specific adversity? Why? Can you identify with the adversity you listed? Why or why not?
Please take some time to think about this question. Formulate your thoughts and write at least one paragraph outlining some or all of the points listed above. Please make sure your name is visible somewhere on the post as I will be taking this as attendance and participation for Monday's class.
Good luck!
201234792 Soyoon Yoon [Bella]
ReplyDeleteName : Lee Hee-ah
Type of adversity : Inborn disabilities
Steps taken to overcome it:
Many Koreans have already heard of Lee Hee-ah. She is famous pianist who has only four fingers. She has two fingers each her hands by birth. When she was 3 years old, her calves were amputated. She hardly walks because of weak and fragile legs. To make matters worse, she is a brain disorder patient. But, Although she has physical and mental disabilities, she delivers happiness and courage to a lot of people, going through music.
she started learning to play the piano when she was 6 years old. Reason to play the piano is developing finger power for treatment purpose. At first, piano teacher advised her to give up learning the piano for being untalented. It took many months merely to press the keyboard. She couldn't beat time and adjust a chord by brain dysfunction. It is also impossible to memorize song for more 5 minutes. But continuous efforts resulted in a good success. Now, she can memorize and play a tune for more 7 minutes.
When she participated in piano's contest for the first time, host organization ignored her application. After the unremitting labor of many years, she won the grand prize in the participated contest. After that, She steadily has been one of the winners in many competitions. Many blisters formed on the end of her fingers, because of daily exercise for more than 10 hours. Cutting her conspicuous figure, she was covered by various press media. And her story was published in book. She has been doing both domestic and foreign provincial performances. She achieves a international fame as a pianist.
The person's attitude:
Despite her handicap, She is merry as a grig and never loses her smile. She always says, "I'm no different than any other. I am just a little different from other people when using my hands. But, because of four fingers, I do not despair easily. If I have own dream, I believe that there is always hope." Also, in a TV interview, she said that she has always been appreciative of God who gives her a chance to tell people that the disabled are not any different from them.
What can be learned from this person's experience :
Her artistic soul that overcomes an obstacle makes me feel her indomitable spirit and beauty. Through her music, I make sure that art is how free people express their spirits, not body and brain. Also her story has much influence in reshaping the way I think. I believe that nothing is impossible in the world. If I am no quitter, I will achieve everything I want.
Great write up! People shouldn't judge others on outer appearances only. It would have been nice to have seen her picture. I will google!
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ReplyDeleteEunkyung Cho (Juliana)
ReplyDeleteName: Kimun Ban, UN secretary general
Type of adversity: Being Korean, living in suburban, economic difficulties
Steps taken to overcome it: He was not that rich when he was young. Also his hometown is suburban which is located in Chungbuk, it was pretty hard for him to learn foreign language. But as he set his goal to become a diplomat after he met John F. Kennedy the president of USA at his school, he started to learn English. It was really hard for him to learn exact pronunciation and conversation. But he walked to a factory near his house where foreign workers are working and learned English from them though it took quite long time to get there. Not only this, he learned to speak French on his own to work in the UN. After he became a diplomat, he worked in the foreign office for a long time and then he was elected as the UN’s secretary general in 2006. He has been worked really well so he was elected again and still he is the secretary general of UN.
The person’s attitude: He always work hard for everything. If he set a goal, he tried really hard to accomplish it. Not only this, he acted responsibility whatever he does and he tried to be interested in the things happened around him. Also he tried to follow the rule but think positively.
What can be learned from this person’s experience? For me, I am lack of patience. So whatever I do, the end of the work is not that good than the work that I first started. So I really want to look up his responsibility to make things done perfectly. Also he always worked hard for everything. This is really basic thing but very hard thing at the same time. So I want to learn this kind of behavior from him.
201334495 Shin Jiyoon (지윤)
ReplyDeleteName : Yang Hak Sun
Type of adversity : poor family circumstances
Steps taken to overcome it:
Yang Hak Sun is Korean number one gymnast who got gold medal in London Olympic. He became the first Korean glod medalist in heavy gymnastics. Achieving this great results however, wasn't an easy thing for him. He really was a talented gymnast, but his was too poor to support him. The reason he chose to do this heavy gymnastics, although it's unpopular sports in Korea, was because it gets many financial supports.
He gave all the money he got, which was 40000won a day, to his parents, and practiced really hard. But still, his family was extreamly poor that they had to live in a small room that was reorganized with green house. What was even worse, was that his father, who was a plasterer got injured so he could no longer work.
In 2010, because of the storm, his family lost everything except their small green house. Hak Sun was so frustrated, and wanted to give up everything because being an athelete was physically and mentally tired. His circumstances made it even more difficult to bear. Despite of his efforts and great talents, no one know him nor had interest, because heavy gymnastic isn't popular sports in Korea.
But he didn't give up, and made his own gymnasic technic named Yanghaksun, which is from his name. he practiced this really hard. it's considered the most difficult technic in heavy gymnastics. For long time of his efforts, he got the gold medal in London Olympic, and made Koreans to have intersts in that sports.
The person's attitude:
Alothough his circumstances was never good for him, he never gave up. He didn't complain about his parents who couldn't support him. Instead, he became a great support for them. He tried hard to overcome his difficulties, and finally got what he want, and is still trying hard to become a great athelete.
What can be learned from this person's experience :
I give up very easily whenever I face trouble, even if it isn't really hard to deal with. Also, I always complain about my circumcetances when I get an un wanted result in something. His attitude in such an difficult situation made me reflect my past. I learned that trying hard and not giving up, no matter how difficult my situation is, would someday bring me good results.
201234811 전지은 Jeon Jieun (Lucy)
ReplyDeleteName: Park Tae-hwan
Type of adversity: Financial problem, lack of facilities.
Steps taken to overcome it: Park Tae-hwan is a South Korean swimmer. He is an Olympic and world champion who represents South Korea. He has four Olympic medals, two world titles, and 20 Asian Games medals under his belt. However, he faced many difficulties such as very little money and supports, lower facilities than his competitors and so on. First, SK Telecom had sponsored Park from 2007 to 2012 but when his contract expired in 2012, SK Telecom decided to stop their sponsorship. Park was left to support his own athletic career for half a year. Second, in the same year, Korea Swimming Federation (KSF) refused to give 50 million won for winning two silver medals in the London Olympics. Also, they don’t have systematic support. Third, Park tae-hwan did not have a swimming pool to train in. Within Seoul, there were only 7 swimming pools with a 50m lane. These pools were either all booked or did not fulfill basic conditions like the water temperature because too many people use the same pool. He might have fallen behind many of his competitors if he didn’t do his best.
The person's attitude:
He didn't give up no matter how difficult it was. He ignored his circumstance and just focused clearly on his goal. Park Tae-hwan didn't remit his efforts until he attained our end. He has a very positive mentality about the future. In deed He made great achievement. He is the first Asian swimmer to claim a gold medal in men's 400 m freestyle, and the first Korean to win an Olympic medal in swimming.
What can be learned from this person's experience:
I admire his boundless energy and positive attitude. Positive thinking brings positive results. We called it the power of positive thought. I think park Tae-hwan see the reality of the positive life, without ignoring the negatives. He shifts as quickly as possible to optimistic views not to avoid the issue but to confront it. In my opinion, this is the reason why he can succeed. I want to be like him that someone who has positive thinking and strong mentality.
201332305 Yujin Choe(JIN)
ReplyDeleteName: Lee so yeon
Type of adversity: misunderstanding, blamed by Korean citizens
Lee so yeun was the first astronaut in Korea. In 2008, the spaceship Soyuz TMA-12 that took Lee was launched successfully so she became famous but recently, she had been suffered by misunderstanding that she betrayed the Korea government.
People's attitude: People were blaming severely without knowing the truth. It was that she just went to America for studying and marrying her boyfriend.
I think the biggest part of responsibility on this problem belongs to the government because the government didn't take care of her well after finishing the space travel. If Korea government had various support to her activities, she wouldn't leave Korea. I was very disappointed that people who didn't know well were blaming her so hard.
What can be learned from this specific adversity? From this adversity I learned that before criticizing others, we should know the truth first.
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ReplyDelete201131360 Joohwan Shin (Snape)
ReplyDeleteName : Hong Jin-ho
Type of adversity : Skills loss by aging
Steps taken to overcome it : Hong Jin-ho was a first generation progamer on starcraft 1. Althought he didn't won 1st prize, he was a famous player. (He is symbol of Number 2 because he always won 2nd prize while he was a progamer.) But as gamers getting older and older, their skills can't display when they are young. He was same. He retired. Many people think gamers have hard way after they retired. But he challenged to broadcast that he never experienced. He first appeared at tvN 'The Genius - Rule of game'. He showed tremendous thought and skills while he broadcast. He won 1st prize at this program and after that program end, he works on other variety shows on these days.
Person's attitude : He can works on game industry after he retired. But he chose to challenge on the other field. He has challengeable thinking and doesn't have fear of failure.
What can be learned from this person's experience : First in Korea, people don't remember 2nd prize winner. They only remember 1st prize. But he is one of the person who breaks this perception. He said " People only remember 1st prize. But when someone won 2nd prize many times, they remember who it was." It make me courage solve with "I have to achieve 1st prize not 2nd prize." thinking. Second, I earned courage with challenging new field that I have not experienced. He didn't scared about challenging broadcasting and doing good job on variety shows.
201131319 Somin Kang(Mica)
ReplyDeleteName : Im Yoon-taek
Type of adversity : failure
Steps taken to overcome it:
Have you heard about Ulala Session? Ulala Session is the winner of Superstar K in 2011. Im Yoon-taek is the leader of Ulala Session. And he is famous for positive icon. He has organized a dance team since he was a middle school student. Actually he has been battling stomach cancer when he appeared on Superstar K. Despite his ill health, he was up all night practicing. And he sang a song wearing blood pocket on his waist.
Ulala Session has been an unknown for 15 years. Although they published an album, nobody knows them. For years they have introduced themselves wherever they were called. They went to night clubs, cabaret, senior citizen center and countryside markets for doing a performance. Also to get a small practice room, members work various jobs such as singing at a bar and hauling vegetables at a market. He said when he sang at a bar he was striken by bottle.
Everyone told him to give up but he didn't give up his dream. Meanwhile he went for a health check up and found that he had cancer. He gave it one last shot to challenge for realizing his dream. That was Superstar K. For the competition, he had been undergoing cancer treatment and practicing all night at the same time. Finally he won a first prize. His efforts are paying off.
The person's attitude :
His motto in life is "Don't say I can't and don't say no." He didn't give up hope of living and he was not down for his ill health. He was set to emerge from his sick. And he worked really hard to fulfill his dream. He led a full life every day. He believed in himself. And he told himself that "you can do it" everyday morning in front of a mirror.
What can be learned from this person's experience?
These days I feel that I'm inferior to others and I'm behind the others in my age group. I feel But through his story I took courage. I think that I can realize my dram if I set my goal and I make a constant effort with certainty. Also I will live my one day fully like him so that I don't regret.
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ReplyDeleteName : all job applicants in Korea
ReplyDeleteType of adversity : unemployment crisis
- : I want to talk about not a specific person but whole social problem because I will become an job applicant as well after I graduate. Some of my friends already graduated the University and applying for companies they want and I realize it is severe social problem since it is hard to get a job these days.
Steps taken to overcome it
: In this situation, the way overcome the adversity called unemployment crisis is maintaining a positive, strong mind. People who got a job quickly say they are trying to find their interest first and tell themselves they can do it. It means they can get a great job even though there are lots of competition and applicants. If someone has a negative mind, he can’t overcome the situation because that kind of thinking makes him worse than now. Of course applicants should recognize that it is really hard to get a career and it requires lots of time. And then they have to think they can do whatever they want. It could sound a little bit weird and too ideally, but there are too much competition, so I think the basic idea can lead people to success.
The person’s attitude
: First, I can summarize. (1) Maintain a positive attitude. (2) Try to find your interest.
I think this question is related to right former part. Person who is job applicants should maintain a positive attitude. In addition, On top of that, they should know in what position they can do their best as well. If someone can find their interest, he could enjoy and focus better. As a result, it is more efficient and he can fell satisfied as well.
What can be learned from this person’s experience
: I have alumna friends both who are depressed so can’t cheer themselves and who sometimes feel upset but trying to think positively. I learned that person who thinks optimistically can get less stress and have more energy.
201032282 Kim Hyo Kyung (Juana)
Delete201133421 Hee Soung Cho(조희승)
ReplyDeleteName : Sung Geun Song
Type of adversity : poverty
Steps taken to overcome it : I indtoduce successful youth founded CEO. Especially he is my major seniors. By his success, he just 31 years old. To be successful, he has a lot of adversity. His most adversity is poverty. His parents divorced early age, and he lived with his mother in container construction for 7 years. The poverty makes him frustrated because he deprivated any chances. So he had no dreams. In 21 years old Gachon university student, he started his own company in sarom building basement. He started wholesale merchant solor system street lights. He has no networking, so he did it himself. He didn't know anything about that field, just wants to earn money. But by the time, he find amusement his career and expansion his business. During expansion his own company, he hired more and more people. But he had trouble taxes. Because he didn't know about taxes law. So he realized that study is require to his life and company. He didn't restrict his company product, he wided other field. For example, using eco system and produce LED. His ability to read stream of society is also helped to expansion his company.
The person's attitude : Although his poor situation, he didn't give up just one time and had a dream desperately. So he tried many time and has no fear of challenging new situation. The most important thing is he has smiling all time and think positive. When I met him in university conference, he smiled all day long. And gave to me positive affect.
What can be learned from this person's experience : During introduce his hardship, I think my weak attitude. He just believe his decisions and brief. His positive mind may affect his circumstance and acting. So that possible to change his life.Thesedays, I feel very tired of my major study. but I can do much better gradually for my dream.
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ReplyDelete201031341 박철우
ReplyDeleteName : All of children in Korea
Type of adversity : competitive ardor for study
Steps taken to overcome it:
Yesterday is the Children’s Day. It is national holiday recommending children to play free from school and studying. But almost all of the children went to academy for studying. Their parents made them go. And it is not a surprising thing to us. It is bad culture of us. Most of children in Korea start to go to academy in six or seven years old for going to famous school. Parents think studying hard and going to famous school are the only way to be a great person in this society. So, today, especially under-thirteen-year-old children has competitive and compulsive mind for getting good score in their school. Also children think about getting good score is the only way to success in the future.
The person's attitude:
Despite parental unnecessary push to children, their children deal with it. They think their parents are right. Even there are a lot of ways to be great person, children think they have to accept to super busy life without freedom. Children also think the great people are like doctor, lawyer or jobs earning lot of money. At last, they have dreams to be rich, not respected person. Even if they have dream that is not related to studying like athlete or musician, they have big pressure when they get into high school. Anyway they should prepare their SAT test since when they are elementary school students. All of Korean children deal with it.
What can be learned from this person's experience :
In OECD countries, Korea has ranked highly on competitive ardor for study. But Korea doesn’t have any Nobel Prize winner. Despite high ardor for study, Korea doesn’t have global genious. Because Korean education is only focused on SAT test, not for diverse children’s interests. Korea Education Office should revise all of SAT standards to make children to have their finest dream.
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ReplyDelete201332835 Soojin Hong (Sophia)
ReplyDeleteName : Jisun Lee
Type of adversity : getting burned by accident and lost her pretty face
Steps taken to overcome it : She overcame with her will. She wrote about her life before she hurted and after she got burned. She soundingly appeared on television to tell people we should thank to our life.
The person’s attitude : She was positive even if she lost her pretty face. First, she was depressed why she got burned. Before she got hurted, she was very pretty. She also said she could not believe what happened to her. Korea is famous for lookism that judging by appearance. She handled honorably and wisely that she knew she did not have to cry. She cared her mother first because she loved her mother very much.
What can be learned from this person’s experience?
If I had an accident, maybe I would not have recovered from wounded heart. She lost her pretty face but learned many things that she could not get before like love and consideration.
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ReplyDelete201335376 Jeong won Gwack (Jenny)
ReplyDeleteName : Jeong Ju young, CEO of Hyundai
Type of adversity: Poverty, Lack of Education
Steps taken to overcome it:
Jeong Ju young is the creator of Hyundai. He is the most respectful business man in Kora. There are two big business group in Korea. One is Hyundai and the other is Samsung. But he was born in poor family and he cannot eat a rice a day because there was no money to buy that. There was 8 kids in the house and he was the first child. He thought there were no chances if he just stay in the country side. So he go out of his house and live a new life in Seoul. At first he was just delivery person in rice store. He was so diligent and because of that he become the owner of that store only when he was 22. But his first business bankrupted because of Japan's governmental policy. Although he was frustrated about that, he continue to do another business. he lend some money and do the automobile business. But One day there was fire and all went zero sum. But he didn't gave up. He build new factory in other field and after 3 years, he became rich. and in 1946, He made "Hyundai Automobile" and it is now the most biggest Automobile business group in Korea.
The person's attitude:
He never gave up. Plus, although the circumstance around him was not that good to start new business, he start from zero and try new effort continuously. He has persistence no matter other people says. He had his value of his own life and do that until he got success.
What can be learned from this person's experience:
Ordinary people choose the way where other people goes. That is why there are not many extraordinary people in this world. When other people says that is impossible, he says it is possible. He never afraid of failure. He tried hard to widen their business field. So he made export way to get much profit although it seemed to be impossible for making automobile itself. What we can learned from his experience is that if you want to be extraordinary, keep going on your effort.
201332256 B.P.H
ReplyDeleteName: Frida kahlo
Type of adversity : She was born very poor and got a leg disability caused by a polio and injuries of the uterus, spine caused by a car accident when she was 18. Also his husband cheated on her.
Steps taken to overcome it and the person’s attitude : Even though she got a terrible childhood illness and a bad car accident that brought her so many physical hardships, she never quitted drawing pictures and living an artistic life. Not only as an artist but also as a human being, she could not physically act or move like normal people do because she had only one complete leg, her spine didn’t work correctly and she was not able to produce her own baby. But those disadvantages of her body made her keep pursuing her dream of being a female artist. After a terrible car accident, she did more than thirty surgeries which remained her not only physical but also mental pains but she tried to face her inner dark sides and weak points then reflect those on the world of her art works. Another adversity, cheating of her husband, gave her a frustration that she was almost to quit her art life. By venting her angers and disappointments on her pictures, she tried to heal her own wounds and it worked. Her paintings this time were evaluated later as master pieces and gave her a reputation for a surrealist painter. Through so many dramatic events that tried to let her down, she never gave up her life as a woman or as an artist. Those events rather made her spirit stronger and taught her how to symbolize her inner pains into the pictures. Moreover, since her knowing of how to express herself that was opposed to the old tradition customs she was idolized by the feminists.
What can be learned from this person’s experience : Her life itself taught me so many life lessons like “Never losing your hope“, ”Don’t afraid of being the weak“, ”Keep at your dream“ and so on. And lastly, thanks for her, I’m sure that as long as my passion remains inside of me, hardships will never block my life.
201332193 김상호
ReplyDeletePeople who have adversity currently in Korea : Single father
Single father is a word that means a father who raise kids without marrying. Opposite meaning to single mother. But not as single mother, there is no proper law to take care of them. For example, they can't register his baby as his child without mother, but mother can do it freely without father. This basic register already blocks various benefit from single father like healthcare insurance. And also people's prejudice about single father makes even harder to live with children.
The real problem is, Korean government done nothing about caring single father. They even can't figure out how many single fathers, or his children. To solve single father problem, I think the government should have realize the reality first. Single father have to sue against government to get approval his children as a family. The government should set a new law to admit them without these steps.
김민주 (Amy)
ReplyDeleteName : Jeon Jea-deok
Type of adversity : He lost his eyesight when he was two weeks old because of fever.
Steps taken to overcome it : Although he is blind, he never lost his hope. He wanted to be a musician and he had musical talents. He found him happy when playing harmonica. He tried hard and became the most famous harmonica player in Korea. He recorded more than 10 albums. Also, he hosted music show on public television.
The person's attitude : He has pride in himself and his music. He never got frustrated about his disability. He thinks his life and music are unique. He said he is wanting and waiting the world that respects diversity.
What can be learned from this person's experience? : We can learn the positive attitude from him. Although we all have one or more diversities, we can develop things that we are good at. Don't let the diversity gets you down.