Ambition, What a Wicked Devil! [Kang Joon-man Column]

The narrative surrounding former President Yoon Suk-yeol is rife with commentary, but one particular piece by columnist Kim Do-hoon in the Hankyoreh stands out for its poignant exploration of ambition. Kim's hypothetical scenario, where Yoon's father advised him to open a restaurant rather than pursue a legal career after leaving public service, paints a vivid picture of an alternate reality. In this imagined world, Yoon, renowned for his kimchi stew and rolled omelets, would have found contentment and brought joy to those around him, avoiding the political turmoil and legal battles that have defined his post-presidency.

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You shouldn't be a lawyer if you quit being a prosecutor; just open a restaurant.

This thought experiment serves as a powerful indictment of unchecked ambition. While ambition itself is not inherently negative—it can fuel passion and drive greatness—its nature is crucial. The article posits that responsibility is the key differentiator between constructive ambition and destructive obsession. Yoon's trajectory, it suggests, exemplifies ambition untethered from accountability, driven instead by an insatiable desire for power, ultimately leading to a 'disaster' for himself and the nation. The stark contrast between the potential happiness of a restaurateur and the current predicament of Yoon and his wife, who faces legal challenges, underscores the cautionary tale of ambition gone awry.

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That advice must have been the moment when parents judged their child most accurately, clearly, and precisely.

The piece draws a parallel between Yoon's ambition and that of Jang Dong-hyuk, the current leader of the People Power Party. Jang, once seen as a rising star with aspirations for higher office, is now perceived as being ensnared in the 'Yoon Again' movement. His rapid ascent to party leadership, fueled by support from a faction advocating for a return to Yoon's political style, has, according to the article, plunged the party into a crisis. The author questions whether Jang is willing to stake his entire political future on this path, echoing the sentiment that unchecked ambition can indeed be a 'wicked devil.'

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Ambition, when it meets greed, turns into avarice, and when it meets aspiration, greatness blossoms.

This critical lens on ambition is particularly relevant in South Korea's political landscape. The article implies that a different path, one prioritizing service and responsibility over personal aggrandizement, could have led to more positive outcomes for both individuals and the country. The stark warning against the seductive, yet potentially ruinous, nature of ambition serves as a crucial reminder for current and future leaders to temper their aspirations with a strong sense of duty and a commitment to the public good. The 'wicked devil' of ambition, as Lincoln's Secretary of State William Seward once lamented, remains a potent force in shaping political destinies.

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The difference between someone who says 'I want to be a writer' and someone who says 'I want to write.' The former is an attitude of wanting to stand out at a cocktail party, and the latter is an attitude of deciding to spend long hours alone at a desk.