Happy 250th Independence Day, America.

Two hundred fifty years of American independence. One hundred forty-four years of Korea-U.S. friendship. Seventy-three years of an alliance built on shared sacrifice.

For Korean-American scholars and professionals, these anniversaries are not separate stories. They are one inheritance: the freedom to think, teach, and lead across two homelands joined by history and by choice.

The K-Global Scholars and Professionals Forum celebrates this convergence, and honors the generations on both sides of the Pacific who made it possible.

Happy 250th, America.

July 04th, 2026

K-Global Scholars and Professionals Forum

미국 독립 250주년을 축하합니다.

2026년은 미국 독립 250주년입니자, 한미수교 144주년, 그리고 한미동맹 73주년입니다.

한인 학자와 전문가들에게 이 세 기념일은 각기 다른 이야기가 아닙니다. 하나의 유산입니다. 역사와 선택으로 맺어진 두 조국을 오가며 생각하고 가르치고 이끌어온 자유의 유산입니다.

K-글로벌 학자.전문가 포럼은 이 세 기념일이 겹치는 순간을 함께 축하하며, 태평양 양쪽에서 이를 가능케 한 세대들에게 경의를 표합니다.

미국 독립 250주년을 축하합니다.

2026년 7월 4일

K-글로벌 학자.전문가 포럼

© K-Global Scholars and Professionals Forum. All rights reserved. Content published in the K-GSP Forum may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the K-GSP Forum, except for brief quotations with full attribution.

History has a remarkable way of illuminating the present.

In 1903, a young Korean student graduated from a small liberal arts college in Virginia. At the time, few could have imagined that more than a century later his descendants would return to the same campus, while the college would honor his legacy and celebrate his enduring contribution to Korean studies.

That young student was Usa (尤史) Kim Kyu-sik (1881–1950).

His story is far more than the biography of an independence leader. It is a living lesson about the transformative power of education, global vision, principled leadership, and the profound influence that one individual can have on the destiny of a nation.

One International Student Changed History

Kim Kyu-sik’s life did not begin with privilege.

Orphaned at a young age after losing both parents, his future seemed uncertain. Yet his unwavering commitment to learning transformed his destiny. Through the support of missionaries, he was given the rare opportunity to study in the United States—an extraordinary achievement for a young Korean at the turn of the twentieth century.

At Roanoke College, he mastered English, broadened his understanding of Western political thought and international affairs, and developed the intellectual foundation that would later serve his country.

What appeared to be an ordinary college education became one of Korea’s greatest diplomatic assets.

In 1919, as a representative of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, Kim traveled to the Paris Peace Conference to advocate for Korea’s independence. Rather than relying on military power, he employed diplomacy, persuasive reasoning, and international law. Long before terms such as soft power and public diplomacy became commonplace, Kim demonstrated their extraordinary effectiveness.

Even in the AI Era, People Remain the Greatest Asset

Today we often describe artificial intelligence, semiconductor technology, quantum computing, and biotechnology as the engines of future national competitiveness.

They are indeed essential.

Yet Kim Kyu-sik’s life invites us to ask a more fundamental question:

Who creates these technologies, and who ensures they are used wisely?

The answer has always been the same:

People.

Artificial intelligence can process enormous amounts of information, but it cannot replace human integrity, moral judgment, or a sense of responsibility.

The world’s most advanced technologies will benefit humanity only when guided by ethical and visionary leaders.

Kim Kyu-sik chose to devote his education, international experience, and intellectual gifts not to personal advancement but to the service of his nation and its people.

His example remains strikingly relevant in our own century.

A New Mission for Global Koreans

Today, Korean scholars and professionals are making meaningful contributions around the world.

They serve as professors, scientists, physicians, engineers, entrepreneurs, diplomats, attorneys, artists, and public servants across North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Their influence is greater than at any previous point in history.

Yet influence is measured not by titles, but by contribution.

Kim Kyu-sik seems to ask each of us:

Who benefits from your education?

For whom do you use your expertise?

What legacy will your success leave for future generations?

These questions are especially meaningful for Korean Americans and overseas Koreans.

Personal achievement is important, but lasting success also requires mentoring younger generations, supporting education, encouraging scholarship, and strengthening bridges between Korea and the global community.

That is the responsibility of global citizenship.

Roanoke College’s Enduring Commitment to Education

The recent visit by Kim Kyu-sik’s descendants carried significance beyond a family reunion.

For more than 120 years, Roanoke College has carefully preserved documents, letters, and historical records connected to one of its distinguished international alumni.

His descendants experienced the campus with deep gratitude, recognizing that the institution had faithfully protected an important chapter of Korean history.

More recently, the establishment of the Kim Kyusik Center for Korean Studies has elevated his legacy even further. His name now represents not only an individual freedom fighter but also a continuing commitment to scholarship, cross-cultural understanding, and educational exchange between Korea and the United States.

This is the true mark of a great university.

A university does not simply award degrees.

It cultivates human potential, preserves meaningful history, and inspires future generations.

The Spirit That K-GSP Should Carry Forward

This vision closely reflects the mission of K-GSP (Korean Global Scholars & Professionals).

By connecting Korean scholars and professionals across disciplines and nations, supporting emerging leaders, and encouraging collaboration in education, research, innovation, and public service, K-GSP helps build a stronger global Korean community.

The twenty-first century is no longer defined primarily by competition for natural resources.

It is increasingly a competition for human talent.

Talent grows through education.

Education flourishes through communities that value integrity, service, and lifelong learning.

Becoming People Who Leave a Legacy

Success is not simply reaching the highest position.

True success is leaving behind pathways that others can follow.

More than a century after his graduation, Kim Kyu-sik continues to connect Korea and the United States.

He was a diplomat.

He was a patriot.

Above all, he demonstrated how education can transform one life—and through that life, influence the course of history.

For today’s Korean students studying abroad, young researchers, and emerging professionals, his life offers a timeless compass.

What we need is not merely more degrees, but a deeper sense of purpose.

Not merely higher salaries, but greater responsibility.

More than a century ago, one young Korean crossed the Pacific carrying the hopes of his nation.

Today we live in an age of artificial intelligence and global connectivity.

The world has changed dramatically.

Yet one truth remains unchanged:

Education shapes people.

People shape history.

History, in turn, becomes hope for future generations.

That may be the greatest legacy of Usa Kim Kyu-sik.

He teaches us that learning should become a mission, success should become service, and a meaningful life should become a lasting gift to those who follow.

This is the spirit that K-GSP should embrace and that Korean global leaders everywhere should strive to carry forward. +++

{Solti}

July 3, 2026

References

[1] Virginia Historic Marker dedicated in honor of Kim Kyusik

Source: https://www.roanoke.edu/news/kim_kyusik_historical_marker_dedication

March 31, 2022, Roanoke College

[2] Kim Kyusik descendants visit campus

Source: https://www.roanoke.edu/news/kim_kyusik_family_visit

May 13, 2024, Roanoke College

[3] International partnership creates new Center for Korean Studies at Roanoke

Source: https://www.roanoke.edu/news/kim_kyusik_center_for_korean_studies

February 13, 2026, Roanoke College

[4] Roanoke College builds on Korean connection with Kim Kyusik Center

Source: https://roanoke.com/news/local/education/higher-education/article_7f9ff635-0319-4eb4-b418-9caf6c41de6e.html

March 14, 2026, Roanoke College

한 사람의 유학생이 두 나라의 역사를 잇다

우사 김규식과 21세기 한국계 글로벌 인재들이 새겨야 할 사명

역사는 때때로 놀라운 방식으로 현재를 비춘다.

1903년, 한 조선 청년이 미국 버지니아의 작은 대학을 졸업했다. 당시 그를 기억한 사람은 많지 않았을 것이다. 그러나 121년이 지난 오늘, 그의 손자와 증손들이 같은 캠퍼스를 찾아 그의 흔적을 되짚고, 대학은 그의 삶을 기념하며 새로운 한국학의 미래를 열고 있다.

그 청년이 바로 우사(尤史) 김규식(1881–1950)이다.

이 이야기는 단순한 독립운동가의 일대기가 아니다. 그것은 교육, 국제적 시야, 리더십, 그리고 한 사람이 국가와 세계에 어떤 영향을 미칠 수 있는지를 보여 주는 살아 있는 교과서다.

한 명의 유학생이 역사를 바꾸다

김규식은 출발부터 특별한 사람이 아니었다.

어린 나이에 부모를 잃고 고아가 되었으며, 누구도 그의 미래를 장담할 수 없었다. 그러나 배움에 대한 열망은 그의 삶을 바꾸었다. 미국 유학은 당시 조선 청년에게 거의 불가능한 기회였지만, 그는 그 기회를 자신의 성공이 아니라 조국의 미래를 위한 준비로 받아들였다.

로어노크 대학에서 그는 영어를 배우고, 서구의 정치와 역사, 국제사회를 이해하는 시야를 넓혔다. 당시에는 단순한 대학 교육처럼 보였지만, 훗날 그것은 대한민국 독립운동의 중요한 자산이 되었다.

1919년 파리강화회의에서 그는 총 대신 언어를, 무력 대신 논리를 무기로 삼아 세계를 향해 한국의 독립을 호소했다. 국제회의장에서 펼친 그의 외교는 오늘날 ‘소프트파워’와 ‘공공외교’가 얼마나 중요한지를 이미 한 세기 전에 보여 준 사례였다.

AI 시대에도 가장 중요한 자산은 사람이다

오늘날 우리는 AI, 반도체, 양자컴퓨팅, 바이오산업을 미래 국가 경쟁력의 핵심으로 말한다. 물론 모두 중요하다.

그러나 김규식의 삶은 더 근본적인 질문을 던진다.

누가 그 기술을 만들고, 누가 그 기술을 올바르게 사용할 것인가?

결국 답은 사람이다.

AI가 아무리 발전해도 인간의 양심과 가치관을 대신할 수는 없다. 세계 최고의 기술도 올바른 리더십이 없다면 인류에게 도움이 되지 않는다. 김규식은 자신의 지식과 국제 감각을 개인의 성공이 아니라 공동체와 국가를 위해 사용했다.

21세기의 글로벌 인재에게도 필요한 것은 같은 정신이다.

세계를 무대로 삼는 한국인의 새로운 사명

현재 미국과 세계 곳곳에서 활동하는 한국계 교수, 과학자, 의사, 기업인, 법조인, 공무원, 예술가들은 과거 어느 시대보다 큰 영향력을 가지고 있다.

그러나 영향력은 직함에서 오는 것이 아니라 사회에 기여하는 방식에서 나온다.

김규식은 우리에게 이렇게 묻는 듯하다.

“당신의 학위는 누구를 위한 것인가?”

“당신의 전문성은 누구를 위해 사용되고 있는가?”

“당신의 성공은 다음 세대를 위해 어떤 길을 열어 주고 있는가?”

이 질문은 오늘날 한국계 미국인 사회에도 그대로 적용된다.

우리는 개인의 성공을 넘어 후배를 양성하고, 장학사업을 지원하며, 한국과 미국을 연결하는 가교 역할을 해야 한다. 그것이야말로 글로벌 시민으로서의 책임이다.

로어노크 대학이 보여 준 교육의 품격

이번 가족 방문이 특별했던 이유는 단순히 후손들이 모교를 찾았기 때문만은 아니다.

120년이 넘는 세월 동안 대학은 김규식의 기록과 유산을 소중히 보존해 왔다. 후손들은 깊은 감동을 받았고, 대학은 그의 삶을 미래 세대의 교육 자산으로 이어 가고 있다.

최근에는 김규식 한국학센터(Kim Kyusik Center for Korean Studies)까지 설립되어 그의 이름은 과거의 영웅을 넘어 미래 세대의 학문과 문화 교류를 상징하는 이름이 되었다.

진정한 대학은 졸업장을 수여하는 기관이 아니라 사람의 가능성을 믿고, 그 가치를 세대를 넘어 지켜 가는 공동체임을 보여 주는 장면이었다.

K-GSP가 이어 가야 할 정신

K-GSP(Global Scholars & Professionals)는 바로 이러한 정신을 실천하기 위해 존재한다.

전 세계 한국계 전문가들이 학문과 산업, 정책, 문화 분야에서 서로 협력하고, 다음 세대를 지원하며, 글로벌 사회에 기여하는 네트워크를 만드는 것, 이것이 김규식 선생의 삶이 오늘 우리에게 주는 가장 현실적인 과제일 것이다.

세계는 지금 기술 경쟁을 넘어 인재 경쟁의 시대에 들어섰다.

앞으로 국가를 결정하는 것은 천연자원이 아니라 창의적인 인재이며, 인재를 결정하는 것은 교육이고, 교육을 완성하는 것은 공동체의 가치이다.

기억되는 사람이 아니라 이어지는 사람이 되자

성공은 높은 자리에 오르는 것이 아니다.

성공은 자신이 떠난 뒤에도 누군가에게 길을 남기는 것이다.

김규식은 121년이 지난 오늘에도 한국과 미국을 잇는 다리가 되고 있다. 그는 외교관이었고, 독립운동가였으며, 교육이 사람을 어떻게 변화시키는지를 몸소 증명한 실천가였다.

오늘날 해외에서 공부하는 한국인 유학생, 연구자, 젊은 전문직 종사자들에게 그의 삶은 하나의 나침반이 된다.

우리에게 필요한 것은 더 많은 학위가 아니라 더 큰 사명감이며, 더 높은 연봉이 아니라 더 넓은 책임감이다.

한 세기 전, 한 유학생은 조국의 미래를 품고 태평양을 건넜다.

한 세기 후, 우리는 인공지능과 초연결 사회를 살아가고 있다.

시대는 달라졌지만 변하지 않는 진리가 하나 있다.

교육은 사람을 만들고, 사람은 역사를 만들며, 역사는 결국 다음 세대에게 희망이라는 이름으로 전해진다.

우사 김규식이 남긴 가장 위대한 유산은 독립운동의 공적만이 아니다.

배움을 사명으로, 성공을 봉사로, 삶을 미래 세대를 위한 유산으로 바꾸는 것.

그것이야말로 오늘날 K-GSP가 계승해야 할 정신이며, 모든 글로벌 한국인이 함께 이어 가야 할 길이다.

{솔티}

2026년 7월 3일

참고문헌

[1] Virginia Historic Marker dedicated in honor of Kim Kyusik

Source: https://www.roanoke.edu/news/kim_kyusik_historical_marker_dedication

March 31, 2022, Roanoke College

[2] Kim Kyusik descendants visit campus

Source: https://www.roanoke.edu/news/kim_kyusik_family_visit

May 13, 2024, Roanoke College

[3] International partnership creates new Center for Korean Studies at Roanoke

Source: https://www.roanoke.edu/news/kim_kyusik_center_for_korean_studies

February 13, 2026, Roanoke College

[4] Roanoke College builds on Korean connection with Kim Kyusik Center

Source: https://roanoke.com/news/local/education/higher-education/article_7f9ff635-0319-4eb4-b418-9caf6c41de6e.html

March 14, 2026, Roanoke College

Prof. Dr. Young Choi (Editor in Chief) — Regent University

Young B. Choi is a Professor in the Department of Engineering & Computer Science at Regent University. He published 38 books with ‘Selected Readings in Cybersecurity’ (2018) (over 800 copies archived globally at university/college libraries around the world) and ‘Cybersecurity Applications and Artificial Intelligence’ (2023) available in seven major world languages. He proposed the world’s first global and universal telecommunications “Service Order Handling (SOH)” Model (T-SOH Model) (1995) with Dr. Adrian Tang. With this innovative research work, he received the IEEE NOMS ’96 Best Paper Award and became the first recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award of the TeleManagement Forum in 1998. His research areas include Natural Language Processing-focused AI, AI-applied cybersecurity, network and telecom service management, and Korean studies on Gani Choi Rip’s Jeonggwan (靜觀: Quiet Contemplation) philosophy and Shilhak ( 實學: Practical Learning).

In one Seoul apartment, four people practice four different faiths, and nobody treats it as a crisis. The grandmother visits a Buddhist temple every month her grandson has an exam. Her daughter-in-law hasn’t missed Sunday protestant service in twenty years. The grandfather, Confucian in practice though he’d never claim the label, still bows before the ancestral table each chuseok, a table his Catholic wife sets without complaint. Before the family sold their apartment last year, the grandmother quietly checked the date with a shaman before anyone signed anything.

Nobody in that house calls this contradiction. They call it family.

That’s a more honest picture of Korean religious life than the old image of one syncretic individual holding every tradition at once. What actually happens looks more like a division of spiritual labor. Different family members carry different traditions. None feels obligated to convert the others. All still show up for the same chuseok dinner.

A peninsula that never chose one god.

Korea’s religious landscape has always been layered, not replaced. Shamanism, or musok, predates every imported tradition and never fully receded, not when Buddhism arrived during the Three Kingdoms period, not when Confucianism became state doctrine under Joseon, not when Christianity followed centuries later (Koehler, 2015). Each new arrival absorbed pieces of what came before instead of erasing it. Scholars have traced how Korean Protestantism took on much of shamanism’s emotional register, its emphasis on blessing and this-worldly deliverance, even while officially rejecting the source (Introduction to Religious Conflict and Coexistence, 2020). Today roughly half the country claims no religion at all, and the half that does splits across Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism, and homegrown faiths like Cheondogyo (Koehler, 2015). No tradition ever held enough ground to set the terms for the rest. Pluralism here was never a policy choice. It was a demographic fact that religions had to learn to live inside, the same way this family does.

Reconciliation practiced from within.

Long before “interfaith dialogue” became a phrase, Korean thinkers were doing this work inside their own traditions. The 12th-century monk Bojo Jinul refused to let Korean Buddhism split permanently over sudden versus gradual enlightenment, arguing the two were sequential moments of one experience rather than rival camps (Lee, 2020). The 19th-century reformer Suun Choe Je-u went further, founding Donghak on the claim that divinity lives within every person rather than in a distant heaven, deliberately braiding Confucian ethics, Buddhist compassion, and shamanic cosmology into one ethical core (as cited in Religions, 2020). Researchers on Jeju Island found the same instinct alive today. Interviewing shamans, Buddhists, Confucians, and Christians side by side, Yoo (2020) documented communities describing each other as “similar but superior,” a framing that lets each tradition keep its distinctiveness without letting the difference swallow the relationship.

What the household gets right.

That’s the piece the family captures better than any treatise on tolerance. Harmony here doesn’t mean agreement. The daughter-in-law isn’t pretending Mass and shamanism are the same thing. The grandfather isn’t converting anyone at the ancestral table. Theologian Kim Heup Young, writing from his own path out of a Confucian upbringing into Christianity, calls this refusal to let one tradition monopolize the conversation theo-tao, a dialogue meant to sharpen each side rather than dissolve them (Kim, 2026).

For those of us living between an inherited culture and an adopted one, the household is the more usable model. Not one person harmonizing every tradition inside themselves, which asks too much of any single mind. A family instead, letting each member carry a piece, trusting the whole to hold anyway.

Harmony was never the absence of difference. It was the discipline of keeping difference from curdling into division, one Sunday Mass, one ancestral bow, one temple visit at a time.

References

Koehler, R. (2015). Religion in Korea: Harmony and coexistence. Seoul Selection.

Lee, S. (2020). An Aristotelian interpretation of Bojo Jinul and an enhanced moral grounding. Religions, 11(7), 340. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11070340

Yoo, Y. (2020). Similar but superior: Rhetoric of coexistence employed by religions in Jeju Island, Korea. Religions, 11(7), 340. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11070340

Introduction to “Religious conflict and coexistence: The Korean context and beyond.” (2020). Religions, 11(7), 340. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11070340

Kim, H. Y. (2024). 김흡영, 도의 신학 (Theodao), https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EA%B9%80%ED%9D%A1%EC%98%81

Prof. Dr. Jeonghwan (Jerry) Choi (Managing Editor), University of Maine at Presque Isle

Jeonghwan (Jerry) Choi, PhD is an Associate Professor of Business at the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Editor-in-Coordination of K-GSP Forum (contact: jeonghwan.choi at gmail.com). With over 25 years of industry and consulting experience, he specializes in leadership development, human resource management, organizational behavior, and social entrepreneurship. His research focuses on workforce resilience, organizational health, and self-directed leadership — bridging rigorous scholarship with practical insight to cultivate leaders who create meaningful, sustainable, and humane organizations.

© K-Global Schoalrs and Professionals Forum. All rights reserved. Content published in the K-GSP Forum may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the K-GSP Forum, except for brief quotations with full attribution.

College diplomas usually fade with time.

They end up framed on a wall or tucked away in a drawer, rarely taken out except on special occasions. Yet some diplomas become more valuable with each passing year—not because of the paper they are printed on, but because of the life the graduate chose to live.

The diploma earned by Usa Kim Kyu-sik (1881–1950) is one of those rare exceptions.

When Kim graduated from Roanoke College in Virginia in 1903, he was simply another young Korean student pursuing an education in America. Few could have imagined that more than a century later he would be remembered as one of the college’s most distinguished alumni and one of Korea’s most respected independence leaders.

What makes one person’s life worthy of such lasting remembrance?

Kim Kyu-sik’s journey began with hardship rather than privilege.

After losing both of his parents at a young age, he became an orphan. For a boy growing up in Korea at the end of the nineteenth century, the future offered little reason for optimism. Yet he never abandoned his desire to learn. Through the support of missionaries, he was given the extraordinary opportunity to study in the United States, crossing the Pacific in pursuit of an education that would ultimately change not only his own life but also the future of his nation.

At Roanoke College, Kim gained much more than proficiency in English or an academic degree.

He acquired a global perspective.

He learned to understand different cultures, ideas, and political systems. More importantly, he developed the ability to communicate with the world.

Those lessons would later become his greatest weapon.

In 1919, after the First World War, world leaders gathered in Paris to shape a new international order at the Paris Peace Conference.

Representing the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, Kim Kyu-sik stood before the international community.

He possessed no army.

He represented no powerful nation.

Yet he carried something equally powerful—his command of language, his understanding of international law, and his unwavering belief that justice would ultimately prevail.

He appealed to the conscience of the world, arguing that the Korean people deserved freedom and national independence.

Although immediate independence was not achieved, his diplomatic efforts introduced Korea’s cause to the international community and secured an enduring place for the Korean independence movement in modern history.

Kim demonstrated that soldiers defend a nation with weapons, but diplomats can shape history with truth, reason, and moral conviction.

Today we live in an era defined by artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, and unprecedented technological innovation.

Nations compete to develop faster computers and more powerful algorithms.

Yet Kim Kyu-sik’s life invites us to ask a different question.

What is more important than technology?

The answer is remarkably simple.

People.

No matter how advanced technology becomes, it cannot replace human character, integrity, wisdom, or compassion.

Technology becomes a blessing only when guided by ethical people.

One individual with vision, moral courage, and a commitment to serving others can influence countless lives—and sometimes even change the course of history.

That is why education remains humanity’s greatest investment.

Education is not merely the transfer of knowledge.

It is the discovery and development of human potential.

Perhaps this is why Roanoke College continues to honor Kim Kyu-sik more than a century after his graduation.

The college is not simply remembering a former student.

It is celebrating what education can accomplish when learning is joined with purpose, courage, and service.

Today thousands of Korean students study abroad in universities around the world.

Among them may be another Kim Kyu-sik.

Someone who appears to be an ordinary student today may one day become a scientist, diplomat, entrepreneur, educator, physician, or public servant whose work benefits humanity.

No one can predict where greatness will emerge.

That is why every student deserves encouragement.

That is why every educational opportunity matters.

More than a century ago, one young Korean crossed the Pacific in search of knowledge.

His decision transformed far more than his own future.

He strengthened Korea’s struggle for independence, helped build bridges between Korea and the United States, and continues to inspire new generations on both sides of the Pacific.

People often measure success by wealth, status, or professional achievement.

Kim Kyu-sik offers us a different definition.

Success is living a life that continues to inspire long after we are gone.

Success is opening doors for those who follow.

Success is transforming education into service and knowledge into hope.

More than one hundred years later, Kim Kyu-sik’s diploma still shines—not because the paper has endured, but because the graduate dedicated his life to a cause greater than himself.

One day, our own diplomas will also grow old.

The paper may fade.

The ink may yellow.

But the values we live by, the lives we touch, and the legacy we leave for future generations can continue to shine.

That is the greatest gift that Usa Kim Kyu-sik has left for all of us. +++

{Solti}

July 3, 2026

Reference

Remembering alumnus Kim Kyusik, leader of Korean independence movement, 100 years later

Source: https://www.roanoke.edu/news/kim_kyusik_korean_independence

February 28, 2019

Roanoke, College

100년이 지나도 빛나는 졸업장

우사 김규식이 우리에게 남긴 가장 위대한 유산

대학 졸업장은 시간이 흐르면 빛이 바랜다.

액자 속에 걸려 있거나 서랍 깊숙이 보관된 채, 특별한 날이 아니면 다시 펼쳐 볼 일도 드물다. 그러나 어떤 졸업장은 시간이 흐를수록 더욱 빛난다. 한 개인의 성공을 넘어 한 나라의 역사와 인류의 가치 속에서 새롭게 의미를 얻기 때문이다.

우사(尤史) 김규식 선생의 졸업장이 바로 그런 졸업장이었다.

1903년 미국 버지니아의 로어노크 칼리지(Roanoke College)를 졸업한 한 한국 청년은 당시만 해도 평범한 유학생 가운데 한 사람이었다. 그러나 100여 년이 흐른 오늘, 그의 이름은 대학 역사 속에서 가장 자랑스러운 동문 가운데 한 사람으로 기억되고 있다.

무엇이 한 사람을 이렇게 오래 기억하게 만들었을까?

김규식의 삶은 시작부터 순탄하지 않았다. 어린 나이에 부모를 모두 여의고 고아가 되었다. 당시 조선의 현실을 생각하면 그의 인생은 희망보다 절망이 더 가까웠다. 하지만 그는 배움을 포기하지 않았다. 선교사의 도움으로 미국 유학이라는 꿈같은 기회를 얻었고, 태평양을 건너 새로운 세상을 만났다.

그가 로어노크 칼리지에서 얻은 것은 단순한 영어 실력이나 학위가 아니었다. 그는 세계를 바라보는 시야를 얻었다. 서로 다른 문화와 사상을 이해하는 능력을 키웠고, 국제사회와 소통하는 방법을 배웠다.

그 배움은 훗날 조국을 위한 가장 강력한 무기가 되었다.

1919년, 제1차 세계대전이 끝난 뒤 세계의 지도자들이 프랑스 파리에 모였다. 승전국들은 새로운 국제질서를 논의했고, 약소국들은 자신의 운명을 바꾸기 위해 마지막 희망을 걸었다.

김규식은 대한민국임시정부를 대표하여 그 자리에 섰다.

그에게는 군대도 없었고, 강대국의 후원도 없었다. 그러나 그는 영어라는 언어와 국제법에 대한 이해, 그리고 정의를 향한 확고한 신념을 가지고 세계를 향해 한국의 독립을 호소했다.

비록 즉각적인 독립을 얻지는 못했지만, 그의 외교는 한국의 존재를 국제사회에 알렸고, 독립운동을 세계사 속에 기록하는 중요한 발걸음이 되었다.

총을 든 군인도 나라를 지키지만, 진실을 들고 세계를 설득하는 외교관도 역사를 만든다는 사실을 그는 몸소 보여 주었다.

오늘날 우리는 인공지능(AI), 우주산업, 양자컴퓨터, 바이오 혁명 등 기술의 시대를 살아간다. 세계는 더 빠른 컴퓨터와 더 뛰어난 알고리즘을 경쟁하고 있다.

하지만 김규식의 삶은 우리에게 조금 다른 질문을 던진다.

“기술보다 더 중요한 것은 무엇인가?”

그 답은 의외로 단순하다.

사람이다.

아무리 뛰어난 기술도 그것을 올바르게 사용하는 사람이 없다면 세상을 더 좋은 곳으로 만들 수 없다. 반대로 한 사람의 올바른 가치관과 국제적 안목은 수많은 사람의 삶을 바꾸고, 한 나라의 미래까지 바꿀 수 있다.

그래서 교육은 여전히 가장 중요한 투자이다.

교육은 지식을 전달하는 일이 아니라, 한 사람의 가능성을 발견하는 일이다.

로어노크 칼리지가 100년이 넘는 세월 동안 김규식 선생을 기억하는 이유도 여기에 있다. 학교는 단지 한 명의 졸업생을 기념하는 것이 아니다. 교육이 만들어 낸 위대한 가능성을 기억하고 있는 것이다.

오늘날 세계 곳곳에서 공부하는 한국의 젊은 유학생들을 바라보면 문득 김규식이 떠오른다.

그들 가운데 또 다른 김규식이 있을지도 모른다.

지금은 평범한 학생처럼 보이지만, 언젠가는 세계를 연결하는 외교관이 되고, 과학자가 되고, 기업가가 되고, 교육자가 되어 인류에 기여할 수도 있다.

그 가능성은 어느 누구도 미리 알 수 없다.

그래서 우리는 모든 학생을 소중히 여겨야 하고, 모든 교육의 기회를 귀하게 여겨야 한다.

100년 전 한 청년는 미국으로 건너와 배움을 선택했다.

그의 선택은 자신의 인생만 바꾸지 않았다.

대한민국의 독립운동에 힘을 보탰고, 한미 우호의 상징이 되었으며, 오늘날까지도 한국과 미국을 잇는 다리가 되고 있다.

사람들은 종종 성공을 높은 직위나 많은 재산으로 평가한다.

그러나 김규식은 다른 기준을 우리에게 보여 준다.

성공이란 자신이 떠난 뒤에도 사람들의 마음속에 살아 있는 것이다.

성공이란 후배들에게 길을 남기는 것이다.

성공이란 자신의 배움을 세상을 위한 봉사로 바꾸는 것이다.

100년이 지난 지금도 그의 졸업장이 빛나는 이유는 종이가 특별해서가 아니다.

그 졸업장을 받은 사람이 자신의 삶을 조국과 인류를 위한 사명으로 바꾸었기 때문이다.

오늘 우리의 졸업장도 언젠가는 낡아질 것이다.

그러나 우리가 남긴 가치와 섬김, 그리고 다음 세대를 향한 헌신은 시간이 흐를수록 더욱 빛날 것이다.

그것이 우사 김규식 선생이 우리 모두에게 남긴 가장 값진 유산이다.

{솔티}

2026년 7월 2일

참고문헌

Remembering alumnus Kim Kyusik, leader of Korean independence movement, 100 years later

Source: https://www.roanoke.edu/news/kim_kyusik_korean_independence

February 28, 2019

Roanoke, College

Prof. Dr. Young Choi (Editor in Chief) — Regent University

Young B. Choi is a Professor in the Department of Engineering & Computer Science at Regent University. He published 38 books with ‘Selected Readings in Cybersecurity’ (2018) (over 800 copies archived globally at university/college libraries around the world) and ‘Cybersecurity Applications and Artificial Intelligence’ (2023) available in seven major world languages. He proposed the world’s first global and universal telecommunications “Service Order Handling (SOH)” Model (T-SOH Model) (1995) with Dr. Adrian Tang. With this innovative research work, he received the IEEE NOMS ’96 Best Paper Award and became the first recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award of the TeleManagement Forum in 1998. His research areas include Natural Language Processing-focused AI, AI-applied cybersecurity, network and telecom service management, and Korean studies on Gani Choi Rip’s Jeonggwan (靜觀: Quiet Contemplation) philosophy and Shilhak ( 實學: Practical Learning).

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Prof. Dr. Jeonghwan (Jerry) Choi (Managing Editor), University of Maine at Presque Isle

Jeonghwan (Jerry) Choi, PhD is an Associate Professor of Business at the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Editor-in-Coordination of K-GSP Forum (contact: jeonghwan.choi at gmail.com). With over 25 years of industry and consulting experience, he specializes in leadership development, human resource management, organizational behavior, and social entrepreneurship. His research focuses on workforce resilience, organizational health, and self-directed leadership — bridging rigorous scholarship with practical insight to cultivate leaders who create meaningful, sustainable, and humane organizations.

Some books tell stories of great events, while others celebrate remarkable heroes. Yet there are times when a single flower, a bamboo stalk swaying in the wind, or a brief remembrance of an old friend can touch our hearts more deeply than any grand tale. Reading the Supplementary Writings (Seupyu, 拾遺) in Volume 6 of The Gani Collection, I experienced precisely that kind of quiet inspiration.

The term Seupyu (습유) literally means “gathering what has been left behind” or “collecting overlooked pieces.” At first, I assumed this section was merely an appendix containing writings omitted from the main collection. However, as I continued reading, I began to feel that these works revealed Choi Rip’s most sincere and authentic self. They seemed less like literary leftovers and more like treasured fragments of a wise man’s heart.

Unlike many classical texts, this volume contains little political debate or grand historical discussion. Instead, it is filled with reflections on flowers and trees, bamboo and lotus blossoms, quiet pavilions, and cherished friendships. Reading it felt like sitting beside an elderly scholar in a peaceful garden, listening to him share the lessons he had gathered over a lifetime.

The poems about bamboo were particularly memorable. Choi Rip wrote separately about young bamboo, old bamboo, bamboo standing in the rain, and bamboo bending in the wind. To most people, bamboo is simply bamboo. Yet Choi Rip saw something different in each stage and condition.

In young bamboo, he saw hope and growth. In bamboo facing strong winds, he found courage and resilience. In old bamboo, he discovered wisdom gained through the passage of time. His ability to draw such rich meaning from a single plant was both surprising and inspiring. While many of us constantly search for something new, Choi Rip reminds us that profound insights often lie hidden within the familiar.

His poems about lotus flowers also left a lasting impression. Throughout East Asian culture, the lotus has long symbolized purity because it rises clean and beautiful from muddy waters. Choi Rip uses the lotus to reflect on the virtues of integrity and inner nobility. His writings encourage us to maintain clarity of character and moral purpose, even amid the confusion and challenges of life.

Another fascinating aspect of Seupyu is its attention to ordinary objects. Floating duckweed, flower pots, stone kettles, and other everyday items become subjects of poetry. At first, I wondered why such simple things deserved poetic attention. Gradually, however, I understood his intention. Choi Rip believed that nothing in this world is insignificant. Nature, objects, and people all possess their own unique value and meaning.

This perspective offers an important lesson for modern readers. We often focus on what is large, impressive, and visible. We admire fame, success, and extraordinary achievements. Choi Rip, however, discovered truth in a flower blooming quietly by the roadside and wisdom in the sound of the wind through the trees. Reading his poems made me want to slow down and pay closer attention to the world around me.

Another theme that flows throughout Seupyu is the idea of Jeonggwan (靜觀), which may be translated as “contemplative observation.” It is the practice of quietly observing and deeply reflecting. Choi Rip looked at nature and learned about himself. He observed the changing seasons and reflected on the cycle of human life. Before seeking to change the world, he sought first to cultivate his own mind and character.

This message feels especially meaningful today. Modern life is filled with constant activity. We check our phones, read endless streams of news, and react to information without pause. Yet Seupyu gently invites us to stop for a moment. It encourages us to admire a flower, appreciate the shade of a tree, and listen to the quiet voice within ourselves.

When I finished reading the volume, one lesson remained with me above all others: the importance of seeing deeply. Choi Rip found meaning in things that others might overlook. This was the vision of a poet, the insight of a philosopher, and the sensitivity of someone who genuinely loved life.

The Gani Collection, Volume 6: Supplementary Writings is far more than a collection of poems. It is the record of a scholar who sought to understand humanity through nature, discover wisdom through ordinary things, and cultivate inner peace through thoughtful observation. Although more than four centuries have passed since Choi Rip lived, his message remains surprisingly relevant.

Perhaps happiness is not something distant or difficult to attain. Perhaps it begins with the ability to smile while watching a bamboo stalk sway gently in the wind. That, I believe, is one of the most enduring lessons Choi Rip wished to share with future generations. +++

{Solti}

July 2, 2026

작은 것에서 큰 지혜를 발견하다

『간이집』 제6권 「습유」를 읽고

어떤 책은 거대한 사건을 이야기하고, 어떤 책은 위대한 영웅을 이야기한다. 그러나 때로는 작은 꽃 한 송이, 바람에 흔들리는 대나무 한 그루, 그리고 오래된 벗에 대한 짧은 그리움이 우리 마음을 더 깊이 울릴 때가 있다. 『간이집』 제6권 「습유」를 읽으며 나는 바로 그런 감동을 경험했다.

‘습유(拾遺)’라는 말은 원래 빠진 것을 주워 모은다는 뜻이다. 처음에는 본편에 실리지 못한 글들을 모아 놓은 부록 정도로 생각했다. 그러나 읽어 갈수록 오히려 이 글들이 최립이라는 사람의 가장 진솔한 마음을 보여 주는 작품들이 아닐까 하는 생각이 들었다.

이 책에는 화려한 정치 이야기도 없고 거창한 논쟁도 많지 않다. 대신 꽃과 나무, 대나무와 연꽃, 작은 정자와 오래된 벗에 대한 이야기들이 담겨 있다. 마치 한 노학자가 인생의 길을 오래 걸은 뒤 조용한 정원에 앉아 지나온 세월을 돌아보며 들려주는 이야기처럼 느껴진다.

가장 인상 깊었던 것은 대나무를 노래한 연작 시들이었다. 어린 대나무를 노래하고, 늙은 대나무를 노래하며, 비를 맞는 대나무와 바람에 흔들리는 대나무를 각각 따로 바라본다. 현대인의 눈으로 보면 모두 같은 대나무일 뿐이다. 그러나 최립은 그 속에서 서로 다른 삶의 모습을 발견한다.

어린 대나무에서는 성장의 희망을 보고, 바람 속의 대나무에서는 역경을 견디는 용기를 본다. 늙은 대나무에서는 세월이 주는 지혜를 읽어 낸다. 같은 사물을 바라보면서도 이렇게 다양한 의미를 발견할 수 있다는 사실이 놀라웠다. 우리는 늘 새로운 것만 찾으려 하지만, 최립은 익숙한 것 속에서 새로운 깨달음을 찾고 있었다.

연꽃을 노래한 시들도 마음에 오래 남았다. 진흙 속에서 자라지만 깨끗한 꽃을 피우는 연꽃은 오랫동안 동양의 선비들에게 이상적인 인간상을 상징해 왔다. 최립 역시 연꽃을 통해 인간이 지녀야 할 맑은 마음과 품격을 이야기한다. 세상이 아무리 혼란스럽더라도 자신의 중심을 잃지 않는 삶의 자세가 얼마나 중요한지를 다시 생각하게 되었다.

또한 습유에는 작은 사물들을 노래한 작품들이 적지 않다. 떠다니는 부평초, 화분, 돌솥 같은 평범한 사물들이 시의 소재가 된다. 처음에는 왜 이런 것들을 시로 썼을까 의아했다. 그러나 읽다 보니 그 이유를 알게 되었다. 최립은 세상에 하찮은 것이 없다고 생각했던 것이다. 자연도, 사물도, 사람도 모두 저마다의 의미와 가치를 지니고 있었다.

이러한 태도는 오늘날 우리에게도 큰 교훈을 준다. 우리는 너무 자주 크고 화려한 것만 중요하게 여긴다. 유명한 사람, 큰 성공, 눈에 띄는 성과에만 관심을 기울인다. 그러나 최립은 작은 꽃 한 송이와 바람 소리, 그리고 이름 없는 풀잎에서도 삶의 진리를 발견했다. 그의 시를 읽으며 나 역시 주변을 좀 더 천천히 바라보고 싶어졌다.

습유 전체를 흐르는 또 하나의 주제는 ‘정관(靜觀)’이다. 조용히 바라보고 깊이 생각하는 태도이다. 최립은 자연을 보면서 자신을 돌아보았고, 계절의 변화를 보면서 인생의 흐름을 생각했다. 그는 세상을 바꾸기 전에 먼저 자신의 마음을 다스리려고 했다.

오늘날 우리는 너무 바쁘게 살아간다. 스마트폰을 확인하고, 뉴스를 읽고, 끊임없이 새로운 정보에 반응한다. 그러나 『습유』는 우리에게 잠시 멈추라고 말하는 것 같다. 꽃 한 송이를 바라보고, 나무 한 그루의 그림자를 느끼며, 자신의 마음속 목소리에 귀를 기울여 보라고 권한다.

책을 덮고 난 뒤 가장 오래 남은 생각은 ‘깊이 보는 눈’의 중요성이었다. 최립은 남들이 스쳐 지나가는 것들 속에서 의미를 발견했다. 그것이 시인의 눈이었고, 철학자의 눈이었으며, 삶을 사랑하는 사람의 눈이었다.

『간이집』 제6권 「습유」는 단순한 시 모음집이 아니다. 그것은 자연을 통해 인간을 이해하고, 사물을 통해 인생을 배우며, 조용한 관찰을 통해 지혜를 얻으려 했던 한 선비의 마음 기록이다. 수백 년의 시간이 흘렀지만 그가 남긴 메시지는 여전히 유효하다.

행복은 멀리 있는 것이 아닐지도 모른다. 바람에 흔들리는 대나무 한 그루를 바라보며 미소 지을 수 있는 마음, 그것이야말로 최립이 우리에게 전하고 싶었던 삶의 지혜가 아닐까 생각한다. +++

{솔티}

2026년 7월 2일

Prof. Dr. Young Choi (Editor in Chief) — Regent University

Young B. Choi is a Professor in the Department of Engineering & Computer Science at Regent University. He published 38 books with ‘Selected Readings in Cybersecurity’ (2018) (over 800 copies archived globally at university/college libraries around the world) and ‘Cybersecurity Applications and Artificial Intelligence’ (2023) available in seven major world languages. He proposed the world’s first global and universal telecommunications “Service Order Handling (SOH)” Model (T-SOH Model) (1995) with Dr. Adrian Tang. With this innovative research work, he received the IEEE NOMS ’96 Best Paper Award and became the first recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award of the TeleManagement Forum in 1998. His research areas include Natural Language Processing-focused AI, AI-applied cybersecurity, network and telecom service management, and Korean studies on Gani Choi Rip’s Jeonggwan (靜觀: Quiet Contemplation) philosophy and Shilhak ( 實學: Practical Learning).

1. Introduction

In January 1977, I arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, from South Korea as a young lay missionary with limited English proficiency, a sense of calling, and a deep curiosity about the country that would become my home for the next five decades. Having spent the first twenty-five years of my life in Korea, I encountered a society distinguished by its scale, diversity, openness, and optimism. Over the ensuing years, I studied, worked, taught, raised a family, and traveled throughout nearly every region of the United States, experiences that provided a unique comparative perspective shaped by engagement with both Korean and American cultures.

As the United States commemorates its 250th anniversary in 2026, it is an appropriate moment to reflect on the deeper sources of the nation’s resilience, influence, and continuing capacity for renewal. Such reflection is particularly important during a period marked by political polarization, demographic change, rapid technological advancement, global competition, and the transformative emergence of artificial intelligence. While public attention often focuses on immediate challenges, a broader historical question remains: What enduring characteristics have enabled the United States to adapt, prosper, and maintain its vitality across generations?

This article proposes the Seven Fs of America—Faith, Freedom, Family, Fairness, Friends, Frontier, and Future—as an interpretive framework for understanding the nation’s historical development, resilience, and continuing capacity for renewal. The framework does not suggest that American history or contemporary society has consistently reflected these ideals, nor does it overlook the nation’s struggles with inequality, injustice, social conflict, and other enduring challenges. Rather, these seven dimensions represent recurring cultural values, civic institutions, and social practices that have shaped American identity, democratic life, economic dynamism, and national aspirations while helping the nation respond to periods of challenge and change. As America enters the AI era, the Seven Fs framework suggests that long-term success will depend not only on technological advancement but also on renewing the human foundations that have historically supported democratic vitality, economic competitiveness, social cohesion, and human flourishing. Whereas the Seven Ms framework highlights the developmental drivers of Korea’s rapid modernization, the Seven Fs framework focuses on the cultural and institutional foundations that have contributed to America’s long-term resilience and renewal.

2. Conceptual Foundations of the Seven Fs Framework

Before examining each of the Seven Fs individually, it is important to recognize that the framework does not seek to define all Americans but rather provides an interpretive lens for understanding the recurring cultural values, civic institutions, and social practices that have contributed to America’s resilience, adaptability, and long-term development.

2.1. Why Nations Develop Distinctive Characteristics

Although individuals differ widely within every society, nations often develop recurring cultural patterns shaped by history, geography, institutions, beliefs, and shared experiences (Huntington, 2004; Inglehart & Welzel, 2005). These patterns influence how people organize communities, respond to challenges, educate future generations, pursue opportunities, and envision the future. While national frameworks should never be treated as rigid stereotypes, they can provide useful perspectives for understanding why societies often respond differently to similar circumstances.

The United States presents a particularly interesting case because of its extraordinary diversity. Americans trace their origins to virtually every region of the world and represent a wide range of ethnic, religious, political, and cultural traditions. Yet throughout this diversity, certain recurring themes have appeared repeatedly across American history, including commitments to faith, liberty, family formation, fairness, civic engagement, exploration, and future-oriented optimism (Bellah et al., 2007; Huntington, 2004). The Seven Fs framework seeks to identify these recurring themes and examine how they have contributed to the nation’s endurance and development across nearly two and a half centuries.

Figure 1 presents the Seven Fs Framework of American Resilience and Renewal, illustrating Faith, Freedom, Family, Fairness, Friends, Frontier, and Future as seven interconnected foundations that have shaped America’s historical development and enduring vitality. Centered on the concept of resilience and renewal, the framework highlights how these cultural values, civic institutions, and societal capabilities collectively support democratic governance, economic opportunity, social cohesion, innovation, and long-term adaptation. As the United States commemorates its 250th anniversary and enters the AI era, the framework suggests that America’s continued success will depend not only on technological advancement but also on preserving and renewing the foundational strengths represented by the Seven Fs.

Figure 1.

The Seven Fs Framework of American Resilience and Renewal.

Source: Author-developed conceptual model. Figure visualization created using generative artificial intelligence based on detailed prompts, framework design, and content developed by Paul C. Hong (2026).

2.2. Renewal as the Central Theme

At the center of the Seven Fs framework lies the concept of Renewal. Renewal refers to the capacity of individuals, communities, and institutions to adapt to changing circumstances while preserving essential principles and values. American history can be understood as a continuous process of renewal through which successive generations have confronted wars, economic crises, social conflicts, technological disruptions, and geopolitical challenges while seeking to preserve the nation’s founding ideals.

Renewal differs from mere survival. It involves learning, adaptation, innovation, and reinvention. Throughout its history, the United States has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to transform challenges into opportunities (Putnam & Garrett, 2020; Zakaria, 2008), whether through westward expansion, industrialization, scientific discovery, entrepreneurial innovation, civil rights reforms, or technological leadership. The Seven Fs represent interconnected sources of this renewal, providing the cultural, social, and institutional foundations that have enabled America to evolve while maintaining a sense of national continuity and purpose.

2.3. The Seven Fs as an Interpretive Framework

The Seven Fs framework consists of seven interconnected dimensions that together provide a holistic lens for understanding America’s resilience, adaptability, and capacity for renewal. Faith reflects the moral and spiritual foundations that have shaped personal responsibility and civic life, while Freedom represents the nation’s commitment to liberty, self-government, and individual opportunity. Family emphasizes the role of households in transmitting values, developing character, and investing in future generations, whereas Fairness highlights the importance of justice, rule of law, equal opportunity, and institutional legitimacy.

The remaining dimensions focus more directly on the civic and developmental forces that have contributed to America’s growth and vitality. Friends represent the voluntary associations, community networks, and social capital that strengthen civic engagement and social cohesion, while Frontier captures the spirit of exploration, entrepreneurship, innovation, and willingness to embrace uncertainty, and Future reflects optimism, aspiration, and confidence in continued progress. Together, these seven dimensions provide a framework for understanding how America has sustained resilience, encouraged innovation, strengthened democratic life, and pursued national renewal across generations, particularly as it navigates the opportunities and challenges of the AI era.

The Seven Fs framework should not be interpreted as suggesting that American history has consistently embodied these values or that the nation’s development has been free from conflict, injustice, or contradiction. Throughout its history, the United States has confronted profound challenges, including slavery, racial discrimination, unequal treatment of Indigenous peoples, economic inequality, political polarization, and periods in which national practices fell short of proclaimed ideals. The significance of the Seven Fs lies not in the absence of these shortcomings but in the continuing capacity for self-correction, institutional adaptation, civic engagement, and democratic reform that has enabled the nation to pursue renewal while confronting its imperfections.

3. A Framework for Understanding National Renewal

America has evolved through periods of profound change, including territorial expansion, industrialization, immigration, economic transformation, social reform, global conflict, and technological innovation. The Seven Fs seek to identify these enduring foundations and explain how they have interacted to shape American development from the founding era to the emerging AI age.

3.1. Historical and Cultural Foundations

The first four dimensions—Faith, Freedom, Family, and Fairness—represent the historical and cultural foundations of the American experience (Bellah et al., 2007; Huntington, 2004). Faith reflects the moral and spiritual traditions that have influenced civic responsibility, personal character, and community life. Freedom captures the nation’s longstanding commitment to liberty, self-government, individual initiative, and constitutional rights. Family serves as the primary institution through which values, responsibilities, and aspirations are transmitted across generations, while Fairness embodies the pursuit of justice, equal opportunity, and the rule of law.

Together, these dimensions have helped create a social environment that balances individual liberty with communal responsibility. Throughout American history, churches, families, schools, civic organizations, and legal institutions have played critical roles in shaping citizens and sustaining democratic society (Bellah et al., 2007; Tocqueville, 2000). Although debates continue regarding how these values should be interpreted and applied, they remain deeply embedded within the American narrative and continue to influence public life, social expectations, and national identity.

3.2. Civic and Developmental Foundations

The next two dimensions—Friends and Frontier—reflect the civic and developmental forces that have contributed to America’s growth and adaptability. Friends refers to the social capital generated through voluntary associations, civic organizations, community networks, and interpersonal relationships that foster trust, cooperation, and collective problem-solving (Brooks, 2025; Fukuyama, 1995; Putnam, 2000). These social connections generate trust, cooperation, leadership development, and collective problem-solving beyond the reach of government institutions alone. Frontier symbolizes the spirit of exploration, innovation, entrepreneurship, and willingness to venture into the unknown (Turner, 1921). Historically, the frontier represented geographic expansion across a continent, but its meaning has continually evolved. In successive generations, Americans have pursued new frontiers in science, technology, medicine, aviation, space exploration, business creation, and digital innovation. Together, Friends and Frontier help explain how civic collaboration and entrepreneurial initiative have repeatedly transformed challenges into opportunities for advancement.

Table 1 operationalizes the Seven Fs framework by defining each dimension and illustrating its expression through representative examples and historical developments. Rather than treating the Seven Fs as abstract concepts, the table demonstrates how Faith, Freedom, Family, Fairness, Friends, Frontier, and Future have been manifested through specific institutions, social practices, and historical experiences that have shaped American society. The inclusion of Renewal as the central integrating theme highlights the nation’s capacity to preserve enduring principles while adapting to changing economic, social, technological, and geopolitical circumstances.

Table 1.

The Seven Fs Framework: Definitions, Examples and Historical Illustrations

Source: Author’s Own.

The interaction of these seven dimensions helps explain America’s ability to preserve democratic institutions, integrate diverse populations, foster innovation, expand economic opportunity, and repeatedly renew itself across generations. While no single dimension fully explains the American experience, their combined influence provides a useful framework for understanding the nation’s historical resilience, global influence, and continuing capacity for adaptation in the AI era.

3.3. Future Orientation and National Renewal

The final dimension, Future, serves as the integrating force that connects America’s historical foundations with its continuing aspirations. Throughout its history, the nation has been characterized by a belief that improvement is possible and that future generations can achieve greater opportunities than previous ones (Inglehart & Welzel, 2005; Nye, 2011). This future-oriented outlook has encouraged investment in education, innovation, infrastructure, scientific research, and institutional development. It has also contributed to America’s capacity to recover from setbacks and envision new possibilities.

Future does not operate independently of the other six dimensions. Rather, it draws strength from Faith’s moral vision, Freedom’s opportunities, Family’s investment in future generations, Fairness’s legitimacy, Friends’ social capital, and Frontier’s innovative spirit. Together, the Seven Fs form an interconnected system that supports national renewal. As the United States enters an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, demographic change, and global competition, understanding these foundational dimensions may provide valuable insights into how America can preserve its core strengths while adapting to emerging challenges.

4. The Seven Fs Across Three Eras of National Development

The Seven Fs may be understood not only as individual dimensions but also as a developmental system that has evolved across different periods of American history. Although each dimension contributes independently to national resilience and renewal, their influence has been cumulative and mutually reinforcing over time. Figure 2 illustrates how the Seven Fs have interacted across three broad eras of national development, linking foundational values, civic institutions, and future-oriented capabilities to America’s continuing capacity for adaptation, innovation, and renewal.

Figure 2 illustrates the Seven Fs as an interconnected system that has evolved across successive eras of American history. Beginning with the foundational strengths of Faith, Freedom, and Family, extending through the developmental contributions of Fairness, Friends, and Frontier, and culminating in the future-oriented dimension of Future, the framework demonstrates how cultural values, civic institutions, and innovative capacities have reinforced one another over time. Viewed collectively, these dimensions help explain how America has sustained resilience, encouraged innovation, strengthened democratic life, and pursued renewal while adapting to changing national and global circumstances.

Figure 2.

America at 250 Years: The Seven Fs Across Three Eras of National Development

Source: Author-developed conceptual model. Figure visualization created using generative artificial intelligence based on detailed prompts, framework design, and content developed by Paul C. Hong (2026).

4.1. Founding Era Foundations: Faith, Freedom, and Family (1776–1899)

The first three dimensions—Faith, Freedom, and Family—formed the foundational pillars of American society during the nation’s formative years. Faith contributed moral vision, civic responsibility, and community engagement; Freedom established the principles of liberty, self-government, and individual opportunity; and Family provided the intergenerational institution through which values, character, and aspirations were transmitted. Together, these dimensions created a social and cultural foundation that supported democratic governance, personal responsibility, and national cohesion during the early development of the republic (Bellah et al., 2007; Tocqueville, 2000).

4.2. Development Era Foundations: Fairness, Friends, and Frontier (1900–1999)

As the nation expanded and industrialized, Fairness, Friends, and Frontier became increasingly important in shaping economic growth, institutional development, and civic life. Fairness strengthened legitimacy through the rule of law, equal opportunity, and expanding civil rights; Friends generated social capital through voluntary associations, community networks, and civic participation; and Frontier encouraged exploration, entrepreneurship, innovation, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty (Putnam, 2000; Turner, 1921). Together, these dimensions helped transform the United States into a dynamic society characterized by institutional adaptability, technological advancement, and broad-based opportunity.

4.3. The AI Era and Future-Oriented Renewal (2000–2050+)

The final dimension, Future, serves as the integrating force that connects America’s historical foundations with its continuing aspirations. Building upon Faith, Freedom, Family, Fairness, Friends, and Frontier, Future reflects optimism, adaptability, and a commitment to long-term progress through education, innovation, research, and technological advancement (Inglehart & Welzel, 2005; Nye, 2011). As the United States enters an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, demographic change, and global competition, its continued success will depend not only on technological leadership but also on preserving and renewing the enduring strengths represented by the Seven Fs. The sequence suggests that national resilience emerges not from any single institution but from the cumulative interaction of values, civic capital, innovation, and long-term vision. The AI era therefore represents not a departure from America’s historical foundations but a new test of its ability to renew them while adapting to unprecedented technological and societal change.

5. Conclusion

The framework presented in this article should not be interpreted as uniquely American virtues nor as claims that the United States has consistently embodied these ideals throughout its history; rather, it identifies recurring cultural values, civic institutions, and social practices that have contributed to the nation’s resilience, adaptability, and capacity for renewal. Together, Faith, Freedom, Family, Fairness, Friends, Frontier, and Future have helped shape the American experience by supporting democratic vitality, economic dynamism, social cohesion, innovation, and national renewal across nearly two and a half centuries. As the United States enters its third century, its future success will depend not only on technological leadership but also on renewing the human foundations that have long sustained American resilience, opportunity, innovation, and human flourishing.

References

Bellah, R. N., Madsen, R., Sullivan, W. M., Swidler, A., & Tipton, S. M. (2007). Habits of the heart: Individualism and commitment in American life (Updated ed.). University of California Press.

Brooks, D. (2025). How to know a person: The art of seeing others deeply and being deeply seen. Random House.

Fukuyama, F. (1995). Trust: The social virtues and the creation of prosperity. Simon and Schuster.

Huntington, S. P. (2004). Who are we? The challenges to America’s national identity. Simon & Schuster.

Inglehart, R., & Welzel, C. (2005). Modernization, cultural change, and democracy: The human development sequence.Cambridge University Press.

Nye, J. S., Jr. (2011). The future of power. PublicAffairs.

Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster.

Putnam, R. D., & Garrett, S. R. (2020). The upswing: How America came together a century ago and how we can do it again. Simon & Schuster.

Tocqueville, A. de. (2000). Democracy in America (H. C. Mansfield & D. Winthrop, Trans.). University of Chicago Press. (Original work published 1835–1840)

Turner, F. J. (1921). The frontier in American history. Henry Holt and Company. (Original work published 1893)

Zakaria, F. (2008). The post-American world. W. W. Norton & Company.

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Citation: Paul C. Hong (July 2, 2026). The Seven Fs of America: Foundations of National Resilience and Renewal. K-GSP Forum, pp. 1–11.

About the Author

Distinguished Professor, Dr. Paul Hong (Editor in Chief) — University of Toledo

Paul C. Hong is a Distinguished University Professor and affiliated faculty member of the Asian Studies Program at the University of Toledo. Born and educated in South Korea, he arrived in the United States in 1977 as a young lay missionary and has since spent nearly five decades living, teaching, researching, and traveling across America. As a Korean American scholar who has experienced both societies firsthand, he brings a comparative perspective to the study of leadership, national competitiveness, cultural values, civic institutions, and societal renewal. Through his interdisciplinary writings on the United States, Korea, history, culture, leadership, and public affairs, he explores the values, institutions, and ecosystems that enable nations to adapt, innovate, and renew themselves across generations. This article reflects his continuing effort to understand the enduring foundations of American resilience, renewal, and long-term competitiveness as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

© K-Global Scholars and Professionals Forum. All rights reserved. Content published in the K-GSP Forum may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the K-GSP Forum, except for brief quotations with full attribution.

Early Summer Heat

The summer sun lights up the azure sky,
Cool woodland breezes gently whisper by.
The cicadas chant through long and golden light,
A passing shower cools the soul through the night.

初夏暑熱 /초하서열

初夏炎陽照碧空 / 초하염양조벽공
濃陰滿樹送微風 / 농음만수송미풍
蟬聲斷續催長晝 / 선성단속최장주
一雨新涼入夢中 / 일우신량입몽중

초여름의 무더위

초여름 뜨거운 햇살 푸른 하늘 비추고,
짙은 나무 그늘에선 산들바람 불어오네.
매미 소리 이어졌다 끊어지며 긴 한낮 재촉하고,
한 차례 소나기 지나가니 새로운 서늘함 꿈속까지 스며드네.

{솔티}

2026년 7월 1일

Prof. Dr. Young Choi (Editor in Chief) — Regent University

Young B. Choi is a Professor in the Department of Engineering & Computer Science at Regent University. He published 38 books with ‘Selected Readings in Cybersecurity’ (2018) (over 800 copies archived globally at university/college libraries around the world) and ‘Cybersecurity Applications and Artificial Intelligence’ (2023) available in seven major world languages. He proposed the world’s first global and universal telecommunications “Service Order Handling (SOH)” Model (T-SOH Model) (1995) with Dr. Adrian Tang. With this innovative research work, he received the IEEE NOMS ’96 Best Paper Award and became the first recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award of the TeleManagement Forum in 1998. His research areas include Natural Language Processing-focused AI, AI-applied cybersecurity, network and telecom service management, and Korean studies on Gani Choi Rip’s Jeonggwan (靜觀: Quiet Contemplation) philosophy and Shilhak ( 實學: Practical Learning).

In the first half of the twentieth century, Japan was the principal destination for ambitious Korean students seeking a university education, long before the United States became the preferred destination for study abroad. In search of Western knowledge, much of which had been introduced into East Asia through Japan’s rapid modernization during the Meiji era, Korean students crossed the Korea Strait by ferry to attend Japanese universities. Among them were the poets Jeong Ji-yong (정지용, 鄭芝溶, 1902-1950) and Yun Dong-ju (윤동주, 尹東柱, 1917-1945), both of whom enrolled at Doshisha University (同志社大学), a prestigious private institution in Kyoto.

On Jeong Ji-yong:

Jeong Ji-yong was born in Okcheon, North Chungcheong Province, Korea, and showed an early interest in literature during his studies at Whimoon High School, where he entered in 1918. In 1923, he entered the preparatory program of Doshisha University as a government-sponsored student from Whimoon High School, marking the beginning of his formative years in Japan, where he would later produce much of his early modernist poetry. He published works such as “Café France” in Hakjo (Academic Tide), a journal of Korean students in Kyoto, and contributed to various literary outlets in both Korean and Japanese. During this period, he also wrote one of his most famous poems, “Hyangsu” (Nostalgia), which would later become a landmark of modern Korean poetry. In 1928, he converted to Roman Catholicism, taking the baptismal name Francis, and completed an English thesis on William Blake’s poetic imagination.

After graduating from Doshisha University in 1929, Jeong returned to Korea and began teaching English at his alma mater, Whimoon High School, a position he held for sixteen years until liberation in 1945. Alongside his teaching career, he played a key role in shaping modern Korean literary culture: he helped found the journal Simunhak (Poetic Literature) in 1930, served as an editorial adviser to Catholic Youth, and introduced emerging writers such as Yi Sang to broader audiences. In 1933, he joined the modernist literary group Guinhoe (The Group of Nine), actively participating in lectures and avant-garde literary publications. After liberation, he joined Ewha Womans University as a professor but retired in 1948 to a quiet life in Seoul.

Jeong Ji-yong’s later life was marked by the uncertainty of the Korean War period, during which he disappeared and was presumed lost under unclear circumstances. In South Korea, his absence led to decades of political and cultural erasure, including the banning of his works and partial censorship of his name. This ban was finally lifted in 1988, leading to the restoration of his poetry to the Korean literary canon. Today, he is widely recognized as one of the most important pioneers of modern Korean poetry, and his legacy is commemorated through literary prizes, memorial projects, and monuments, including a memorial stone erected at Doshisha University in Kyoto in 2005.

On Yun Dong-ju:

Yun Dong-ju was born in Jiandao (Gando), Northeast China, where his Korean grandparents had settled in 1886. Raised in a devout Christian household, he participated in family worship from an early age and continued attending church and chapel services throughout his schooling. After graduating from Gwangmyeong Secondary School, he entered Yonhi College (now Yonsei University) in Seoul in 1938, where he began writing poetry and formed friendships with writers such as Jeong Ji-yong.

After graduating from Yonhi in 1941, Yun went to Japan for further study. He briefly enrolled in the English Department at Rikkyo University in Tokyo before transferring to the Faculty of Humanities at Doshisha University in Kyoto. His time at Doshisha was cut short by increasing surveillance, culminating in his arrest in 1943 on charges related to political offenses. He was later sentenced to two years in prison by a Japanese court. He died in Fukuoka prison on February 16, 1945, at the age of twenty-seven, just months before Korea’s liberation on August 15 of that year.

At the time of his arrest, Yun had already attempted to publish his poetry collection Sky, Wind, Stars, and Poetry (Haneul gwa baram gwa byeol gwa si), though it was not realized until after liberation. His writing, much of it composed during his student years in Seoul and Japan, reflects a profound sense of conscience, longing, and resistance. In recognition of his enduring literary legacy, Doshisha University posthumously awarded him an honorary doctorate in literature on February 16, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of his death in a ceremony attended by university leaders, Korean and Japanese scholars, and members of his family.

Below is the Korean text and an English translation of Yun’s most well-known poem composed in November 1941:

서시

죽는 날까지 하늘을 우러러
한 점 부끄럼이 없기를,
잎새에 이는 바람에도
나는 괴로워했다.

별을 노래하는 마음으로
모든 죽어가는 것을 사랑해야지
그리고 나한테 주어진 길을
걸어가야겠다.

오늘 밤에도 별이 바람에 스치운다.

Prologue

Until the day I die,
may I look up to heaven
without a single speck of shame.
Even at the wind
stirring the leaves,
I felt sorrow.

With a heart that sings of the stars,
I must love all that is passing away,
and I must walk
the path given to me.

Tonight, too,
the stars are brushed by the wind.

(Originally published in Intégrité, vol. 13, no. 2, Fall 2014, p. 67)

Doshisha University, a Protestant Christian institution founded in 1875, is located in Kyoto, Japan. The Imadegawa campus features memorial stones honoring two of its prominent Korean alumni, the poets Jeong Ji-yong and Yun Dong-ju. Composite image based on map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

My Shinkansen train (bullet train) from Tokyo will arrive in Kyoto soon.

I arrived at Kyoto Station (京都駅). As a Japanese railroad station, Kyoto Station is second only to Nagoya Station in size. It serves both Shinkansen and non-Shinkansen lines. The Nara Line (奈良線), a non-Shinkansen line, leads to such historic destinations as Tofuku-ji, Inari, Uji, and Nara.

An aerial view of Kyoto looking north from the observation tower near Kyoto Station. Kyoto University is visible on the right side of the photograph, while the Doshisha University campus lies just to the right of the main road. At the foot of the northwestern mountains are several of Kyoto’s best-known cultural landmarks, including Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺, the Golden Pavilion) and Ryoan-ji (龍安寺), famous for its Zen rock garden.

The campus of Doshisha University, which was founded by Niijima Jō (新島 襄) in 1875. Today, Doshisha is widely regarded as one of Japan’s four most prestigious Christian universities, alongside Sophia University (上智大学) in Tokyo, Kwansei Gakuin University (関西学院大学) in Nishinomiya, and International Christian University (国際基督教大学) in Mitaka. It is noteworthy that, in a country whose religious landscape has traditionally been shaped by Shinto and Buddhism, more than a dozen Christian institutions of higher learning continue to thrive.

Clark Memorial Hall, a landmark building on the campus of Doshisha University, is designated a National Important Cultural Property.

This is one of the buildings on the campus of Doshisha University. It is striking to observe the blend of a traditional tile roof with Western-style brick and stone construction.

A stone monument engraved with the Chinese characters 立志 (risshi, “to form a strong resolve”) on the campus of Doshisha University reflects the university’s educational ideal of cultivating determination and purpose among its students.

The Doshisha campus looks clean and serene. Indeed, Kyoto itself is refreshingly free from the hustle and bustle that characterize many of Japan’s other major cities.

The Yun Dong-ju Poetry Monument on the campus of Doshisha University.

A close-up of the Yun Dong-ju Poetry Monument on the campus of Doshisha University reveals the complete text of his well-known poem, “Prologue.”

The left side of this fan-shaped stone panel features a four-line poem in classical Chinese, rendered in elegant calligraphy. Although its authorship remains uncertain, the poem appears to have been composed specifically for the monument rather than copied from a well-known classical source. Drawing on traditional imagery of rivers, moonlight, autumn dew, and distant waters, it evokes purity, solitude, and spiritual transcendence—qualities that resonate deeply with Yun Dong-ju’s poetic vision and enduring legacy. The classical verse thus links Yun’s modern Korean poetry to the broader literary tradition of East Asia.

This interpretive panel beside the poetry monument of Yun Dong-ju at Doshisha University provides a brief biography of the poet. The second half of the text reads:

Yun graduated from Yonhi College and came to Japan in 1942, where he enrolled in Doshisha University’s Faculty of Letters. While studying here, he was arrested on July 14, 1943, on suspicion of independence activism after being found writing poetry in Korean. He was later convicted under the Peace Preservation Law and imprisoned in Fukuoka, where he died on February 16, 1945.

The monument was erected and unveiled on February 16, 1995, marking the 50th anniversary of his death, through the initiative of the Doshisha Alumni Korea Club.

The Korean text of “Prologue” is reproduced from Yun’s original manuscript, and the Japanese translation was prepared by Ibuki Kō.

The Doshisha University Foundation

Next to the Yun Dong-ju Poetry Monument stands the Jeong Ji-yong Poetry Monument at Doshisha University.

The monument commemorating Jeong Ji-yong features his poem on the Kamo River—a 19-mile stretch flowing through central Kyoto—along with a Japanese translation. An English translation is provided below.

The Kamo River

On the ten-ri fields of the Kamo River,
the sun is fading… fading…

Day after day, sending off my beloved—
my throat has gone hoarse… the sound of rapids…

A cold heart, squeezing cold grains of sand,
squeeze it harder—break it open—still no relief.

In a nest overgrown with tangled reeds,
a coot, a widow-mother, cries alone,

a pair of swallows takes flight,
dancing through wind like rain.

Evening river breeze carries the scent of watermelon.
The sorrow of a young wayfarer,
chewing orange peel.

On the ten-ri fields of the Kamo River,
the sun fades… fades…

This interpretive panel beside the Jeong Ji-yong Poetry Monument at Doshisha University offers a brief biography of the poet. It describes him as “a father of modern Korean poetry” and notes that the monument was erected on his alma mater’s campus by Okcheon County, the Okcheon Cultural Center, and the Jeong Ji-yong Memorial Association in his honor. It also explains that the inscribed poem (see previous page), “The Kamo River,” is one of his most representative works on Kyoto.

This fan-shaped stone panel commemorating Jeong Ji-yong displays a calligraphic inscription of a classical Chinese-style poem alongside the name of the Kamo River in bold characters. Portions of the poem are difficult to decipher due to dense brushwork. The inscription evokes the Kamo River in Kyoto through restrained, traditional imagery characteristic of classical Chinese poetic diction, suggesting its flowing movement and seasonal atmosphere. Rather than offering a straightforward description, the lines condense the scene into an elegant, contemplative vision in which the river becomes a symbol of passing time and quiet reflection. Because the text is rendered in stylized script and is only partially legible, its precise wording remains uncertain, but its overall tone aligns with the monument’s commemorative and lyrical intent.

Next to the Yun and Jeong monuments, a small pond with goldfish swimming peacefully suggests a quiet hope for harmony between Korea and Japan.

I visited Doshisha University before attending the 40th Conference of the John Steinbeck Society of Japan at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine (KPUM) in May 2016. The photograph shows the entrance to the campus of Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine.

Most of my visits to literary sites in Japan were made possible through my participation in the annual conferences of the John Steinbeck Society of Japan, held each year at a different university across the country. I also served for several years as an editor of the Society’s English-language journal, Steinbeck Studies.

About the Author

Professor of English and Creative Writing and Associate Dean of the School of Humanities and Theology, Missouri Baptist University

John J. Han, PhD, is the author, editor, co-editor, or translator of 35 books. His forthcoming book, Echoes from the Hills: Critical Essays on Ozarks Literature (co-edited with C. Clark Triplett), will be published by the University of Arkansas Press. He has also published nearly 3,000 poems in a wide range of journals and anthologies. In addition to his long tenure at Missouri Baptist University, he has taught at Kansas State University, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Nebraska Wesleyan University, and Washington University in St. Louis. He has also served as a visiting scholar at Georgia College & State University and the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia.

© K-Global Scholars and Professionals Forum. All rights reserved. Content published in the K-GSP Forum may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the K-GSP Forum, except for brief quotations with full attribution.

The long and endless suffering of life is likened to the sea, and thus life is called a “sea of suffering.” People suffer from various problems every day. Inevitable sufferings, such as aging, falling ill, or facing death, also follow. However, not many people live with the proper awareness that pain or difficulty is an integral part of life. Overlooking the fact that this is a situation everyone faces, one that must be met with composure and preparation, people tend simply to dislike it.

Religions have long taught us how to examine the sufferings within body and mind, grasp their true nature, and find release from them. In the medical field, researchers have sought ways to maintain both physical and mental health: vitality, thinking, memory, concentration, and creativity. Considering these teachings alongside the results of research, one realizes that mindset matters more than anything else.

Farsighted leaders have advised that one must keep the mind at ease to escape suffering. Pascal said that all human misfortunes stem from not knowing how to sit quietly in a room and rest. Sometimes you should stop what you are doing and sit quietly to reflect on yourself. To overcome difficult circumstances and live comfortably, it is good to set aside even a few minutes each day for your mind. When you let go of excessive desire or attachment and follow the natural flow, you can attain true peace and freedom.

The whole world is becoming increasingly noisy these days, leaving people uneasy and anxious. In times like these, we need to be wise. It is not desirable to narrow one’s perspective by focusing only on oneself and believing that one alone is suffering. One good way to enjoy peace is simply to accept what happens without being troubled by it.

Just as one might sit by a stream and watch fish playing in the water without missing a beat, observing all that arises in the body and mind is beneficial in many ways. All manner of trouble is created in the heart, and the core philosophy of Buddhism holds that everything in the world depends on one’s mindset. If you master your mind and overcome hardship, you can become happy.

In the traditions of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity, countless books and courses teach ways to help discipline the mind. Mental discipline can be one method of maintaining physical health. While the rules and procedures of training matter, one’s mindset appears to have a greater impact than technique alone in achieving rewarding results.

Stand upright and keep your gaze three to four meters ahead of your toes. Since lowering your head makes you tired more easily, keep your chin up straight. Walk slowly, holding your hands together in front or behind so they do not shake. With every step, feel the moment your feet touch the ground. If you attend to your breathing at the same time, you can sense how many steps you walk comfortably during a single inhale or exhale. While inhaling, say “It comes in,” and while exhaling, “It’s going out.”

This is walking mindfulness meditation. Its quintessence lies in conscious breathing and walking. One should be aware of the surroundings and physical sensations while walking. Recommended by Thich Nhat Hanh (1926–2022), the Vietnamese Buddhist monk, it is known to be especially effective for cooling anger (Anger: Wisdom for Cooling the Flames, Riverhead Books, 2001). He was regarded as the “father of mindfulness” and was a major influence on Western practices of Buddhism.

It is important not to miss a single sensation in the feet as the center of gravity shifts. Walk naturally while aligning your mind with the movements and sensations of your feet. Do not move like a machine; try to feel, in detail, each moment your feet touch the floor.

If you align your mind with the movements and sensations of your feet while simultaneously feeling your breath, your mind, restless like a grasshopper, butterfly, or monkey, will come to dwell in the “here and now.” In a gait where observation coincides with phenomenon, only intention and action remain, and the self that led to it disappears spontaneously.

While focusing your mind throughout this process, your mind may wander; this is an illusion. Do not let delusions hinder practice; treat them as simply another object to be observed. Notice the state of mind at that moment, and rather than wishing for the absence of delusion, simply recognize that you are deluding. There is no room for delusion to seep into proper walking meditation.

It is advisable to make this a habit of daily life. It suits those who spend a great deal of time sitting. Many people read various books on spiritual traditions and perform rituals, but few put those teachings into practice faithfully. Practicing only while sitting or only while walking leaves mind and body prone to stagnation or restlessness, making concentration difficult. Efficiency increases when the two are practiced in harmony. One must adopt the attitude that good results come from ceaseless, faithful practice, dedicating the whole heart to the present moment.

보행 명상

현세의 괴로움이 길고 끝없음을 바다에 비유하여 고해라고 한다. 수많은 사람들이 삶에서 고통을 겪고, 여러 가지 문제들에 날마다 시달린다. 나이를 먹거나, 병에 걸리거나, 죽음을 맞이하는 것과 같은 필연적 고통도 뒤따른다. 그런데 고통이나 문제가 삶의 일부이어서 겪을 수밖에 없다는 사실을 제대로 인식하고 사는 사람은 많지 않다. 누구나 처하는 상황이기 때문에 의연히 이겨 내고, 그에 대해 준비할 필요가 있다는 사실은 외면한 채 그저 싫어하는 성향을 띤다.

종교계에서는 오래전부터 몸과 마음 안에서 일어나는 현상을 적극적인 방법으로 살펴보고 그 실상을 파악하여 고통으로부터 벗어나라고 가르쳤다. 의료계에서는 신체의 상태를 건강하게 유지시켜 활력을 되찾고, 사고 능력을 비롯하여 기억력, 집중력, 창의력 등을 향상시키는 방법을 밝히려고 노력했다. 가르침이나 연구 결과를 보면 무엇보다 마음가짐이 중요하다는 것을 깨닫게 된다.

선각자들도 고통에서 벗어나려면 마음을 편하게 가져야한다고 일렀다. 파스칼은 인간의 모든 불행은 단 한 가지, 조용한 방에 들어앉아 휴식할 줄 모른다는 데서 비롯된다는 말을 남겼다. 때때로 휴식을 취하면서 생각하는 시간을 가지라는 말이다. 어려운 환경을 이겨 내고 편안하게 살려면 하루에 단 몇 분이라도 마음을 위해 쓸 시간을 따로 떼어놓는 것이 좋다. 하던 일을 멈추고 조용히 앉아 자신을 돌아보아 차분하고 편안해질 수 있어야 한다. 진정한 평화나 자유는 과욕이나 집착을 버릴 때 얻을 수 있다.

요즈음 온 지구촌이 부쩍 시끄러워 사람을 편안하지 않고 조마조마하게 만든다. 이런 때일수록 우리는 지혜로워져야 할 필요가 있다. 오로지 자신에게만 초점을 맞추어 나만 고통을 받는다고 생각하거나 자신에게 미치는 영향에만 신경을 곤두세우고 모든 일을 이해하거나 오해함으로써 심리적으로 시각을 좁히는 경향 등은 바람직하지 않다. 세상에서 일어나는 일을 상관하지 않고 그냥 받아들이는 것은 평화를 누리는 좋은 방법 중의 하나다.

시냇가에 앉아 물 속에서 노는 물고기를 놓치지 않고 들여다보듯이 몸과 마음에서 일어나는 모든 현상을 주시하면 여러 가지로 이롭다. 세상만사가 마음먹기에 달렸다는 말은 불교의 핵심 사상으로, 온갖 현상을 마음이 만들어 내기 때문에 마음가짐에 따라 세상이 달라 보인다는 의미이다. 현상 그 자체보다 그것을 대하는 마음의 자세가 중요하다는 뜻이며, 마음을 다스려 고난을 극복하면 행복해질 수 있다는 조언을 담고 있다.

불교, 힌두교, 기독교의 전통에는 마음을 다스리는 데에 도움이 되는 방법을 가르치는 책과 강좌가 셀 수 없이 많다. 정신의 수련은 건강을 위한 양생법의 하나이기도 하다. 수련의 기법을 충실히 따르면서 평소의 마음가짐이 좋아야 보람이 있는 결과가 나타난다.

반듯하게 서서 시선을 발끝에서 3~4 미터 앞에 둔다. 고개를 숙이면 쉽게 피곤해지기 때문에 턱을 바르게 세우고, 흔들리지 않게 손을 앞이나 뒤로 모아 잡고 걷는다. 발을 디딜 때마다 바닥에 닿는 순간과 호흡을 느끼면 한 번의 들숨 또는 날숨 동안에 몇 걸음을 편안하게 걸을 수 있는지 짐작이 간다. 발이 바닥에 닿거나 숨이 들고나는 것을 낱낱이 느끼면서, 들이쉴 때 ‘들어온다’ 하고, 내쉴 때 ‘나간다’ 하고 말하라.

천천히 걸으면서 발바닥의 감각, 몸의 움직임, 호흡 등의 신체 감각과 주변 환경을 알아차리는 마음 챙김 명상이다. 틱낫한(1926~2022) 스님이 스트레스 해소, 집중력 향상, 불안 감소에 효과적이라고 권하면서, 화를 삭이는 데에 특효를 나타낸다고 했다. 수련의 핵심은 의식적인 호흡과 보행이며, 평소에 걷는 것보다 천천히 걸어야 동작에서 오는 갖가지 느낌을 놓치지 않고 주시할 수 있다.

체중의 중심이 옮겨질 때 발의 상태 등은 물론 움직임에서 오는 모든 느낌을 하나도 놓치지 않는 것이 중요하다. 인간적인 감정이나 자주성 또는 창의성 없이 기계처럼 해서는 안된다. 자연스럽게 걸으면서 발의 동작과 감각에 마음을 일치시키고 동시에 호흡도 느끼면 메뚜기, 나비, 원숭이처럼 한시도 가만히 있지 못하는 마음이 ‘지금 여기에’ 머무르게 된다. 주시와 현상이 일치하는 걸음걸이 안에는 의도와 행위만 있을 뿐 그것을 주도하는 나는 자연스럽게 사라져버린다.

정신을 모아 살피는 중에 마음이 대상을 떠나 방황하는 수도 있는데 그것은 망상이다. 망상이 수행에 지장을 준다고 여기지 말고 주시해야 하는 또 다른 대상으로 보아야 한다. 그때의 마음 상태를 알아차리고, 망상이 없기를 바랄 것이 아니라 망상하고 있음을 깨닫는 것이 중요하다. 제대로 된 걷기 명상에는 망상이 스며들 틈이 없다.

마음만 먹으면 언제 어디서든지 수련할 수 있기 때문에 생활의 습관이 되는 것이 좋다. 앉아있는 시간이 많은 이들이 수행하기에 알맞다. 여러 가지 정신적 전통에 관한 다양한 책을 읽고 의식을 치르지만 막상 그 가르침들을 충실히 실천하는 사람은 많지 않다. 수행을 그저 앉아서 하거나 걸으면서 하면 심신이 침체되기 쉽거나 정신이 들떠 집중하기가 어렵다. 두 가지를 조화롭게 수련하면 효율이 높아진다. 지금 이 순간 온 마음을 다 바쳐 부단하고 충실하게 수련할 때에 좋은 효과를 거둔다는 사실을 깊이 새기는 자세라야 한다.

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About the Author:

Dr. Chung Gil Lee is Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Medicine at Chonnam National University, where he served on the faculty until 2007. He holds an M.Sc. and Ph.D. from James Cook University, Australia, and began his career as an Interpreter Officer in the Korean Army. A graduate of Chonnam National University (1963), he is currently a member of the Korean Literature Society of America.

© K-Global Schoalrs and Professionals Forum. All rights reserved. Content published in the K-GSP Forum may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the K-GSP Forum, except for brief quotations with full attribution.

There are moments when reading a classical work feels like meeting a person from centuries ago. As I read Chomirok (焦尾錄), the sixth volume of The Gani Collection by Choi Rip, I experienced exactly that feeling. At first, I expected it to be merely a collection of poems and prose written by a scholar of the Joseon Dynasty. Yet as I turned the pages, I discovered something much more profound—a window into the heart and mind of a thoughtful human being whose wisdom still speaks to us today.

This volume differs somewhat from the earlier parts of The Gani Collection. Instead of focusing primarily on political affairs, official memorials, or administrative matters, it centers on friendships, farewells, reflections on nature, artistic appreciation, and meditations on life and death. Reading it felt less like studying a historical document and more like opening the personal journal of a wise and compassionate friend.

One of the most memorable aspects of this volume is Choi Rip’s deep affection for people. He wrote poems to friends embarking on distant journeys, to colleagues assuming new responsibilities, and to companions pursuing important missions. These were not simple farewell messages. Each poem conveyed sincere respect, encouragement, and heartfelt hopes for the recipient’s future. In an age when many of us communicate through brief text messages and emails, Choi Rip reminds us that genuine friendship involves taking the time to express our appreciation and concern for others.

The poems of mourning are equally moving. Choi Rip wrote elegies for friends, colleagues, and acquaintances who had passed away. His words reveal not merely a sense of duty but a profound understanding of human loss. He recognized the fragility of life and cherished relationships because he knew they were temporary. Through these writings, he teaches us to value the people around us while we still have the opportunity to do so.

Another remarkable feature of Chomirok is its celebration of nature. Choi Rip did not simply admire bamboo, lotus flowers, pine trees, or autumn leaves for their beauty. He saw moral and spiritual lessons within them. Bamboo symbolized integrity, pine trees represented steadfastness, and lotus flowers embodied purity. Nature, for him, was not merely scenery; it was a teacher.

I was particularly fascinated by his series of poems on bamboo. He wrote separately about young bamboo, old bamboo, bamboo in the wind, bamboo in the rain, and even withered bamboo. Most people would regard bamboo as a single object, but Choi Rip perceived countless meanings within it. His observations reveal how deeply he looked at the world around him. He reminds us that wisdom often comes not from seeing more things, but from seeing familiar things more carefully.

This volume also highlights Choi Rip’s remarkable sensitivity as an art critic. He composed poems inspired by paintings and reflected thoughtfully on the works of other writers and artists. He did not view art as a mere object of visual pleasure; he sought to understand the spirit behind it. His approach encourages modern readers to engage more deeply with art, literature, and music—not simply to consume them, but to converse with them.

Perhaps the most important theme running throughout the entire volume is what Choi Rip called Jeonggwan (靜觀), or “contemplative observation.” It is the practice of quietly observing the world and reflecting deeply upon its meaning. Choi Rip observed nature to understand himself. He valued friendships as a means of understanding humanity. He appreciated art as a path toward understanding beauty and truth. Rather than rushing to conclusions, he cultivated patience, attentiveness, and reflection.

This message feels especially relevant today. We live in an era overflowing with information, where speed is often valued more than depth. We are encouraged to react quickly, decide quickly, and move on quickly. Yet Chomirok gently invites us to slow down. It reminds us to look more carefully at the people we love, the natural world around us, and our own inner lives.

Ultimately, Chomirok is far more than a collection of poems and essays from the Joseon Dynasty. It is the record of a scholar who loved people, appreciated beauty, and sought wisdom through contemplation. It is a book that speaks across centuries with surprising warmth and relevance.

Long after I finished reading it, its quiet message remained with me. It prompted me to ask myself: How deeply do I value the people around me? How carefully do I observe nature? How often do I pause to reflect on my own life?

Perhaps this is the greatest gift Choi Rip offers modern readers. Across more than four hundred years, he reminds us that a meaningful life is built not only through achievement, but also through friendship, appreciation, contemplation, and an attentive heart. +++

{Solti}

July 1, 2026

[독후감] 사람과 자연을 품은 한 권의 책

『간이집』 제6권 「초미록」을 읽고

고전을 읽다 보면 때때로 수백 년 전의 인물이 갑자기 우리 곁에 다가오는 순간이 있다. 『간이집』 제6권 「초미록」을 읽으며 나는 바로 그런 경험을 했다. 처음에는 조선 중기의 한 문인이 남긴 시문집 정도로 생각했지만, 책장을 넘길수록 그 안에는 관료도, 외교관도 아닌 한 인간 최립의 따뜻한 마음과 깊은 성찰이 담겨 있음을 알게 되었다.

제6권은 앞선 권들과 분위기가 다소 다르다. 상소문이나 정치적 논의보다 사람을 만나고 보내며 쓴 시, 자연을 바라보며 느낀 생각, 그리고 세상을 떠난 벗을 추모하는 글들이 중심을 이룬다. 그래서 이 책을 읽는 동안 마치 한 사람의 일기장을 들여다보는 듯한 느낌을 받았다.

가장 인상 깊었던 부분은 사람을 향한 최립의 따뜻한 시선이었다. 그는 친구가 먼 길을 떠날 때 송별시를 지어 주었고, 벗이 승진하거나 새로운 임지로 떠날 때도 축하와 격려의 마음을 담아 글을 남겼다. 오늘날처럼 문자메시지 한 통으로 안부를 전하는 시대와는 달리, 그는 한 편의 시에 우정과 존경, 그리고 상대방의 앞날에 대한 기대를 담았다. 그 글들을 읽으며 진정한 우정이란 단순히 자주 만나는 것이 아니라 상대의 삶을 진심으로 응원하는 것임을 다시 생각하게 되었다.

또한 이 책에는 죽은 이를 추모하는 작품들이 적지 않다. 최립은 세상을 떠난 친구와 동료들을 위해 애도의 시를 남겼다. 그의 글에서는 형식적인 슬픔이 아니라 인간에 대한 깊은 애정이 느껴진다. 인생이 유한하다는 사실을 알고 있었기에 그는 만남을 소중히 여기고, 이별 앞에서는 더욱 진실한 마음을 표현했던 것 같다. 이러한 작품들은 오늘날 바쁘게 살아가는 우리에게도 사람의 소중함을 일깨워 준다.

제6권에서 특히 눈길을 끄는 부분은 자연을 노래한 작품들이다. 그는 대나무와 연꽃, 소나무와 단풍을 바라보며 단순히 아름답다고 말하지 않았다. 대나무에서는 절개를, 소나무에서는 굳은 의지를, 연꽃에서는 맑은 품성을 발견했다. 자연은 그에게 단순한 풍경이 아니라 삶의 스승이었다.

나는 대나무를 노래한 여러 편의 시가 특히 흥미로웠다. 어린 대나무, 늙은 대나무, 비를 맞는 대나무, 바람에 흔들리는 대나무를 각각 따로 노래했다는 사실은 놀라웠다. 대부분의 사람들은 대나무를 그저 하나의 식물로 보지만, 최립은 그 안에서 인생의 여러 모습을 발견했다. 같은 사물을 바라보더라도 얼마나 깊이 관찰하느냐에 따라 전혀 다른 세계가 펼쳐질 수 있음을 보여준다.

이 책을 읽으며 나는 최립이 단순한 문장가가 아니라 뛰어난 예술 비평가였다는 사실도 새롭게 알게 되었다. 그는 그림을 보고 시를 짓고, 다른 사람의 작품을 감상하며 자신의 생각을 더했다. 예술 작품을 눈으로만 보는 것이 아니라 마음으로 읽어 내려고 노력했던 것이다. 오늘날 우리가 전시회를 찾아가거나 음악을 들을 때도 이러한 자세를 배운다면 더욱 풍요로운 감상을 할 수 있을 것이다.

무엇보다도 제6권 전체를 흐르는 정신은 ‘정관(靜觀)’이라고 생각한다. 조용히 바라보고 깊이 생각하는 태도 말이다. 최립은 자연을 바라보며 자신을 돌아보았고, 사람을 만나며 삶의 의미를 찾았으며, 예술을 통해 세상을 이해하려 했다. 그는 빠르게 결론을 내리기보다 천천히 관찰하고 깊이 성찰했다.

오늘날 우리는 너무 많은 정보 속에서 살아간다. 무엇이든 빨리 판단하고 빠르게 소비하는 데 익숙해져 있다. 그러나 『초미록』은 우리에게 잠시 걸음을 늦추라고 말하는 듯하다. 한 사람을 깊이 이해하고, 자연을 천천히 바라보며, 자신의 마음을 성찰하는 시간이 필요하다고 일깨워 준다.

『간이집』 제6권 「초미록」은 단순한 옛 시문집이 아니다. 그것은 사람을 사랑한 한 선비의 기록이며, 자연과 예술 속에서 삶의 지혜를 찾으려 했던 한 사상가의 정신세계이다. 책을 덮고 난 뒤에도 마음속에는 오래도록 잔잔한 여운이 남는다. 그리고 문득 생각하게 된다. 오늘 나는 얼마나 사람을 소중히 여기고 있는가, 얼마나 자연을 깊이 바라보고 있는가, 그리고 얼마나 진지하게 나 자신을 성찰하고 있는가를.

아마도 이것이 수백 년의 시간을 뛰어넘어 최립이 오늘의 우리에게 전하는 가장 귀한 메시지일 것이다. +++

{솔티}

2026년 7월 1일

Prof. Dr. Young Choi (Editor in Chief) — Regent University

Young B. Choi is a Professor in the Department of Engineering & Computer Science at Regent University. He published 38 books with ‘Selected Readings in Cybersecurity’ (2018) (over 800 copies archived globally at university/college libraries around the world) and ‘Cybersecurity Applications and Artificial Intelligence’ (2023) available in seven major world languages. He proposed the world’s first global and universal telecommunications “Service Order Handling (SOH)” Model (T-SOH Model) (1995) with Dr. Adrian Tang. With this innovative research work, he received the IEEE NOMS ’96 Best Paper Award and became the first recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award of the TeleManagement Forum in 1998. His research areas include Natural Language Processing-focused AI, AI-applied cybersecurity, network and telecom service management, and Korean studies on Gani Choi Rip’s Jeonggwan (靜觀: Quiet Contemplation) philosophy and Shilhak ( 實學: Practical Learning).

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a technology of the future—it has become part of our daily lives. Students use it to complete assignments, businesses rely on it to improve productivity, and researchers employ it to accelerate scientific discovery. As AI capabilities continue to expand, many have predicted that human expertise will gradually lose its value. Yet recent evidence suggests the opposite: in the age of AI, human expertise has become more valuable than ever.

A recent study by Anthropic provides compelling evidence. Analyzing approximately 400,000 real-world coding sessions using Claude Code, the researchers found that the most successful users were not necessarily those with the greatest knowledge of AI itself. Rather, they were individuals with deep expertise in their own domains. These users clearly defined problems, specified detailed requirements, critically evaluated AI-generated outputs, and continuously refined their prompts until they achieved their goals (Hitzig et al., 2026).

This finding offers an important lesson. In the AI era, competitive advantage depends less on how much information one possesses than on the ability to ask thoughtful, precise, and meaningful questions.

Today, information is abundant. AI systems can generate thousands of answers within seconds. Ironically, the easier it becomes to obtain answers, the more valuable good questions become. A vague prompt inevitably produces a vague response. A carefully designed prompt, however, often leads to remarkably insightful and practical results.

As a university professor, I observe this phenomenon regularly while supervising student projects. Although every student has access to the same AI tools, the quality of their outcomes varies significantly. Some students accept the first response they receive, while others refine their questions repeatedly, challenge the AI’s assumptions, request alternative perspectives, and verify the accuracy of the information before reaching a conclusion. The latter group consistently produces more thoughtful, creative, and reliable work.

South Korea enters the AI era with significant advantages. It possesses one of the world’s most advanced digital infrastructures, a highly educated population, and a culture that values learning. These strengths provide an excellent foundation for AI-driven innovation. Nevertheless, education must evolve. Memorizing correct answers is no longer sufficient. Students should learn to identify meaningful problems, formulate effective questions, evaluate AI-generated information critically, and integrate diverse perspectives into sound judgments.

This transformation is particularly important for overseas Koreans. In today’s global knowledge economy, success belongs not merely to those who know the most, but to those who can define new problems, connect ideas across disciplines, and collaborate effectively with intelligent machines. AI can reduce language barriers and democratize access to knowledge, but curiosity, creativity, ethical judgment, and critical thinking remain uniquely human strengths.

Traditional Korean wisdom teaches that learning is a lifelong journey. That wisdom has never been more relevant. In the AI era, lifelong learning means more than accumulating knowledge; it means continuously developing the ability to think critically, adapt quickly, and ask increasingly better questions.

AI is not replacing human intelligence; it is amplifying it. Just as telescopes expanded human vision and microscopes revealed invisible worlds, AI extends the reach of human thinking. Yet every powerful tool depends on the wisdom of its user. AI can generate countless possibilities, but only human beings can determine which possibilities truly matter.

South Korea successfully led the world through industrialization and the digital revolution. The next challenge is to become a global leader in the age of artificial intelligence—not simply by developing better AI systems, but by cultivating people who can use AI wisely, ethically, and creatively.

Ultimately, the winners of the AI era will not be those who possess the most powerful artificial intelligence. They will be those who ask the best questions.

Reference

Hitzig, Z., Massenkoff, M., Lyubich, E., Heller, R., & McCrory, P. (2026, June 16). Agentic Coding and Persistent Returns to Expertise. Anthropic. https://www.anthropic.com/research/claude-code-expertise

Read in pdf

{Solti}

July 1, 2026

AI 시대, 한국인의 경쟁력은 ‘질문하는 능력’이다

질문의 힘

인공지능(AI)은 이제 더 이상 미래의 기술이 아니다. 학교에서는 과제를 돕고, 기업에서는 업무를 자동화하며, 연구실에서는 새로운 발견을 가속화하고 있다. 많은 사람들은 AI가 발전할수록 인간의 전문성은 점차 중요하지 않게 될 것이라고 예상했다. 그러나 최근의 연구 결과는 오히려 그 반대의 사실을 보여 준다. AI 시대일수록 인간의 전문성과 사고력은 더욱 중요한 자산이 되고 있다.

AI 기업들이 실제 사용자들의 작업 과정을 분석한 연구에 따르면, AI를 가장 효과적으로 활용하는 사람들은 단순히 AI 사용법을 많이 아는 사람들이 아니었다. 오히려 자신이 속한 분야를 깊이 이해하고 있는 전문가들이었다. 그들은 AI에게 단순한 명령을 내리지 않았다. 문제를 명확하게 정의하고, 필요한 조건을 제시하며, 결과를 끊임없이 검증하고 수정해 더 나은 해결책을 만들어 갔다. (참고문헌 참조: (Hitzig et al., 2026))

이 연구는 우리에게 중요한 교훈을 준다. AI 시대의 경쟁력은 ‘얼마나 많은 정보를 알고 있는가’보다 ‘얼마나 좋은 질문을 할 수 있는가’에 달려 있다는 것이다.

오늘날 인터넷에는 방대한 정보가 넘쳐난다. AI 역시 수많은 답을 몇 초 만에 만들어 낸다. 그러나 답이 많아질수록 오히려 질문의 중요성은 더욱 커진다. 질문이 모호하면 AI 역시 모호한 답을 내놓는다. 반대로 질문이 구체적이고 논리적일수록 AI는 놀라울 만큼 수준 높은 결과를 제공한다.

필자는 대학에서 학생들에게 AI를 활용한 프로젝트를 지도하면서 비슷한 현상을 자주 경험한다. 같은 AI를 사용하더라도 결과는 학생마다 크게 달라진다. 어떤 학생은 한 번의 질문으로 만족하지만, 다른 학생은 다섯 번, 열 번 질문을 다듬으며 결과를 발전시킨다. 후자의 학생들은 AI를 단순한 답변 생성기가 아니라 함께 사고하는 협력자로 활용한다.

한국은 세계 최고 수준의 디지털 인프라와 높은 교육열을 갖춘 나라이다. 이러한 강점은 AI 시대에도 큰 경쟁력이 될 수 있다. 그러나 이제는 교육의 방향도 조금 달라질 필요가 있다. 암기와 정답 중심의 교육에서 벗어나 문제를 발견하고, 질문을 설계하며, 다양한 관점을 비교하고, AI의 결과를 비판적으로 검토하는 능력을 길러야 한다.

특히 해외에서 활동하는 한국인들에게 이러한 변화는 더욱 중요한 의미를 가진다. 글로벌 사회에서는 정답을 외우는 사람보다 새로운 문제를 정의하는 사람이 더 높은 가치를 인정받는다. AI는 언어의 장벽을 낮추고 정보 접근의 격차를 줄여 주지만, 창의적인 질문과 통합적인 사고력은 여전히 인간만이 발휘할 수 있는 경쟁력이다.

우리 선조들은 오래전부터 “배움에는 끝이 없다”고 말했다. AI 시대에도 이 정신은 변하지 않는다. 다만 배움의 방식이 달라질 뿐이다. 이제는 지식을 많이 저장하는 사람이 아니라, 지식을 연결하고 새로운 질문을 만들어 내는 사람이 미래를 이끌게 될 것이다.

AI는 인간을 대신하는 존재가 아니라 인간의 가능성을 확장하는 도구이다. 망원경이 인간의 시야를 넓혀 주고 현미경이 보이지 않던 세계를 보여 주었듯이, AI는 우리의 사고를 더욱 멀리, 더욱 깊이 확장시켜 준다. 그러나 그 도구를 어떤 방향으로 사용할지는 결국 인간의 몫이다.

대한민국은 산업화와 정보화를 세계적인 성공 사례로 만들어 낸 나라이다. 이제 AI 시대에도 세계를 선도하기 위해서는 기술 자체보다 그것을 활용하는 인간의 역량에 더욱 집중해야 한다. 질문하는 능력, 비판적으로 사고하는 능력, 그리고 AI와 협력하여 새로운 가치를 창조하는 능력이야말로 한국 사회가 다음 세대를 위해 길러야 할 가장 중요한 자산이다.

AI 시대의 승자는 가장 뛰어난 인공지능을 가진 나라가 아니라, 가장 뛰어난 질문을 던질 수 있는 사람들을 가장 많이 길러 낸 나라가 될 것이다. 그 미래를 만들어 가는 주인공이 바로 우리 자신이기를 기대한다. +++

참고문헌

Hitzig, Z., Massenkoff, M., Lyubich, E., Heller, R., & McCrory, P. (2026, June 16). Agentic Coding and Persistent Returns to Expertise. Anthropic. https://www.anthropic.com/research/claude-code-expertise

Read in pdf

{솔티}

2026년 7월 1일

Prof. Dr. Young Choi (Editor in Chief) — Regent University

Young B. Choi is a Professor in the Department of Engineering & Computer Science at Regent University. He published 38 books with ‘Selected Readings in Cybersecurity’ (2018) (over 800 copies archived globally at university/college libraries around the world) and ‘Cybersecurity Applications and Artificial Intelligence’ (2023) available in seven major world languages. He proposed the world’s first global and universal telecommunications “Service Order Handling (SOH)” Model (T-SOH Model) (1995) with Dr. Adrian Tang. With this innovative research work, he received the IEEE NOMS ’96 Best Paper Award and became the first recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award of the TeleManagement Forum in 1998. His research areas include Natural Language Processing-focused AI, AI-applied cybersecurity, network and telecom service management, and Korean studies on Gani Choi Rip’s Jeonggwan (靜觀: Quiet Contemplation) philosophy and Shilhak ( 實學: Practical Learning).

Okcheon-eup is best known as the hometown of former First Lady Yuk Young-soo (1925-1974), but in literary circles it is equally celebrated as the birthplace of the lyric poet Jeong Ji-yong (정지용, 鄭芝溶, 1902-1950). Yuk Young-soo was born in Gyodong-ri, while Jeong Ji-yong was born in Hagye-ri. The old town center is home to Jeong Ji-yong’s Birthplace and the Jeong Ji-yong Literary Museum, both of which commemorate the area’s rich cultural and literary heritage.

Jeong married Song Jae-suk (1902-1971) and attended Okcheon Public Elementary School before enrolling at Hwimun High School in Seoul. There he helped publish the student literary magazine Yoram with fellow poet Park Pal-yang and participated in the Literary Friends Society. During the March First Movement in 1919, he joined fellow students in organizing an anti-Japanese demonstration that called for shortened class hours, an act that led to his suspension before it was overturned through the efforts of prominent literary figures.

In 1923, Jeong entered the English Department at Doshisha University (同志社大学) in Kyoto. While studying in Japan, he published dozens of poems, including “Café France,” in the Korean students’ magazine Hakjo (Academic Tide) and other literary journals. He converted to Roman Catholicism in 1928, taking the baptismal name Francis, and completed a graduation thesis entitled The Imagination in the Poetry of William Blake.

After graduating in 1929, Jeong returned to Korea and taught English at Hwimun High School, his alma mater, until Korea’s liberation in 1945. He became a founding member of the influential literary journal Simunhak (Poetic Literature) in 1930 and, as editorial adviser to Catholic Youth, helped introduce the poetry of Yi Sang to a wider audience. In 1933, he joined the modernist literary circle Guinhoe (The Group of Nine), participating in public lectures and the publication of the journal Poetry and Fiction.

Following Korea’s liberation, Jeong resigned from Hwimun High School and joined the faculty of Ewha Womans University, then known as Ewha Womans Professional School. When the institution became Ewha Womans University in 1946, he continued as a professor before resigning in 1948 and retiring to a modest home in Nokbeon-ri (now Nokbeon-dong, Seoul).

During the Korean War, Jeong Ji-yong disappeared without a trace. Because the circumstances of his disappearance and death remained uncertain, the South Korean government classified him as a writer who had gone to North Korea, banned his works, and discouraged even scholarly research on his poetry. For many years, his name was partially censored in print as “Jeong X-yong,” and his poems were effectively taboo.

The ban was finally lifted in 1988, more than three decades later, allowing his work to be rediscovered and restored to the Korean literary canon. His best-known poem, “Nostalgia” (鄕愁, Hyangsu), is now included in Korean language textbooks. The Ji-yong Poetry Prize was established in 1989, with Park Du-jin receiving the inaugural award. A Jeong Ji-yong Memorial Project was launched in 1995, followed by the reconstruction of his birthplace in 1996. Commemorations marking the centennial of his birth were held in 2002, and in 2005 a memorial stone honoring him was erected at Doshisha University in Kyoto.

I visited the Jeong Ji-yong site with the guidance of Dr. Hyo-sik Hwang, a close friend since our Ph.D. days in Lincoln, Nebraska, in the 1990s and now professor emeritus of English at Chungbuk National University. At his invitation, I served as a guest lecturer in the university’s English Department several times. After giving a lecture there in 2012, we drove to Jeong’s birthplace before visiting the birthplace of Yuk Young-soo. The area was quiet and peaceful, making me feel as though I had returned to my own childhood village. Jeong’s birthplace and the artifacts associated with his life were well preserved, and because the site was not crowded, the visit was especially enjoyable.

Below is Jeong Ji-yong’s lyric poem “Nostalgia,” composed in 1923 while he was a student in Japan and first published in the March 1927 issue of the socialist-oriented literary magazine Joseon Jigwang (조선지광, 朝鮮之光). It is presented in both modern Korean and my English translation. The original Korean text contains several archaic characters.

鄕愁
​

넓은 벌 동쪽 끝으로

옛이야기 지줄대는 실개천이 휘돌아 나가고,

얼룩백이 황소가

해설피 금빛 게으른 울음을 우는 곳,

―그곳이 차마 꿈엔들 잊힐리야.

​

질화로에 재가 식어지면

뷔인 밭에 밤바람 소리 말을 달리고,

엷은 졸음에 겨운 늙으신 아버지가

짚벼개를 돋아 고이시는 곳,

―그곳이 차마 꿈엔들 잊힐리야.

​

흙에서 자란 내 마음

파아란 하늘 빛이 그리워

함부로 쏜 화살을 찾으려

풀섶 이슬에 함추름 휘적시던 곳,

―그곳이 차마 꿈엔들 잊힐리야.

​

전설바다에 춤추는 밤물결 같은

검은 귀밑머리 날리는 어린 누이와

아무렇지도 않고 예쁠 것도 없는

사철 발벗은 아내가

따가운 햇살을 등에 지고 이삭 줍던 곳,

―그곳이 차마 꿈엔들 잊힐리야.

​

하늘에는 석근 별

알 수도 없는 모래성으로 발을 옮기고,

서리 까마귀 우지 짖고 지나가는

초라한 지붕,

흐릿한 불빛에 돌아앉아 도란도란 거리는 곳,

―그곳이 차마 꿈엔들 잊힐리야.

Nostalgia

At the eastern edge of the wide plain,
a murmuring brook, rich with old stories, winds its way,
where a brindled white ox
lets out a slow, golden cry at dusk—

How could I ever forget that place, even in my dreams?

When the embers fade in the earthen brazier,
the night wind gallops across the empty fields,
and my aged father, heavy with gentle drowsiness,
adjusts his straw pillow before lying down—

How could I ever forget that place, even in my dreams?

My heart, grown from the earth,
longed for the azure sky;
there I searched for arrows I had carelessly shot,
brushing through dew-soaked grasses—

How could I ever forget that place, even in my dreams?

There my young sister,
her black hair dancing like the night waves
upon a sea of legends,
and my barefoot wife,
who was neither ordinary nor pretty,
gleaned fallen ears of grain
beneath the burning sun—

How could I ever forget that place, even in my dreams?

Above, a sky scattered with countless stars;
below, my feet wandered toward unknowable sandcastles.
Frost crows cried as they passed
over a humble roof,
where people gathered around a dim lamp,
chatting softly—

How could I ever forget that place, even in my dreams?

Jeong Ji-yong’s “Nostalgia” shares affinities with the lyric poetry of Shin Seok-jeong (신석정, 辛夕汀, 1907-1974), particularly in its focus on memory, rural landscapes, and emotional reflection within the broader context of 1920s-1930s Korean lyric poetry. At the same time, while both poets wrote during a period of literary experimentation and the rise of left-wing literature, Jeong’s work is marked by a more modernist precision in imagery and structure, whereas Shin’s poetry tends to be more direct, pastoral, and emotionally transparent.

Okcheon-eup is the administrative seat of Okcheon County, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea. It is one of the few eup (towns) in the country where more than half of the county’s population resides. Located in the northwestern part of the Okcheon Basin, Okcheon-eup serves as the county’s administrative and transportation center. Composite image based on map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

A sign indicates that we have arrived at Jeong Ji-yong’s birth home.

In front of his house, a stone bears the inscribed text of Jeong Ji-yong’s poem “Nostalgia.”

A stone marker indicates the site where poet Jeong Ji-yong’s birth home once stood. The present house is a reconstruction of the original structure.

This marker, erected by the Ji-yong Society in 1988, states: “The poet Jeong Ji-yong, author of the renowned poem ‘Nostalgia,’ was born on May 15, 1902 (lunar calendar), at this site by the ‘brook.’ The original house was demolished in 1974 and later replaced with a new house.”

An interpretive sign provides a brief account of Jeong Ji-yong’s life and legacy in Korean, English, and Japanese. It notes that the poet was born in this house and spent a dream-filled childhood here, leading to the restoration of his birthplace to its original appearance. Possessing both a gifted poetic sensibility and a modest character, he went on to publish a series of celebrated poems, including “Nostalgia” and “Baekrokdam” (Baekrok Crater). In March 1988, the Ji-yong Society was founded, and on May 15 of that year the first Ji-yong Festival was held. Since then, the festival has been celebrated annually in Okcheon as both a county-wide event and a nationally recognized literary festival, contributing to the continued appreciation and growing global reach of his poetry.

Jeong Ji-yong’s childhood home was reconstructed on its original site in 1996. A typical traditional rural dwelling in Korea, it consists of a thatched-roof house with a dirt courtyard enclosed by a clay-and-stone wall.

A clay-and-stone wall, topped with thatch, marks the boundary of the house.

A traditional kitchen in a rural house, this space is furnished with woks, low sitting tables, and materials such as wood and straw. Wood and straw were used both for cooking and for heating the ondol floor system.

A statue of the poet stands before the Jeong Ji-yong Literary Museum.

Framed versions of some of Jeong’s best-known poems are displayed on the museum walls.

The museum outlines the development of modern Korean poetry and Jeong Ji-yong’s literary significance, noting that he “played a decisive role in the maturation of modern Korean poetry by reworking the long tradition of landscape poetry into a distinctive modern poetic language.”

The exhibit panel highlights two representative poems and outlines key aspects of Jeong’s life and literary activity. Jeong Ji-yong was a member of Poetic Literature (시문학, 詩文學, Simunhak) and the League of Nine (구인회, 九人會, Guinhoe), both of which advocated pure literature and opposed proletarian literary movements. As a co-founder of the literary magazine Literature (문장, 文章, Munjang), he also mentored emerging writers. In 1928, he converted to Catholicism.

Inside the museum, a lifelike figure of Jeong Ji-yong sits on a wooden bench.

Having left my country of birth nearly forty years ago, I find it especially meaningful to visit cultural sites in Korea. Like Japan and China, South Korea is committed to preserving its literary and artistic heritage, and visiting such places evokes a sense of pride in the country I once left. During my first semester as a graduate student in Kansas, the 1988 Olympic Games were held in Seoul. At that time, Korea was regarded as a country with great potential, yet some academics, journalists, and other professionals who had the opportunity chose to leave in search of better prospects abroad—not only in the United States and Canada but also in Latin America. One prominent journalist, for example, emigrated to Argentina in the mid-1980s. It is remarkable to consider that, in less than four decades, South Korea has become one of the world’s leading nations in terms of its political influence, economic strength, and military capability.

About the Author

Professor of English and Creative Writing and Associate Dean of the School of Humanities and Theology, Missouri Baptist University

John J. Han, PhD, is the author, editor, co-editor, or translator of 35 books. His forthcoming book, Echoes from the Hills: Critical Essays on Ozarks Literature (co-edited with C. Clark Triplett), will be published by the University of Arkansas Press. He has also published nearly 3,000 poems in a wide range of journals and anthologies. In addition to his long tenure at Missouri Baptist University, he has taught at Kansas State University, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Nebraska Wesleyan University, and Washington University in St. Louis. He has also served as a visiting scholar at Georgia College & State University and the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia.

© K-Global Scholars and Professionals Forum. All rights reserved. Content published in the K-GSP Forum may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the K-GSP Forum, except for brief quotations with full attribution.

Lee, Chang-rae. Native Speaker. Riverhead Books, 1995. ISBN 978-1-57322-531-1. 349 pages, $16.00.

Chang-rae Lee is a Korean American novelist who serves as the Ward W. and Priscilla B. Woods Professor of English at Stanford University. He is the author of six novels to date, including Native Speaker (1995), A Gesture Life (1999), Aloft (2004), The Surrendered (2010), Such a Full Sea (2014), and My Year Abroad (2021). His forthcoming novel, A Tender Age, is scheduled for publication on August 11, 2026. Throughout his career, Lee has received numerous honors, including the PEN/Hemingway Award, the American Book Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the Gustavus Myers Outstanding Book Award, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. The Surrendered was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and in 2021 Lee received an Award of Merit from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Lee is widely regarded as one of the most influential Korean American writers of his generation, particularly for his exploration of race, class, immigration, and cultural identity in the United States. Critics have praised his work for its stylistic elegance and psychological depth, describing him as a “spellbinder” and a “master craftsman” (Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau). His characters are rendered with remarkable complexity and nuance, while his portrayals of both first- and second-generation immigrants reveal a profound understanding of displacement, belonging, and cultural alienation. The relationship between language and identity occupies a central place throughout his fiction. Through language, Lee examines the psychological consequences of living between cultures, the burden of inherited silence, and the complexities of racial and national identity in contemporary America.

In Lee’s fiction, language functions not merely as a means of communication but also as a marker of social status, cultural belonging, and personal identity. His novels repeatedly demonstrate how linguistic fluency and accent shape an immigrant’s experience of acceptance or exclusion within American society. This concern with language, assimilation, and the persistent influence of racial hierarchies provides an essential framework for understanding Native Speaker, a novel that offers one of the most incisive examinations of immigrant identity in contemporary American literature.

Native Speaker, Lee’s debut novel, is a landmark work of Asian American literature. It explores the psychological consequences of living between cultures, the burden of inherited silence, and the complexities of racial and national identity in contemporary America. Through the deeply personal story of its protagonist, Henry Park, Lee crafts a broader meditation on the immigrant experience and the universal search for belonging. Although Henry is fully fluent in English, his linguistic mastery does not guarantee acceptance. As a Korean American, he continues to experience the persistent sense of being an outsider, revealing that cultural fluency alone cannot overcome the barriers of race, identity, and social perception.

One of the most innovative aspects of Native Speaker is the way it uses espionage as a metaphor for the immigrant experience and the politics of language. Henry Park works as a spy for a private intelligence firm that gathers information on individuals and organizations. His occupation is far more than a conventional plot device; it serves as a powerful means of exploring assimilation and the complex identities immigrants often assume in American society. Henry spends his life observing others, adapting to different situations, concealing aspects of himself, and adopting multiple identities depending on his surroundings. As the son of Korean immigrants and the husband of a white American woman, Lelia, he inhabits two cultural worlds without ever feeling fully accepted by either. His divided existence results in persistent failures of communication as he struggles to define himself through his work, his marriage, and his relationship with the Korean American community.

Lee’s adaptation of espionage conventions to explore immigrant identity is both original and compelling. Henry’s work requires disguise, surveillance, code-switching, and continual role-playing—activities that closely parallel the experiences of many immigrants and racial minorities as they navigate different cultural and social environments. Rather than simply reflecting Henry’s fractured identity, his role as a spy intensifies it. He already finds it difficult to express himself honestly to those closest to him—his wife, his son, and even his father—and his work demands an additional layer of secrecy and emotional concealment. The result is a life in which authentic communication becomes increasingly elusive.

Henry’s “multivalent” existence creates a situation in which the different personas he presents to others generate profound contradictions within his relationships. Consequently, it becomes nearly impossible for others to understand who he truly is. This ambiguity is especially painful for Lelia. She leaves him a list of accusatory labels, including “illegal alien,” “Yellowperil,” “poppa’\’s boy,” and “stranger,” among others (5). Later, Henry discovers another scrap of paper bearing the phrase “[f]alse speaker of language,” a deceptively simple description that captures one of the novel’s central concerns (6). The phrase suggests not only his emotional inability to speak honestly but also the larger predicament of immigrants who possess linguistic fluency yet remain perceived as outsiders. In Lee’s novel, language becomes both a means of communication and a marker of belonging, exposing the gap between speaking English fluently and being fully accepted as an American.

Lelia coins another term for Henry—“Henryspeak”—particularly when she tries to get him to talk about his work. The label captures his tendency to be evasive, using language to conceal the truth about his profession. Ironically, Lelia is a speech therapist who works for a relief agency serving immigrants who simply want someone to talk to. Within that community, she is known as the “English lady.” The contrast between Henry’s guarded use of language and Lelia’s vocation reinforces one of the novel’s central themes: language is a primary means through which identity is expressed and negotiated. Although language itself is neither moral nor immoral, it can be manipulated and exploited by its users, often in the name of survival.

Through Henry’s early experiences, Lee shows that certain patterns of speech and an enduring awareness of cultural difference can never be entirely unlearned, despite Henry’s determined efforts to assimilate. English, in this reading, is not a culturally neutral language but one whose structures reinforce the social dominance of whiteness while marginalizing those perceived as outsiders. Henry’s fluency in English therefore does not erase his status as an outsider; instead, it continually exposes the limits of assimilation in a society that measures belonging through linguistic and cultural norms.

Native Speaker is a complex novel because it functions simultaneously as a political novel, a meditation on language, and a spy story. At the same time, it is a family drama in which the relationships between generations are essential to understanding the identity struggles of immigrants. Lee also complicates common assumptions about a monolithic immigrant culture through Henry’s family. Early in the novel, immediately after his wife leaves him with her list of grievances, Henry reflects that his father would have approved of his silence about his profession because of an unwavering belief in family loyalty: “For him, all of life was a rigid matter of family. I know all about that fine and terrible ordering, how it variously casts you as the golden child, the slave-son or daughter, the venerable father, the long-dead god” (6-7). Henry recognizes both the appeal and the burden of this rigid hierarchy. Such clearly defined familial roles provide stability and a secure sense of identity, but they also demand conformity and suppress individuality. This inherited system becomes increasingly untenable for a man married to a white American woman, employed as a spy whose livelihood depends on concealment and shifting identities, and attempting to navigate assimilation into a culture that often regards him as an outsider. It is therefore unsurprising that, after his wife’s persistent questioning, Henry arrives at the unsettling conclusion: “The truth is, finally, who can tell it” (7). The statement captures not only his personal evasiveness but also the novel’s broader argument that identity, language, and belonging resist simple or definitive explanations.

As suggested earlier, Henry’s profession as a spy serves as a particularly effective metaphor for the impossible balancing act faced by many immigrants. He inhabits a kind of no-man’s-land, existing between two cultural worlds without fully belonging to either. He is neither wholly Korean nor wholly American. While his father’s generation remains firmly rooted in Korean traditions, second-generation immigrants occupy a far more ambiguous space.

As Henry is pulled in opposing directions in his search for belonging, his fractured existence exacts a profound psychological toll. His identity becomes increasingly divided as he is forced to negotiate multiple selves simultaneously. Struggling to remain loyal to his family while seeking acceptance within American society, he ultimately calls into question the very notion of assimilation as an immigrant’s highest aspiration. Henry’s journey is therefore less about becoming American than about reconciling the competing identities that define him.

So, Henry’s profession requires him to maintain a precarious existence between the world of his Korean parents and that of his American family. Yet he gradually discovers that the habits of concealment required by his work make genuine intimacy with his wife, Lelia, impossible. Although many first-generation Korean immigrants seek stability through clearly defined and enduring family roles, Henry finds these expectations too rigid to sustain healthy relationships with either Lelia or his son, Mitt. He comes to realize that his new family requires far more nuanced, emotionally responsive, and flexible forms of love than simply fulfilling the role of the dutiful “golden child” or “slave-son” (7). In this way, Native Speaker challenges stereotypes of immigrant families by showing that even the most traditional households are marked by complexity, contradiction, and emotional uncertainty. Henry’s memories of the “fine and terrible order” imposed by his parents collide with the expectations of his American family, leaving him with competing models of what family should be. Caught between these conflicting visions, he finds it increasingly difficult to establish a coherent sense of identity and belonging.

A key component of the novel is Henry’s assignment to spy on John Kwang, a city councilman running for mayor who hopes to mobilize support within New York’s Korean American community. Kwang is one of the novel’s most compelling characters, ambitious, charismatic, and unapologetically ethnic. Unlike Henry, he refuses to diminish his Korean identity in order to conform to mainstream American culture. Henry describes Kwang’s speech as beautiful and formal, while his commanding presence seems to embody the promise of a more inclusive political future.

Kwang’s political movement offers a vision of multicultural democracy that challenges conventional assumptions about power, citizenship, and belonging. Yet Lee deliberately resists presenting him as an uncomplicated hero. Kwang’s rise and eventual downfall reveal the precarious position of minority leaders in a society that celebrates diversity in principle while often recoiling from its implications in practice. His trajectory exposes the limits of acceptance and the fragility of success for those who remain visibly outside the cultural mainstream.

Native Speaker demonstrates how quickly someone marked as “Other” can fall under suspicion. Lee shows that language itself can become a weapon against minorities, sometimes wielded even by members of their own communities who are eager to assimilate into the dominant culture. As the novel suggests, the dominant culture does more than construct the Other; it also “dissipates” that identity (Chow 8), rendering it politically and socially invisible. Even those who, like Kwang, have earned public recognition and influence can be silenced and effectively made to disappear.

At first, Henry believes Kwang embodies an authentic multicultural identity. As his investigation progresses, however, he discovers that Kwang’s confidence and popularity are sustained, at least in part, by a carefully cultivated public persona. Henry’s work as a spy requires him to listen for the hidden flaw, the subtle fracture beneath an apparently flawless exterior, and he eventually uncovers the vulnerabilities that threaten Kwang’s political ascent. Despite his eloquence, confidence, and the secure ethnic identity that Henry himself envies, Kwang ultimately proves to have feet of clay. Through Henry’s relationship with Kwang, Lee illustrates that no degree of achievement or apparent perfection can fully overcome the barriers imposed by a society unwilling to regard immigrants and their descendants as true “native speakers.” At the same time, Henry’s investigation gradually becomes an inward journey, forcing him to confront his own fractured identity and redefining his understanding of belonging.

Ultimately, Native Speaker resists the comforting narrative that assimilation inevitably produces acceptance or belonging. Instead, Chang-rae Lee demonstrates that identity is not something immigrants simply acquire by mastering English, achieving professional success, or embracing American customs. Henry Park’s journey reveals that the deepest divisions are often internal rather than external. His struggle is not merely to reconcile Korean and American identities but to recover an authentic voice after years of emotional concealment and self-surveillance. By the novel’s conclusion, Lee suggests that belonging cannot be achieved through performance or imitation. It emerges only through vulnerability, honest communication, and the difficult willingness to acknowledge the many selves that coexist within a single individual.

What makes Native Speaker especially remarkable is the sophistication with which Lee intertwines the conventions of the espionage novel with profound questions of race, language, family, and cultural identity. Henry’s work as a spy becomes an enduring metaphor for the emotional labor demanded of many immigrants, who often find themselves translating, adapting, and performing different versions of themselves depending on the expectations of those around them. Lee refuses to reduce this experience to either triumph or tragedy. Instead, he presents identity as fluid, unstable, and continually negotiated, shaped as much by private memory and family history as by the social pressures of contemporary America. The novel’s psychological depth and stylistic precision elevate it beyond a story of one Korean American family, transforming it into a meditation on the universal human desire to be recognized, understood, and accepted without sacrificing one’s essential self.

More than thirty years after its publication, Native Speaker remains one of the defining works of contemporary American fiction. Its exploration of immigration, multiculturalism, racial identity, and the politics of language has only grown more relevant in an increasingly diverse yet deeply divided society. Lee’s nuanced portrayal of cultural hybridity challenges simplistic notions of assimilation while exposing the emotional costs of living between worlds. Rather than offering easy resolutions, he leaves readers with difficult but enduring questions about who has the authority to define what it means to be a “native speaker” and who is permitted to belong. In doing so, Lee created not only a landmark of Asian American literature but also one of the most insightful novels about identity, language, and the complexities of modern American life.

Works Cited

Chow, Ryan. “Hiding and Speaking in Chang-rae Lee’s Native Speaker.” eScholarship, 2023, https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0zr425mz. Accessed 29 June 2026.

Lee, Chang-rae. Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau, https://prhspeakers.com/speaker/chang-rae-lee. Accessed 29 June 2026.

About the Author

C. Clark Triplett is Emeritus Dean of Graduate Studies and Professor of Psychology at Missouri Baptist University. He served as co-editor of The Final Crossing: Death and Dying in Literature (Peter Lang, 2015), a co-editor of Worlds Gone Awry: Essays on Dystopian Fiction (McFarland, 2018), a co-editor of Certainty and Ambiguity in Global Mystery Fiction: Essays on the Moral Imagination (Bloomsbury Academic, 2024), and co-editor of Echoes from the Hills: Critical Essays on Ozarks Literature (forthcoming, University of Arkansas Press). Triplett’s poems have appeared in Cantos, Fireflies’ Light, and the Asahi Haikuist Network. He earned a BA from Southwest Baptist University, an MDiv from Covenant Theological Seminary, an MSEd from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, and a PhD from Saint Louis University.

© K-Global Scholars and Professionals Forum. All rights reserved. Content published in the K-GSP Forum may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the K-GSP Forum, except for brief quotations with full attribution.

A postage stamp is only a tiny piece of paper, yet it can hold the history of a nation, the richness of a culture, and the memories of a lifetime.

Today, I visited my local post office to purchase the commemorative stamps celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence. As I carefully held the newly issued stamps in my hands, I found myself traveling back in time to my childhood in South Korea.

I began collecting stamps when I was in elementary school. Even today, I still treasure the stamp albums I carefully assembled all those years ago.

In today’s world, handwritten letters have become increasingly rare. Smartphones, email, and instant messaging have replaced much of traditional mail, and fewer people use postage stamps than ever before. Yet the value of stamps has never diminished. In fact, in this digital age, these small pieces of paper have become even more precious because they are tangible windows into history.

When I was young, I collected stamps simply because they were beautiful. Trading stamps with friends was exciting, and every new addition to my collection brought great joy. As the years passed, however, I realized that stamps were much more than colorful collectibles—they became my first textbooks about the world.

Each stamp told a story. Some featured great national leaders, while others displayed magnificent palaces, ancient castles, breathtaking landscapes, or rare plants and animals. There were stamps commemorating the Olympic Games, the FIFA World Cup, space exploration, historic events, scientific achievements, and masterpieces of art. Through these tiny works of art, I learned countless fascinating facts that extended far beyond what was taught in school.

Foreign stamps were especially captivating. Whenever I discovered one from another country, I found myself asking, “What is this country like?” or “Why is this person important enough to appear on a stamp?” Those simple questions inspired me to open atlases, read history books, and explore encyclopedias. A single postage stamp often became the beginning of an exciting journey of discovery.

The commemorative stamps celebrating America’s 250th anniversary evoke the same sense of wonder. They are not merely souvenirs; they symbolize 250 years of American history, freedom, democracy, perseverance, and hope for the future. Looking at them, I felt the same excitement I experienced as a child when I held my very first stamp.

When I returned home, I opened my old stamp albums once again. Although time had left its marks on the pages, every stamp still preserved vivid memories of my childhood—my dreams, the friendships I cherished, and the endless curiosity that encouraged me to learn about the world. Those albums had quietly become time capsules of my life.

Today, artificial intelligence can answer our questions within seconds. Yet stamps teach us in a very different way. Instead of providing immediate answers, they awaken curiosity. That curiosity encourages us to read another book, study another map, and appreciate another culture. In that sense, stamp collecting is far more than a hobby—it is one of the quietest and most rewarding journeys around the world.

If you happen to have an old stamp album tucked away in a closet or on a bookshelf, I encourage you to take it out and open it again. You may rediscover not only forgotten childhood memories but also the joy of learning and the excitement of exploring the world.

A postage stamp may be no larger than the palm of your hand, yet it can carry the history of a nation, the spirit of an era, and the story of a person’s life. That is why I still look forward to visiting the post office whenever a new commemorative stamp is released. Collecting stamps is not simply about gathering pieces of paper—it is about collecting the world, one stamp at a time. +++

*** The commemorative stamps celebrating the 250th Anniversary of American Independence and related collectibles are available on the official United States Postal Service (USPS) website.

• USPS America 250 Official Page
  https://www.usps.com/usa250/welcome.htm

• “250 Years of Delivering” Commemorative Stamp Purchase Page
  https://store.usps.com/store/product/250-years-of-delivering-stamps-S_487104

• USPS 250th Anniversary History and Celebration
  https://www.usps.com/250/

• A Commemorative Stamp Issuance Celebrating 250 Years of the American Spirit

As part of the America 250 celebration, the USPS has released several commemorative stamp issues throughout 2026. Among the most notable are the “American Icons” series and the “250 Years of Delivering” commemorative stamps, all of which can be viewed and purchased through the official USPS website or local post offices. ***

{Solti}

June 29, 2026

우표 한 장에 담긴 세상

나는 오늘 동네 우체국에서 미국 독립 250주년 기념 우표를 구입했다. 우표를 조심스럽게 바라보는 순간, 오래전 한국에서 초등학생이었던 시절이 떠올랐다. 그때부터 나는 우표를 모으기 시작했고, 시간이 흐른 지금도 당시의 우표 앨범을 소중히 간직하고 있다.

요즘은 편지를 쓰는 일이 드물어졌다. 휴대전화와 이메일이 모든 것을 대신하는 시대가 되면서 우표를 직접 붙여 우편을 보내는 일도 점점 사라지고 있다. 하지만 우표의 가치는 결코 줄어들지 않았다. 오히려 디지털 시대일수록 손으로 만질 수 있는 작은 역사책이 더욱 소중하게 느껴진다.

어린 시절 우표를 수집한 이유는 단순했다. 예쁜 그림이 좋았고, 친구들과 서로 다른 우표를 교환하는 재미가 있었다. 그러나 시간이 지나면서 우표는 나에게 세상을 배우는 교과서가 되었다.

한 장의 우표에는 한 나라를 대표하는 위인들이 등장했다. 어떤 우표에는 웅장한 궁전과 오래된 성이 있었고, 또 다른 우표에는 희귀한 동식물과 아름다운 자연이 담겨 있었다. 올림픽, 월드컵, 우주 탐사, 역사적인 사건, 과학자의 업적, 유명한 예술 작품까지…. 학교에서는 미처 배우지 못했던 이야기들을 우표를 통해 하나씩 알아가는 즐거움은 이루 말할 수 없었다.

특히 외국 우표를 볼 때마다 ‘이 나라는 어떤 곳일까?’, ‘이 사람은 왜 우표의 주인공이 되었을까?’라는 호기심이 생겼다. 자연스럽게 세계 지리를 찾아보고, 역사책을 읽고, 백과사전을 펼쳐 보게 되었다. 작은 우표 한 장이 새로운 공부의 출발점이 된 것이다.

이번에 구입한 미국 독립 250주년 기념 우표도 마찬가지였다. 단순한 기념품이 아니라 미국이 걸어온 250년의 역사와 자유, 민주주의, 그리고 미래에 대한 희망을 상징하는 작은 예술 작품처럼 느껴졌다. 그 우표를 바라보며 어린 시절 처음 우표를 손에 쥐던 설렘이 다시 살아났다.

집으로 돌아와 오래된 우표 앨범을 꺼내 보았다. 세월의 흔적은 남아 있었지만, 한 장 한 장에는 여전히 당시의 기억이 선명하게 살아 있었다. 어린 시절의 꿈, 친구들과의 추억, 새로운 나라를 상상하며 가졌던 호기심까지 모두 그대로 남아 있었다. 우표는 시간을 기록하는 타임캡슐이었던 셈이다.

오늘날 인공지능이 우리의 질문에 즉시 답을 주는 시대가 되었다. 하지만 우표는 조금 다른 방식으로 우리를 가르친다. 정답을 바로 알려주는 대신, 궁금증을 선물한다. 그 궁금증이 책을 펼치게 하고, 지도를 찾아보게 하고, 새로운 문화를 이해하게 만든다. 그래서 우표 수집은 단순한 취미가 아니라 세상을 향한 가장 조용하고도 깊은 여행이다.

혹시 집 어딘가에 오래된 우표 앨범이 잠들어 있다면, 오늘 한번 꺼내 보기를 권하고 싶다. 그 안에는 잊고 지냈던 어린 시절의 추억뿐 아니라, 세계를 향한 호기심과 배움의 기쁨도 함께 기다리고 있을 것이다.

손바닥보다 작은 종이 한 장. 그러나 그 안에는 한 나라의 역사도, 한 시대의 문화도, 그리고 한 사람의 인생도 담길 수 있다. 그래서 나는 지금도 새로운 기념우표가 발행되면 설레는 마음으로 우체국을 찾는다. 우표를 모은다는 것은 종이를 모으는 일이 아니라, 세상을 한 장씩 모으는 일이기 때문이다. +++

{솔티}

2026년 6월 29일

*** 미국 독립 250주년 기념 우표 및 관련 기념품은 미국 우정청(USPS) 공식 웹사이트에서 확인하실 수 있습니다.

• 미국 독립 250주년(USA 250) 공식 USPS 페이지
  USPS 250th Anniversary (USA 250)

• 250 Years of Delivering 기념우표(미국 우정청 250주년 기념 우표) 구매 페이지
  250 Years of Delivering Stamps

• USPS 250주년 기념 행사 및 역사 소개
  USPS 250th Anniversary History & Celebration

• A Commemorative Stamp Issuance Celebrating 250 Years of the American Spirit

참고로, 미국 독립 250주년(America 250)을 기념하여 2026년에는 여러 종류의 기념우표가 순차적으로 발행되고 있습니다. 그중 대표적인 것이 “American Icons” 시리즈와 “250 Years of Delivering” 기념우표이며, 모두 USPS 공식 사이트나 우체국에서 구입하거나 자세한 정보를 확인할 수 있습니다. ***

Prof. Dr. Young Choi (Editor in Chief) — Regent University

Young B. Choi is a Professor in the Department of Engineering & Computer Science at Regent University. He published 38 books with ‘Selected Readings in Cybersecurity’ (2018) (over 800 copies archived globally at university/college libraries around the world) and ‘Cybersecurity Applications and Artificial Intelligence’ (2023) available in seven major world languages. He proposed the world’s first global and universal telecommunications “Service Order Handling (SOH)” Model (T-SOH Model) (1995) with Dr. Adrian Tang. With this innovative research work, he received the IEEE NOMS ’96 Best Paper Award and became the first recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award of the TeleManagement Forum in 1998. His research areas include Natural Language Processing-focused AI, AI-applied cybersecurity, network and telecom service management, and Korean studies on Gani Choi Rip’s Jeonggwan (靜觀: Quiet Contemplation) philosophy and Shilhak ( 實學: Practical Learning).

Fireflies in the Early Summer Garden

The summer garden, lush and bright,
Is graced by fireflies’ dancing light.
Their glowing trails through silent trees
Turn midnight dreams to tranquil seas.

Their crystal gleam, so pure and fair,
Transforms the night to magic rare;
And long before the dawn is due,
Their light still shines in dreams anew.

{Solti}

June 29, 2026

初夏後苑螢火 / 초하후원형화

初夏庭深草色濃 / 초하정심초색농
流螢點點映晴空 / 유형점점영청공
晶光幻跡穿幽樹 / 정광환적천유수
一夜清輝入夢中 / 일야청휘입몽중

초여름 뒷뜰의 반딧불

초여름 깊은 뜰엔 풀빛이 짙어가고,

흐르는 반딧불 점점이 맑은 하늘 비추네.

수정 같은 빛 환상적인 궤적 그윽한 숲을 가르고,

하룻밤의 맑은 빛은 꿈속까지 스며드네.

{솔티}

2026년 6월 29일

Prof. Dr. Young Choi (Editor in Chief) — Regent University

Young B. Choi is a Professor in the Department of Engineering & Computer Science at Regent University. He published 38 books with ‘Selected Readings in Cybersecurity’ (2018) (over 800 copies archived globally at university/college libraries around the world) and ‘Cybersecurity Applications and Artificial Intelligence’ (2023) available in seven major world languages. He proposed the world’s first global and universal telecommunications “Service Order Handling (SOH)” Model (T-SOH Model) (1995) with Dr. Adrian Tang. With this innovative research work, he received the IEEE NOMS ’96 Best Paper Award and became the first recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award of the TeleManagement Forum in 1998. His research areas include Natural Language Processing-focused AI, AI-applied cybersecurity, network and telecom service management, and Korean studies on Gani Choi Rip’s Jeonggwan (靜觀: Quiet Contemplation) philosophy and Shilhak ( 實學: Practical Learning).

As a football fan who has loved the game for more than sixty years, I found the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be far more than a global sporting event—it was a remarkable opportunity to glimpse the future of world football. As I watched the matches and reflected on what I observed, AI-assisted analysis helped me better understand the emerging trends that are reshaping the modern game. In this essay, I explore the ten most significant trends in contemporary football and suggest practical strategies that could help the Republic of Korea develop into a true football powerhouse on the international stage.

Football is no longer a sport where individual talent alone determines victory. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has clearly demonstrated how rapidly the game is evolving. Artificial intelligence (AI), big data, sports science, youth development, and player management have all become decisive factors in national competitiveness.

Korean football can no longer be satisfied with being merely one of Asia’s strongest teams. To become a genuine global powerhouse, it must accurately understand today’s football trends and establish a long-term vision for the future.

The following are ten major trends shaping modern world football and practical ways Korea can embrace them.

1. Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Are Revolutionizing Football

Elite clubs and national teams now collect millions of data points from every match. AI analyzes player movements, predicts opponents’ tactics, recommends substitutions, and even designs set-piece strategies.

At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, AI-supported analytics have become an integral part of coaching and match preparation.

What Korea Should Do

• Establish an AI Football Analytics Center within the Korea Football Association.

• Build a centralized national football database.

• Encourage K League clubs to share standardized performance data for long-term player development.

2. High Pressing Has Become the Global Standard

Today’s elite teams aim to regain possession within five to eight seconds after losing the ball. Modern football is no longer about simply defending—it is about recovering possession as quickly as possible.

This aggressive pressing style has become the hallmark of successful teams in Europe.

What Korea Should Do

• Improve players’ physical conditioning and endurance.

• Develop specialized coaches in pressing tactics.

• Increase the pace and intensity of K League matches.

3. Tactical Intelligence Is Now as Important as Technical Skill

In the past, outstanding dribbling ability often defined great players.

Today, success depends equally on:

• Spatial awareness

• Decision-making

• Positioning

• Passing angles

• Tactical adaptability

Modern AI systems now assist coaches in evaluating these tactical decisions in real time.

What Korea Should Do

Youth academies should incorporate:

• Tactical education

• Video analysis

• Decision-making training

• Match analysis as core components of player development.

4. Sports Science Is Extending Players’ Careers

Leading European clubs continuously monitor:

• Sleep quality

• Nutrition

• GPS tracking

• Heart rate

• Muscle fatigue

• Injury risk

Preventing injuries has become one of the most valuable investments in modern football.

What Korea Should Do

• Expand sports medicine programs.

• Develop individualized fitness monitoring systems.

• Introduce AI-based injury prediction and prevention technologies.

5. Youth Development Determines National Competitiveness

The world’s strongest football nations invest in players from the age of eight or younger. Rather than emphasizing short-term victories, they prioritize long-term growth and technical development.

What Korea Should Do

Youth football should focus on:

• Creativity instead of winning at all costs.

• Technical mastery.

• Multi-position experience.

• Long-term player development pathways.

6. Global Talent Identification Is Becoming Essential

Many successful football nations actively recruit dual-nationality players and members of their overseas diaspora. Advanced scouting technologies and AI-powered databases make identifying global talent faster and more effective than ever before.

What Korea Should Do

• Build a worldwide database of Korean heritage players.

• Expand international scouting networks.

• Strengthen partnerships with overseas youth academies.

7. Women’s Football Is Growing at an Unprecedented Pace

Women’s football has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in global sports. FIFA and many national federations continue to increase investment in player development, professional leagues, and athlete health.

What Korea Should Do

• Strengthen the WK League.

• Expand girls’ youth football programs.

• Develop more female coaches and technical staff.

8. Refereeing Is Becoming Increasingly Technology-Driven

Modern football now utilizes:

• Semi-automated offside technology

• Smart match balls

• AI-assisted officiating

• Three-dimensional player tracking

Technology has significantly improved the accuracy and fairness of refereeing.

What Korea Should Do

• Increase technological investment in the K League.

• Enhance referee education and certification.

• Expand data-driven officiating systems.

9. Strong Professional Clubs Build Strong National Teams

Spain, Germany, France, and England all demonstrate one important lesson:

A successful national team is built upon a strong domestic professional league.

National team success is the result—not the starting point—of a healthy football ecosystem.

What Korea Should Do

• Improve the overall competitiveness of the K League.

• Strengthen the pathway from youth academies to professional clubs.

• Enhance the financial sustainability of professional football.

10. Football Has Become a Global Industry

Football today extends far beyond the pitch.

It has become closely connected with:

• Digital content

• Tourism

• Broadcasting

• Data analytics

• Artificial intelligence

• Global entertainment

Modern football is one of the world’s largest cultural and economic industries.

What Korea Should Do

• Expand the international marketing of the K League.

• Develop AI-powered fan engagement services.

• Export Korean football content globally.

• Train professionals in football business and sports technology.

“Korea Must Compete Through Systems, Not Passion Alone”

Reaching the semifinals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup remains one of the greatest achievements in Korean football history. Yet while Korea celebrated that historic success, world football continued to evolve at an extraordinary pace.

Today, passion and determination alone are no longer enough to compete with the world’s elite. Sustainable success requires data-driven decision-making, scientific player development, artificial intelligence, world-class youth academies, professional league management, and long-term investment.

Fortunately, Korea possesses remarkable strengths: exceptional human talent, one of the world’s most advanced digital infrastructures, and a culture that values education, innovation, and discipline. If these national advantages are fully integrated into football, Korea can aspire not only to become a football powerhouse but also a global leader in football innovation.

The next historic moment for Korean football will not be created by chance. It will be built through vision, science, technology, and unwavering commitment. The future belongs to those who prepare for it today. +++

{Solti}

June 28, 2026

세계 축구의 새로운 물결, 그리고 한국 축구가 나아갈 길

현실과 통계를 바탕으로 본 세계 축구의 10가지 변화와 한국 축구의 미래

60년 넘게 축구를 사랑해 온 팬으로서, 2026 FIFA 월드컵은 단순한 스포츠 축제를 넘어 세계 축구의 미래를 엿볼 수 있는 소중한 무대였다. 경기를 지켜보며 떠오른 여러 생각을 AI의 분석과 함께 정리해 보니, 현대 축구를 이끄는 새로운 흐름이 더욱 선명하게 보였다. 이 글에서는 그 가운데 가장 중요한 10가지 흐름을 바탕으로 한국 축구가 국제무대에서 진정한 축구 선진국으로 도약하기 위한 실천 방안을 함께 모색해 보고자 한다.

축구는 더 이상 뛰어난 개인 기술만으로 승부가 결정되는 스포츠가 아니다. 2026 FIFA 월드컵은 세계 축구가 얼마나 빠르게 진화하고 있는지를 보여주는 무대가 되고 있다. AI, 빅데이터, 스포츠 과학, 유소년 육성, 선수 관리까지 모든 요소가 국가 경쟁력을 결정하는 시대가 되었다.

한국 축구 역시 아시아 강호라는 위치에 만족해서는 안 된다. 이제는 세계 축구의 흐름을 정확히 이해하고 장기적인 전략을 마련해야 한다.

다음은 현재 세계 축구를 이끄는 가장 중요한 10가지 흐름이다.

1. AI와 빅데이터가 감독보다 더 많은 정보를 제공한다

오늘날 유럽의 상위 리그는 선수 한 명당 경기 중 수백만 개의 데이터를 분석한다.

2026 FIFA 월드컵에서는 경기당 약 1억5천만 개 이상의 데이터 포인트가 생성되며, AI가 상대 전술 분석, 선수 교체 시점, 세트피스 전략까지 지원하고 있다.

한국 축구의 과제

• 대한축구협회 AI 분석센터 설립

• 모든 국가대표 경기 데이터 축적

• K리그 전 구단 데이터 공유 시스템 구축

2. 강한 압박(High Press)이 세계 표준이 되었다

현재 유럽 강팀들은 공을 잃은 후 5~8초 안에 다시 탈취하는 압박 축구를 기본 전술로 사용한다.

이제 단순한 수비가 아니라 “공을 다시 빼앗는 속도”가 경기력을 결정한다.

한국 축구의 과제

• 체력 중심 훈련 확대

• 압박 전술 전문 코치 육성

• K리그 경기 템포 향상

3. 선수의 전술 이해력이 기술만큼 중요하다

과거에는 드리블이 뛰어난 선수가 최고였다.

지금은

• 공간 인식

• 패스 각도

• 위치 선정

능력이 더욱 중요하다.

최근 AI 기반 전술 분석도 이러한 전술적 의사결정을 지원하고 있다.

한국 축구의 과제

유소년부터

• 전술 교육

• 경기 분석 교육

• 영상 분석

을 필수화해야 한다.

4. 스포츠 과학이 선수 수명을 늘리고 있다

유럽 명문 클럽들은

• 수면

• 영양

• GPS

• 심박수

• 근육 피로도

까지 실시간 관리한다.

부상 예방이 최고의 투자라는 인식이 확산되고 있다.

한국 축구의 과제

• 스포츠 의학 확대

• 개인별 체력 데이터 관리

• AI 기반 부상 예측 시스템 구축

5. 유소년 육성이 국가 경쟁력을 결정한다

현재 세계 강국들은

• 8세부터

• 10년 이상

체계적으로 선수를 육성한다.

단기 성적보다 장기 성장에 투자한다.

한국 축구의 과제

• 승리보다 성장 중심

• 창의성 교육

• 다양한 포지션 경험 제공

6. 세계는 글로벌 인재를 적극 발굴한다

유럽 국가들은 해외 이중국적 선수와 디아스포라 선수 발굴에도 적극적이다. 기술과 데이터는 이러한 인재 탐색을 더욱 효율적으로 만들고 있다.

한국 축구의 과제

• 해외 한인 선수 데이터베이스 구축

• 글로벌 스카우트 확대

• 해외 유소년과의 연계 강화

7. 여성 축구에 대한 투자가 급속히 증가한다

세계 각국은 여성 축구를 미래 성장 동력으로 보고 있다.

FIFA 역시 여성 선수 건강과 경기력 향상을 위한 글로벌 프로젝트를 시작했으며, 각국의 투자도 확대되고 있다.

한국 축구의 과제

• WK리그 활성화

• 여자 유소년 확대

• 지도자 양성

8. 심판도 기술과 함께 진화한다

반자동 오프사이드 시스템

스마트 볼

AI 판독

3D 추적 기술

등이 이미 국제대회에서 활용되고 있다.

한국 축구의 과제

• K리그 기술 투자 확대

• 심판 교육 강화

• 데이터 기반 판정 시스템 도입

9. 클럽 시스템이 국가대표 경쟁력을 만든다

스페인

독일

프랑스

잉글랜드

모두 강한 프로리그가 국가대표의 기반이다.

국가대표는 프로리그의 결과이지 원인이 아니다.

한국 축구의 과제

• K리그 경쟁력 향상

• 유소년-프로 연결 강화

• 재정 안정성 확보

10. 축구는 하나의 산업이 되었다

축구는 이제

• 콘텐츠

• 관광

• 방송

• 데이터 산업

• AI 산업

과 연결된 거대한 경제 생태계다. 2026 월드컵의 기록적인 관중과 글로벌 관심은 축구의 산업적 가치가 계속 커지고 있음을 보여준다.

한국 축구의 과제

• K리그 글로벌 마케팅

• AI 기반 팬 서비스

• 디지털 콘텐츠 수출

• 축구 산업 전문 인재 양성

“한국 축구도 이제 시스템으로 승부해야 한다”

2002년 월드컵 4강은 한국 축구의 위대한 역사였다. 그러나 세계 축구는 그 이후에도 멈추지 않고 진화했다. 이제는 열정과 정신력만으로는 세계 정상에 오르기 어렵다. 데이터, 과학, 인공지능, 유소년 육성, 체계적인 리그 운영, 그리고 장기적인 투자와 혁신이 함께 이루어질 때 비로소 지속 가능한 경쟁력이 만들어진다.

한국은 뛰어난 선수 자원과 높은 교육 수준, 세계 최고 수준의 IT 인프라를 갖춘 나라다. 이 강점을 축구와 결합한다면 ‘축구 강국’을 넘어 ‘축구 혁신 국가’로 도약할 수 있다. 미래의 월드컵에서 세계를 놀라게 할 한국 축구는 우연히 탄생하지 않는다. 오늘부터 과학과 데이터, 그리고 사람에 대한 꾸준한 투자로 준비할 때, 그 꿈은 현실이 될 것이다. +++

{솔티}

2026년 6월 28일

Prof. Dr. Young Choi (Editor in Chief) — Regent University

Young B. Choi is a Professor in the Department of Engineering & Computer Science at Regent University. He published 38 books with ‘Selected Readings in Cybersecurity’ (2018) (over 800 copies archived globally at university/college libraries around the world) and ‘Cybersecurity Applications and Artificial Intelligence’ (2023) available in seven major world languages. He proposed the world’s first global and universal telecommunications “Service Order Handling (SOH)” Model (T-SOH Model) (1995) with Dr. Adrian Tang. With this innovative research work, he received the IEEE NOMS ’96 Best Paper Award and became the first recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award of the TeleManagement Forum in 1998. His research areas include Natural Language Processing-focused AI, AI-applied cybersecurity, network and telecom service management, and Korean studies on Gani Choi Rip’s Jeonggwan (靜觀: Quiet Contemplation) philosophy and Shilhak ( 實學: Practical Learning).

One of the questions I raised in that lecture was: Why do we marry spouses with different traits? At first, this sounds like a social or psychological question. We may answer that people marry because of love, attraction, personality, shared values, or destiny. These are all true in human experience. But biology adds another fascinating layer. From the viewpoint of life science, attraction may also be connected with genetic difference, especially in the immune system.

A key concept here is MHC, the Major Histocompatibility Complex. In humans, these genes are related to the immune system’s ability to recognize self and non-self. They help our bodies detect pathogens and respond to infections. In simple terms, MHC genes are part of our biological defense system. The more diverse these genes are, the broader the immune protection may be for future offspring.

This leads to an intriguing biological idea: perhaps we are sometimes attracted not only to beauty, kindness, intelligence, or personality, but also to genetic difference. In nature, choosing a mate with different immune-system genes can increase diversity in the next generation. That diversity may help offspring survive in a world filled with changing viruses, bacteria, parasites, and other biological threats.

This idea has been studied in animals. Mice, for example, can use smell to distinguish potential mates. Female mice often prefer males with MHC genes different from their own. This does not mean that mice ‘understand genetics.’ Rather, their bodies have evolved sensory mechanisms that help them choose mates in a way that may benefit their offspring. Nature often works quietly, without explanation, but with remarkable wisdom.

A famous human study related to this topic is the Smelly T-shirt experiment by Swiss researcher Claus Wedekind and colleagues in the 1990s. In this experiment, male students wore T-shirts for two nights. Female students then smelled the shirts and rated the odors. The surprising result was that women tended to prefer the smell of men whose MHC genes were more different from their own. In other words, what seemed like a simple sense of smell might carry hidden biological information.

Even more interesting, the study suggested that this preference could be affected by hormonal status, such as the use of oral contraceptives. This reminds us that human attraction is not a simple formula. It is influenced by biology, hormones, experience, culture, memory, and personal choice. We should not reduce love to genes alone. Still, biology gives us a wonderful window into the hidden layers of attraction.

This also helps answer the broader question: why do we often marry someone with different traits? One answer is that difference creates balance. A spouse may bring qualities that we do not have. One may be analytical, the other artistic. One may be cautious, the other adventurous. One may be quiet and reflective, the other expressive and social. In daily life, such differences can sometimes create friction, but they can also create harmony. A good marriage is not the union of two identical people. It is often the lifelong conversation between two different worlds.

Biology seems to agree. Life does not flourish through sameness alone. Sexual reproduction itself is based on the mixing of differences. Each generation is not a photocopy of the previous one, but a new combination. Genetic diversity is one of nature’s strategies for survival. In this sense, marriage between different people reflects a much larger principle of life: diversity strengthens continuity.

When I think about this question personally, I also see a connection to family life. Husband and wife do not need to be the same. In fact, their differences may become a source of growth. Through marriage, we learn patience, humility, adjustment, and appreciation. We begin by noticing differences; over time, we learn how those differences complete us.

The same principle applies to society. A healthy community is not made only of people who think alike, look alike, or live alike. It is strengthened by different talents, backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints. Science teaches us that diversity is not an accident. It is one of the foundations of life.

In my KAIST lecture, the larger theme was the joy of learning and sharing. The MHC story is a good example of that joy. We begin with a simple question about marriage and attraction. Then we travel into immunology, genetics, olfaction, animal behavior, and human relationships. Finally, we return to a very human lesson: difference is not something merely to tolerate. Difference may be something to value.

A Korean professor’s lecture once impressed me with the phrase: ‘Helping others is helping oneself.’ This idea also fits the biology of life. We are not isolated individuals. Our survival and happiness are connected with others. In marriage, family, science, and community, we grow by meeting those who are different from us. Their difference challenges us, teaches us, and sometimes saves us from becoming too narrow.

So why do we marry spouses with different traits? We may say: because love is mysterious. We may say: because personality seeks balance. We may say: because biology favors diversity. We may also say: because life itself grows through difference.

In the end, the spouse who is different from us may become our greatest teacher. Through that person, we learn not only about love, but also about ourselves. And perhaps that is one of the deepest joys of learning and sharing.

References and Notes

1. Sung-Kwon Kang, Joy of Learning & Sharing, KAIST Seminar, Daejeon, Korea, October 7, 2015. YouTube lecture:

1. . This essay was inspired by a short section of my 2015 KAIST lecture, especially the question: ‘Why do we marry spouses with different traits?’

2. Sung-Kwon Kang, 배움과 나눔의 즐거움 / Joy of Learning & Sharing, PowerPoint slides, KAIST Seminar, October 7, 2015. The slides used for this essay include the topics of MHC genes, mate choice in mice and humans, the Smelly T-shirt experiment, and the reflection: ‘Helping others is helping oneself.’

3. Wedekind, C., Seebeck, T., Bettens, F., & Paepke, A. J. ‘MHC-dependent mate preferences in humans.’ Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences, 260(1359), 245–249, 1995. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.1995.0087. This is the original ‘Smelly T-shirt experiment’ paper.

4. McFadden, Johnjoe, and Al-Khalili, Jim. Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology. Bantam Press, 2014. This book introduced broader questions about how physics, chemistry, and biology meet in living systems, including discussions of smell and quantum biology.

5. McFadden, Johnjoe. ‘Quantum weirdness is everywhere in the living world.’ Aeon, October 29, 2014. https://aeon.co/essays/quantum-weirdness-is-everywhere-in-the-living-world. This essay discusses examples from quantum biology, including the possibility that smell may involve more than the traditional lock-and-key model of molecular recognition.

6. Jung, Yong-Seok. Lecture quoted in my KAIST seminar: ‘당신은 이미 기적의 존재’ (’You Are Already a Miraculous Being’), 2013. His memorable phrase ‘남을 돕는 것 = 나를 돕는 것’ helped me connect biology, human relationships, and the joy of sharing.

우리는 왜 서로 다른 배우자들을 만나는가?
강성권 박사, IBM Research retired

2015년 KAIST 세미나, 배움과 나눔의 즐거움에서 나는 과학적 호기심을 인간 삶의 더 깊은 질문들과 연결해 보고자 했다. 배움은 사실에서 시작되지만, 거기서 끝나지 않는다. 좋은 과학적 질문은 종종 우리 자신에게 다시 돌아오게 한다. 우리는 왜 이렇게 살아가는가? 왜 어떤 사람에게 끌리는가? 왜 사랑하고, 결혼하고, 자녀를 낳고, 나와 똑같지 않은 한 사람과 평생을 나누며 살아가는가?

그 강연에서 내가 던진 질문 가운데 하나는 이것이었다. 우리는 왜 서로 다른 배우자들을 만나는가? 처음에는 이 질문이 사회적이거나 심리적인 질문처럼 들린다. 사람들은 사랑, 매력, 성격, 가치관, 혹은 운명 때문에 결혼한다고 말할 수 있다. 인간 경험 속에서 이것들은 모두 사실이다. 그러나 생물학은 여기에 또 하나의 흥미로운 층을 더한다. 생명과학의 관점에서 보면, 끌림은 유전적 차이, 특히 면역체계와 관련된 유전적 차이와도 연결되어 있을 수 있다.

여기서 중요한 개념이 MHC, 즉 주요 조직적합성 복합체 (Major Histocompatibility Complex)이다. 인간에게서 이 유전자들은 우리 몸이 자기와 비자기를 구별하는 면역체계의 능력과 관련되어 있다. 이들은 병원체를 감지하고 감염에 대응하는 데 도움을 준다. 쉽게 말하면 MHC 유전자는 우리 몸의 생물학적 방어체계의 일부이다. 이 유전자들이 다양할수록 다음 세대가 더 넓은 면역 보호 능력을 가질 가능성이 있다.

이것은 매우 흥미로운 생물학적 생각으로 이어진다. 우리는 아름다움, 친절함, 지성, 성격에만 끌리는 것이 아니라, 때로는 유전적 차이에도 끌릴 수 있다는 것이다. 자연계에서 자기와 다른 면역체계 유전자를 가진 배우자를 선택하는 일은 다음 세대의 유전적 다양성을 높일 수 있다. 그러한 다양성은 끊임없이 변하는 바이러스, 박테리아, 기생충, 그리고 여러 생물학적 위협 속에서 자손의 생존 가능성을 높이는 데 도움이 될 수 있다.

이 생각은 동물 연구에서도 관찰되어 왔다. 예를 들어 쥐는 냄새를 통해 잠재적인 짝을 구별할 수 있다. 암컷 쥐는 자기와 다른 MHC 유전자를 가진 수컷을 선호하는 경향을 보인다. 물론 쥐가 유전학을 이해한다는 뜻은 아니다. 오히려 그들의 몸은 자손에게 유리할 수 있는 방식으로 짝을 고르도록 감각적 기제를 진화시켜 온 것이다. 자연은 종종 말없이 조용히 작동하지만, 그 안에는 놀라운 지혜가 숨어 있다.

이 주제와 관련된 유명한 인간 연구가 스위스 연구자 Claus Wedekind와 동료들이 1990년대에 수행한 이른바 냄새나는 티셔츠 실험이다. 이 실험에서 남학생들은 이틀 밤 동안 티셔츠를 입었다. 그 다음 여학생들이 그 티셔츠 냄새를 맡고 평가했다. 놀라운 결과는 여성들이 자기와 MHC 유전자가 더 다른 남성의 냄새를 더 선호하는 경향을 보였다는 점이다. 다시 말해 단순한 후각처럼 보이는 감각 속에도 숨겨진 생물학적 정보가 담겨 있을 수 있다는 것이다.

더 흥미로운 점은, 이 선호가 경구 피임약 사용과 같은 호르몬 상태에 따라 영향을 받을 수 있다는 사실이었다. 이것은 인간의 끌림이 단순한 공식으로 설명될 수 없음을 보여준다. 끌림은 생물학, 호르몬, 경험, 문화, 기억, 그리고 개인의 선택이 함께 작용하는 복합적인 현상이다. 사랑을 유전자만으로 환원해서는 안 된다. 그러나 생물학은 사랑과 끌림의 숨겨진 층을 들여다볼 수 있는 멋진 창을 제공한다.

이 이야기는 더 넓은 질문, 즉 왜 우리는 종종 서로 다른 특성을 가진 사람과 결혼하는가에 대한 답에도 도움을 준다. 하나의 답은 차이가 균형을 만든다는 것이다. 배우자는 내가 갖지 못한 성품과 능력을 가져올 수 있다. 한 사람은 분석적이고, 다른 한 사람은 예술적일 수 있다. 한 사람은 조심스럽고, 다른 한 사람은 모험적일 수 있다. 한 사람은 조용하고 사색적이며, 다른 한 사람은 표현력이 풍부하고 사교적일 수 있다. 일상 속에서 이런 차이는 때로 갈등을 만들기도 하지만, 동시에 조화를 만들어 내기도 한다. 좋은 결혼은 똑같은 두 사람의 결합이 아니다. 그것은 서로 다른 두 세계가 평생 이어 가는 대화일 때가 많다.

생물학도 이 생각에 동의하는 듯하다. 생명은 같음만으로 번성하지 않는다. 유성생식 자체가 차이의 섞임에 기반을 두고 있다. 각 세대는 이전 세대의 복사본이 아니라 새로운 조합이다. 유전적 다양성은 자연이 생존을 위해 사용하는 중요한 전략 가운데 하나이다. 그런 의미에서 서로 다른 사람들의 결혼은 생명의 더 큰 원리를 반영한다. 다양성은 지속성을 강하게 만든다.

이 질문을 개인적으로 생각해 보면, 나는 가족생활과의 연결도 보게 된다. 남편과 아내가 꼭 같을 필요는 없다. 사실 그 차이가 성장의 원천이 될 수 있다. 결혼을 통해 우리는 인내, 겸손, 조정, 그리고 감사의 마음을 배운다. 처음에는 차이를 발견하지만, 시간이 지나면서 그 차이가 어떻게 우리를 보완해 주는지를 배우게 된다.

같은 원리는 사회에도 적용된다. 건강한 공동체는 같은 생각, 같은 모습, 같은 삶의 방식을 가진 사람들만으로 만들어지지 않는다. 서로 다른 재능, 배경, 경험, 관점이 모일 때 공동체는 더 강해진다. 과학은 다양성이 우연이 아니라고 가르쳐 준다. 다양성은 생명의 기초 가운데 하나이다.

내 KAIST 강연의 더 큰 주제는 배움과 나눔의 즐거움이었다. MHC 이야기는 그 즐거움을 잘 보여 주는 예이다. 우리는 결혼과 끌림에 관한 간단한 질문에서 출발한다. 그러고 나서 면역학, 유전학, 후각, 동물행동학, 인간관계의 세계로 여행한다. 마지막에는 매우 인간적인 교훈으로 돌아온다. 차이는 단순히 참아야 할 것이 아니다. 차이는 오히려 소중히 여겨야 할 것일 수 있다.

언젠가 한 한국 교수님의 강연에서 나는 남을 돕는 것 = 나를 돕는 것이라는 말에 깊은 인상을 받았다. 이 생각은 생명의 생물학에도 잘 맞는다. 우리는 고립된 개인이 아니다. 우리의 생존과 행복은 타인과 연결되어 있다. 결혼, 가족, 과학, 공동체 속에서 우리는 나와 다른 사람들을 만나며 성장한다. 그들의 차이는 우리에게 도전이 되고, 가르침이 되며, 때로는 우리가 너무 좁아지는 것을 막아 준다.

그렇다면 우리는 왜 서로 다른 배우자들을 만나는가? 우리는 이렇게 말할 수 있다. 사랑은 신비롭기 때문이다. 성격은 균형을 찾기 때문이다. 생물학은 다양성을 선호하기 때문이다. 그리고 생명 자체가 차이를 통해 성장하기 때문이다.

결국 나와 다른 배우자는 나의 가장 큰 스승이 될 수 있다. 우리는 그 사람을 통해 사랑뿐 아니라 우리 자신에 대해서도 배운다. 그리고 아마도 그것이 배움과 나눔의 가장 깊은 즐거움 가운데 하나일 것이다.

참고문헌 및 주

1. 강성권, 배움과 나눔의 즐거움 / Joy of Learning & Sharing, KAIST 세미나, 대전, 2015년 10월 7일. 유튜브 강연:

1. . 이 글은 2015년 KAIST 강연 가운데 ‘우리는 왜 서로 다른 배우자들을 만나는가?’라는 짧은 부분에서 영감을 받아 작성되었다.

2. 강성권, 배움과 나눔의 즐거움 / Joy of Learning & Sharing, PowerPoint 슬라이드, KAIST 세미나, 2015년 10월 7일. 이 글에 사용된 슬라이드에는 MHC 유전자, 쥐와 사람의 짝 선택, 냄새나는 티셔츠 실험, 그리고 ‘남을 돕는 것 = 나를 돕는 것’이라는 성찰이 포함되어 있다.

3. Wedekind, C., Seebeck, T., Bettens, F., & Paepke, A. J. ‘MHC-dependent mate preferences in humans.’ Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences, 260(1359), 245–249, 1995. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.1995.0087. 이 논문은 이른바 ‘냄새나는 티셔츠 실험’의 원 논문이다.

4. McFadden, Johnjoe, and Al-Khalili, Jim. Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology. Bantam Press, 2014. 이 책은 물리학, 화학, 생물학이 생명현상 안에서 어떻게 만나는지를 다루며, 냄새와 양자생물학에 관한 논의를 포함한다.

5. McFadden, Johnjoe. ‘Quantum weirdness is everywhere in the living world.’ Aeon, 2014년 10월 29일. 글 주소: https://aeon.co/essays/quantum-weirdness-is-everywhere-in-the-living-world. 이 글은 양자생물학의 여러 예를 설명하며, 냄새가 전통적인 자물쇠와 열쇠 모델만으로 설명되지 않을 가능성을 소개한다.

6. 정용석. 2013년 강연 ‘당신은 이미 기적의 존재’. KAIST 강연에서 인용한 ‘남을 돕는 것 = 나를 돕는 것’이라는 표현은 생물학, 인간관계, 나눔의 즐거움을 연결하는 데 중요한 영감을 주었다.

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About the Author:

Dr. Sung-Kwon Kang is a distinguished materials scientist and metallurgical engineer whose career spans more than five decades of research, innovation, and leadership across academia, industry, and professional societies. He earned his B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from Seoul National University in 1969 and his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Metallurgy from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973.

After a postdoctoral fellowship at Carnegie Mellon University, he held faculty roles at Nova Scotia Technical University and Stevens Institute of Technology. He then moved into industrial research, joining IBM’s T. J. Watson Research Center, where he served as a Senior Research Scientist for 34 years.

Dr. Kang’s work on lead-free solders reshaped the microelectronics field. He was named IEEE Fellow in 2009 and IEEE Life Fellow in 2024. He has written 145 technical papers, co-edited books, holds 148 patents, and has drawn more than 6,000 citations. His honors include the TMS Fellow Award, the 17th KBS Global Korean Award for Science & Technology, and the TMS Legion of Honor in 2022.

A longtime pillar of the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA), he served as its 35th President. He recently published his memoir, Joy of Learning and Sharing, on Amazon.

© K-Global Scholars and Professionals Forum. All rights reserved. Content published in the K-GSP Forum may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the K-GSP Forum, except for brief quotations with full attribution.

Anyone who has immigrated to the United States has likely experienced the loneliness of living in an unfamiliar land. The language is different, the food tastes unfamiliar, and even the scent of the streets can feel strange. Then one day, you notice a storefront displaying Korean words such as Kimchi, Doenjang, Gochujang, Rice Cakes, and Perilla Leaves. The moment you step inside, it feels as though you have reunited with family after a long separation.

A Korean grocery store is far more than a place to buy food. It is a small piece of Korea planted on American soil.

As you enter, the first thing you hear is the comforting sound of the Korean language. A simple “Hello” from the cashier instantly puts your mind at ease. The shelves are filled not only with kimchi, ramen, soybean paste, and chili paste, but also seasonal fruits, rice cakes, homemade side dishes, and even snacks that remind you of your childhood. You are not merely shopping—you are bringing home memories.

More importantly, Korean grocery stores serve as bridges between generations. Second- and third-generation Korean Americans visit these stores with their parents and naturally become familiar with Korean cuisine. They learn why families enjoy rice cake soup on Lunar New Year and songpyeon during Chuseok. Through dishes such as kimchi, bulgogi, and bibimbap, they gradually discover their cultural roots. Languages may fade over time, but the memories created around food often last a lifetime. In this sense, the family dining table becomes one of the finest classrooms for learning Korean heritage.

These stores also enrich America’s multicultural society. Today, Korean grocery stores are no longer visited only by Korean Americans. Americans, Hispanics, Chinese, Indians, Vietnamese, and people from many other backgrounds come to enjoy Korean food. Kimchi, kimbap, naengmyeon, and tteokbokki are no longer exotic dishes. Korean cuisine has naturally found its place on dining tables globally.

As the popularity of K-dramas, K-pop, and Korean films continues to grow, Korean grocery stores have become cultural destinations. People who watched a bowl of ramen in a drama or saw a favorite snack on a television show come to experience those foods firsthand. If the Korean Wave begins on the screen, Korean grocery stores are where people can taste and experience that culture for themselves.

Korean grocery stores also symbolize abundance and progress. Forty or fifty years ago, finding kimchi in America was often difficult. Many families drove hundreds of miles to buy ingredients for traditional holiday meals. Today, even medium-sized American cities often have well-stocked Korean grocery stores offering a remarkable variety of authentic products. This transformation reflects not only advances in distribution but also the growth, resilience, and success of the Korean American community.

There is another heartwarming scene that unfolds inside these stores. Friends unexpectedly meet and catch up, church members exchange news, and newly arrived immigrants receive valuable advice about jobs, schools, doctors, and daily life. A neighborhood grocery store often becomes a community gathering place where people find not only practical assistance but also encouragement and friendship.

These stores also create opportunities for Korean farmers and food producers. Fresh fruits, vegetables, traditional sauces, seafood, snacks, and health products made in Korea reach consumers across America, expanding export markets while introducing Korean agricultural excellence to the world. It is a mutually beneficial relationship in which consumers enjoy high-quality products while producers gain access to global opportunities.

Today’s Korean grocery stores are evolving with technologies. Self-checkout stations, online ordering, same-day delivery, and mobile discount coupons have made shopping more convenient than ever. The harmonious combination of tradition and innovation reflects the adaptability, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of Korean Americans.

Above all, Korean grocery stores inspire a deep sense of pride. Seeing people from around the world lining up to buy Korean ramen, choosing kimchi as a health food, or purchasing Korean snacks as gifts reminds us how far Korean culture has come. There was once a time when Koreans had to explain their cuisine to others. Today, people eagerly seek it out on their own.

A Korean grocery store in America is far more than a marketplace. It preserves family memories, carries the fragrance of home, celebrates cultural diversity, and strengthens Korean identity. For younger generations, it serves as a classroom where they discover their heritage. For people of every background, it is a welcoming gateway to understanding Korea.

Even today, someone leaves a Korean grocery store smiling while carrying a container of kimchi. That smile reflects far more than a successful shopping trip. It carries the joy of reconnecting with home, the warmth of family, and the pride of seeing Korean culture flourish around the world. That is why Korean grocery stores in America are not merely places that sell food—they are places that connect people, preserve culture, and nurture hope for future generations. +++

{Solti}

June 27, 2026

미주 한인 식품점

단지 식품을 파는 곳이 아닌 미래의 희망을 키우는 곳

미국에 처음 이민 온 사람이라면 누구나 한 번쯤은 낯선 풍경 속에서 외로움을 느낀다. 영어는 서툴고, 음식은 입에 맞지 않으며, 거리의 냄새조차 낯설다. 그런 어느 날, ‘김치’, ‘된장’, ‘고추장’, ‘떡’, ‘깻잎’이라는 한글 간판이 보이는 한국식품점에 들어서는 순간, 마치 오랫동안 헤어졌던 가족을 만난 것 같은 따뜻함이 밀려온다.

한국식품점은 단순히 식료품을 파는 가게가 아니다. 그것은 미국 땅에 세워진 작은 대한민국이다.

문을 열고 들어가면 가장 먼저 들려오는 것은 익숙한 한국말이다. 계산대에서 “안녕하세요”라는 인사를 듣는 순간 마음이 편안해진다. 진열대에는 김치와 라면, 장류뿐 아니라 계절 과일, 떡, 반찬, 심지어 어머니가 만들어 주시던 간식까지 있다. 그곳에서는 물건을 사는 것이 아니라 추억을 담아 오는 것이다.

무엇보다 한국식품점은 세대를 이어주는 다리 역할을 한다. 미국에서 태어난 2세, 3세 아이들은 부모를 따라 식품점을 방문하며 자연스럽게 한국 음식을 접한다. 설날에는 떡국을, 추석에는 송편을 먹는 이유를 배우고, 김치와 불고기, 비빔밥을 통해 자신의 뿌리를 이해하기 시작한다. 언어는 잊을 수도 있지만 음식의 기억은 오래 남는다. 그래서 식탁은 가장 훌륭한 한국학교가 된다.

한국식품점은 다양성을 존중하는 미국 사회에도 아름다운 선물을 주고 있다. 이제 한국식품점에는 한국인만 오는 시대가 아니다. 미국인, 히스패닉, 중국인, 인도인, 베트남인 등 다양한 사람들이 한국 음식을 즐기기 위해 방문한다. 김치와 김밥, 냉면과 떡볶이는 더 이상 낯선 음식이 아니다. 한국의 식문화는 세계인의 식탁으로 자연스럽게 스며들고 있다.

특히 한국 드라마와 K-팝, 한국 영화의 인기가 높아질수록 한국식품점은 문화 체험 공간이 된다. 드라마에서 본 라면을 먹어보고 싶고, 예능 프로그램에서 본 과자를 사보고 싶은 사람들이 식품점을 찾는다. 한류가 화면에서 시작된다면, 한국식품점은 그 문화를 직접 맛보고 느끼는 공간이다.

또한 한국식품점은 풍요로움의 상징이기도 하다. 40~50년 전만 해도 미국에서 김치를 구하는 일은 쉽지 않았다. 명절 음식을 만들기 위해 수백 킬로미터를 운전하는 일도 흔했다. 그러나 지금은 대도시는 물론 중소도시에서도 다양한 한국 식재료를 쉽게 구할 수 있다. 이것은 단순한 유통의 발전이 아니라 한인사회의 성장과 성공을 보여주는 역사이다.

한인 식품점에는 또 하나의 아름다운 풍경이 있다. 오랜만에 만난 친구와 인사를 나누고, 교회 소식을 듣고, 새로운 이민자에게 좋은 정보를 알려준다. 누군가는 취업 정보를 얻고, 누군가는 병원을 소개받으며, 누군가는 외로운 마음을 위로받는다. 작은 식품점이 지역사회의 사랑방 역할을 하는 것이다.

한국식품점은 한국 농어민에게도 새로운 희망을 준다. 한국에서 정성껏 재배한 과일과 채소, 전통 식품, 건강식품이 미국으로 수출되면서 한국 경제에도 도움이 된다. 소비자는 좋은 음식을 먹고, 생산자는 세계 시장을 넓히니 모두가 함께 성장하는 아름다운 연결고리가 만들어진다.

요즘에는 한국식품점의 모습도 빠르게 변하고 있다. 셀프 계산대, 온라인 주문, 당일 배송, 모바일 할인 쿠폰 등 첨단 기술이 접목되면서 더욱 편리한 쇼핑 환경이 만들어지고 있다. 전통과 첨단 기술이 조화를 이루는 모습은 한국인의 뛰어난 적응력과 창의성을 보여주는 또 하나의 상징이다.

무엇보다 한국식품점은 한민족의 자부심을 키워준다. 세계인이 줄을 서서 한국 라면을 사고, 김치를 건강식품으로 찾으며, 한국 과자를 선물용으로 구입하는 모습을 볼 때마다 우리는 한국 문화의 위상을 실감하게 된다. 예전에는 한국 음식을 설명해야 했다면, 이제는 세계인이 먼저 찾아오는 시대가 되었다.

미국의 한국식품점은 단순한 상점이 아니다. 그곳에는 가족의 추억이 있고, 고향의 향기가 있으며, 문화의 다양성이 살아 숨 쉬고, 한민족의 정체성이 이어지고 있다. 또한 미래 세대에게는 자신의 뿌리를 알려주는 교실이며, 세계인에게는 한국을 이해하는 문화의 창이다.

오늘도 누군가는 한국식품점에서 김치 한 통을 들고 미소를 짓는다. 그 미소 속에는 단순한 장보기가 아니라 고향과의 만남, 가족의 사랑, 그리고 세계 속에서 더욱 빛나는 대한민국에 대한 자부심이 함께 담겨 있다. 그래서 미국의 한국식품점은 물건을 파는 곳이 아니라, 사람과 사람을 잇고, 문화를 이어 주며, 희망을 키워 가는 가장 따뜻한 공간이다. +++

{솔티}

2026년 6월 27일

Prof. Dr. Young Choi (Editor in Chief) — Regent University

Young B. Choi is a Professor in the Department of Engineering & Computer Science at Regent University. He published 38 books with ‘Selected Readings in Cybersecurity’ (2018) (over 800 copies archived globally at university/college libraries around the world) and ‘Cybersecurity Applications and Artificial Intelligence’ (2023) available in seven major world languages. He proposed the world’s first global and universal telecommunications “Service Order Handling (SOH)” Model (T-SOH Model) (1995) with Dr. Adrian Tang. With this innovative research work, he received the IEEE NOMS ’96 Best Paper Award and became the first recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award of the TeleManagement Forum in 1998. His research areas include Natural Language Processing-focused AI, AI-applied cybersecurity, network and telecom service management, and Korean studies on Gani Choi Rip’s Jeonggwan (靜觀: Quiet Contemplation) philosophy and Shilhak ( 實學: Practical Learning).

In 2026, the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence. The words proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence—“All men are created equal”—have endured through wars, social conflicts, economic crises, and remarkable achievements. While America is far from perfect, these ideals continue to inspire generations to strive toward a more just and free society.

As an immigrant from East Asia, I have had the privilege of seeing America from two perspectives: as an outsider who once dreamed of this country and as a resident who has experienced its strengths and shortcomings firsthand. Like every nation, the United States has its imperfections. Political polarization, economic inequality, and social challenges remain. Yet despite these realities, America possesses enduring qualities that continue to attract millions of people seeking opportunity, freedom, and a better future.

As the United States commemorates its 250th birthday, I would like to share the ten qualities I appreciate most about this remarkable nation.

1. America Gives People a Second Chance

One of America’s greatest strengths is its belief that people deserve another opportunity. Here, failure is often viewed not as a permanent defeat but as a valuable lesson. Entrepreneurs who have gone bankrupt often launch successful new businesses. Adults return to college after retirement, and many people begin entirely new careers in their fifties or sixties. Instead of asking, “Why did you fail?” Americans often ask, “What did you learn?”

2. Freedom Is More Than a Principle—It Is a Way of Life

Freedom is woven into everyday American life. People openly express different political opinions, practice different religions, pursue diverse careers, and live according to their own values. Although disagreements can be intense, the fundamental belief that individuals should have the freedom to make their own choices remains one of America’s defining characteristics.

3. Merit Often Matters More Than Background

For immigrants, this may be one of America’s greatest promises. While no society is completely free from prejudice, talent, hard work, and achievement often open doors that might otherwise remain closed. A person’s accent, birthplace, or family background does not necessarily determine his or her future. This belief gives newcomers hope and motivation to succeed.

4. America Provides an Extraordinary Environment for Education and Research

The world’s brightest students and scholars continue to gather at American universities. Laboratories, classrooms, and research centers bring together people from every continent to exchange ideas freely. Innovation thrives because curiosity is encouraged, questions are welcomed, and failure is considered part of the learning process. This intellectual openness has fueled many of the world’s scientific and technological breakthroughs.

5. Volunteerism Strengthens Communities

One of the most inspiring aspects of American society is its strong tradition of volunteer service. Churches, schools, hospitals, libraries, and nonprofit organizations rely on countless citizens who generously donate their time and talents. This culture of giving demonstrates that a healthy society depends not only on government but also on compassionate citizens who care about their neighbors.

6. Respect for Law and Institutions Creates Stability

No legal system is flawless, yet Americans generally seek to resolve conflicts through established laws and institutions rather than through personal influence or informal connections. Confidence in legal processes and constitutional principles provides an important foundation for social stability and public trust.

7. Diversity Creates Innovation

America’s diversity is one of its greatest competitive advantages. Walking down a single street, one may find Korean, Mexican, Indian, Italian, and Middle Eastern restaurants standing side by side. Different cultures interact daily, exchanging ideas, traditions, and perspectives. This multicultural environment enriches not only cuisine and the arts but also business, science, and technological innovation.

8. Creativity and Entrepreneurship Are Celebrated

America encourages people to think differently. Innovative ideas are often judged by their potential rather than by the age, social status, or background of the person presenting them. The entrepreneurial spirit that transformed Silicon Valley into a global center of innovation reflects a national culture that rewards creativity, calculated risk-taking, and perseverance.

9. Strong Local Communities Enrich Everyday Life

Public libraries, parks, museums, schools, and community organizations play an essential role in American society. Public libraries, in particular, offer far more than books—they provide educational programs, career assistance, language classes, technology resources, and cultural events for people of all ages. These institutions help immigrants integrate into their communities while strengthening civic life for everyone.

10. America Continuously Strives to Improve Itself

Perhaps America’s greatest strength is not perfection but its willingness to confront its own shortcomings. Throughout its history, the nation has wrestled with slavery, civil rights, economic crises, and countless other challenges. Progress has often been difficult and incomplete, yet Americans continue to debate, vote, research, advocate, and work toward meaningful reform. This remarkable capacity for self-correction has helped sustain the nation for two and a half centuries.

Final Thoughts

Having lived in both East Asia and the United States, I have come to appreciate that no country is perfect. Every nation possesses unique strengths and faces distinct challenges. East Asian societies often demonstrate extraordinary discipline, educational achievement, and strong community values. America, meanwhile, offers a powerful combination of freedom, opportunity, diversity, and optimism.

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, I see more than the birthday of a nation. I see a continuing experiment in liberty—one that has inspired generations of dreamers, innovators, and immigrants from around the world.

For me, America has been far more than a place to live. It has been a place to grow, to learn, to contribute, and to dream. My hope is that in its next 250 years, the United States will continue to uphold the ideals of liberty, welcome people from every corner of the globe, and remain a nation where hard work, creativity, and hope can still shape one’s future.

The enduring strength of America lies not merely in its wealth or power, but in its unwavering belief that tomorrow can always be better than today—and that anyone, regardless of where they were born, can become part of that hopeful journey. +++

{Solti}

June 27, 2026

250년의 자유: 미국 독립 250주년

한 이민자가 발견한 미국의 선물

2026년, 미국은 건국 250주년을 맞이했다. 1776년 독립선언서에 담긴 “모든 인간은 평등하게 창조되었다”는 문장은 수많은 시대적 도전을 겪으면서도 여전히 미국 사회를 움직이는 이상으로 남아 있다. 물론 현실의 미국은 완벽하지 않다. 정치적 갈등도 있고, 경제적 불평등도 있으며, 인종 문제도 여전히 해결해야 할 과제다. 그럼에도 불구하고 극동 아시아에서 건너온 한 이민자의 눈에는 미국이 가진 특별한 힘이 보인다. 그것은 수백 년 동안 수많은 이민자들이 이 나라를 선택한 이유이기도 하다.

내가 미국에서 살아오며 가장 크게 느낀 미국의 장점 열 가지를 소개하고 싶다.

첫째, 누구에게나 다시 시작할 기회를 준다.

미국에서는 과거보다 현재와 미래를 더 중요하게 생각한다. 실패한 사업가가 다시 창업하고, 은퇴 후 대학에 입학하며, 50세에 새로운 직업을 시작하는 사람도 흔하다. “이미 늦었다.”는 말보다 “한번 도전해 보라.”는 말을 더 자주 듣는다.

둘째, 개인의 자유를 존중한다.

사람들은 서로 다른 정치적 견해, 종교, 생활방식, 직업을 가질 수 있다. 모두가 서로를 좋아하는 것은 아니지만, 서로의 선택을 인정하려는 문화가 비교적 강하다. 다양한 생각이 공존할 수 있다는 점은 미국 사회의 가장 큰 자산 중 하나이다.

셋째, 능력이 있으면 출신을 뛰어넘을 수 있다.

억양이 다르고 피부색이 달라도 실력과 성실함으로 인정받을 기회가 있다. 물론 차별이 전혀 없는 것은 아니지만, 많은 기업과 대학은 실제 성과를 중요하게 평가한다. 이민자에게 이것은 큰 희망이다.

넷째, 세계 최고의 교육과 연구 환경이 있다.

미국 대학에는 세계 각국에서 온 학생과 교수들이 함께 연구한다. 새로운 아이디어를 자유롭게 토론하고 실패를 두려워하지 않는 분위기는 혁신의 원동력이 된다. 노벨상 수상자와 대학원생이 같은 식당에서 점심을 먹는 풍경은 미국에서는 특별한 일이 아니다.

다섯째, 자원봉사 문화가 생활 속에 자리 잡고 있다.

교회, 학교, 병원, 지역사회에서는 수많은 시민들이 자신의 시간을 기꺼이 나눈다. 돈보다 시간을 기부하는 문화는 공동체를 더욱 따뜻하게 만든다. 이러한 자발적인 봉사는 민주사회의 건강성을 보여주는 중요한 지표라고 생각한다.

여섯째, 법과 제도를 신뢰하려는 문화가 강하다.

모든 제도가 완벽한 것은 아니지만, 문제를 개인의 힘보다 제도를 통해 해결하려는 문화가 자리 잡고 있다. 법 앞에서 누구나 권리를 주장할 수 있다는 믿음은 사회 안정의 중요한 기반이다.

일곱째, 다양성이 새로운 가치를 만든다.

미국의 음식, 음악, 영화, 과학기술은 세계 여러 문화가 만나 탄생한 결과물이다. 한국 음식점 옆에 멕시코 식당이 있고, 그 옆에 인도 식당이 있는 풍경은 미국에서는 자연스럽다. 서로 다른 문화가 경쟁하면서도 동시에 서로를 풍요롭게 만든다.

여덟째, 창의성과 도전을 높이 평가한다.

새로운 아이디어가 있으면 나이나 직위보다 아이디어 자체를 먼저 들어준다. 실리콘밸리의 혁신도 결국 “왜 안 되겠는가?”라는 질문에서 시작되었다. 미국은 실패를 경험으로 받아들이는 문화가 비교적 강하기 때문에 혁신이 계속 탄생할 수 있다.

아홉째, 지역사회가 살아 있다.

도서관, 공원, 박물관, 시민단체, 학교는 단순한 시설이 아니라 주민들이 함께 배우고 교류하는 공간이다. 특히 공공도서관은 책뿐 아니라 교육 프로그램, 취업 지원, 문화행사까지 제공하며 누구에게나 열려 있다. 이러한 생활 속 공공 서비스는 이민자들에게도 큰 도움이 된다.

열째, 끊임없이 스스로를 고치려는 나라이다.

미국 역사는 완벽한 역사가 아니다. 노예제도, 인종차별, 경제적 위기 등 수많은 시행착오가 있었다. 그러나 중요한 것은 문제를 공개적으로 토론하고 개선하려는 힘이다. 언론은 비판하고, 대학은 연구하며, 시민은 토론하고, 선거를 통해 변화를 만들어 간다. 이러한 자기 수정 능력이 미국을 250년 동안 지속시킨 원동력이라고 생각한다.

맺음말

나는 극동 아시아에서 태어나 미국으로 건너왔다. 두 문화를 모두 경험하면서 어느 한 나라가 완벽하다고 생각하지는 않는다. 한국은 빠른 성장과 공동체 정신이라는 강점을 가지고 있고, 미국은 자유와 다양성, 그리고 끊임없는 도전 정신이라는 특별한 자산을 가지고 있다.

미국 독립 250주년은 단지 오래된 국가의 생일이 아니다. 그것은 자유와 기회의 가치를 다시 생각해 보는 시간이다. 이민자인 나에게 미국은 단순히 살아가는 장소가 아니라 새로운 꿈을 꾸게 해 준 나라였다.

앞으로의 250년에도 미국이 자유를 지키고, 다양성을 존중하며, 세계 곳곳에서 새로운 희망을 찾아오는 사람들에게 여전히 “기회의 나라”로 남기를 진심으로 기대한다.

Prof. Dr. Young Choi (Editor in Chief) — Regent University

Young B. Choi is a Professor in the Department of Engineering & Computer Science at Regent University. He published 38 books with ‘Selected Readings in Cybersecurity’ (2018) (over 800 copies archived globally at university/college libraries around the world) and ‘Cybersecurity Applications and Artificial Intelligence’ (2023) available in seven major world languages. He proposed the world’s first global and universal telecommunications “Service Order Handling (SOH)” Model (T-SOH Model) (1995) with Dr. Adrian Tang. With this innovative research work, he received the IEEE NOMS ’96 Best Paper Award and became the first recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award of the TeleManagement Forum in 1998. His research areas include Natural Language Processing-focused AI, AI-applied cybersecurity, network and telecom service management, and Korean studies on Gani Choi Rip’s Jeonggwan (靜觀: Quiet Contemplation) philosophy and Shilhak ( 實學: Practical Learning).