Prosecutor, lawyer, civic activist. They seem unrelated to each other, yet they stand for the same person—Park Won Soon, the mayor of Seoul city, is the person. He stopped by the Korea University (KU) to share his story with KU students. On November 5th, 2013, he unfolded his plan for running the city as well as his life story.

As widely acknowledged as a mentor for university students, he particularly focused on the philosophies he follows in managing the city; work fun, live fun. Contrary to most middle-aged high officials who simply indulge in their social status and pleasant living condition, he exuded characteristic childlike enthusiasm for innovation; he said he is planning to launch specially organized street sweepers in funny costume.

 

   
▲ Mayor Park Won Soon points out the importance of cooperative life. Photographed by Kang Sang Ji

To university students, he pointed out the importance of being “brave” enough to stick to their faith. “If you throw away little, then you earn little. If you throw away much, you earn as much as you throw the things” said Park, with a tacit massage to abandon the comfort-seeking lifestyle pervasive in Korean young people. “Do not adhere to the scenario designed by other people, go and seek your own life that fit you best” added Park, leaving the impressed students by his iconoclastic mindset.

His hearty humor also kicked in—students intermittently burst into laughter whenever he came up with candid humor. He was markedly distinguished from other speakers who stopped by KU; he is the first mayor who came here with no lecture fee. And most notably, he did not need to force audience to stay awake during his lecture, as his candid self-confession and unassuming speaking style were just too entertaining to be exchanged for mere sleep.

저작권자 © The Granite Tower 무단전재 및 재배포 금지