“Discard the paltry toasts and become patriotic intellectuals armed with reading and national salvation.”

Fellow citizens, the sovereign people! And patriotic citizens who defend freedom! The toast "9988 (Live vibrantly until 99)" that rings out from drinking tables across the nation on the first day of the year is a sad indicator of how tragically national education has collapsed in Korea today. 

Behold this tragedy where a mere animalistic survival instinct to live long is replacing the intellectual dignity of a nation.

We must feel responsible for giving birth to a shameless regime

Look! Even when shameless political profiteers engage in acts worse than gangsters, cutting their opponents' special activity funds while reviving their own, the people only cry out about 'my health'. 

The responsibility for giving birth to such a shameless regime lies with us, the people. If we do not awaken, our old age will be a time for traitors who have bequeathed a life of slavery without freedom to our grandchildren. I gravely warn you. 

Realize that health is merely a tool to fulfill heaven's mandate, and a long life without purpose is a curse. 

Please engrave the true meaning of "Gojongmyeong" (考終命), one of the Five Blessings of Confucianism, in your hearts. Here, "Go" (考) does not simply mean "high" (高). It contains the noble meaning of 'to examine (考), to achieve, and to complete'. 

True Gojongmyeong is the completion of happiness that profoundly loves the destiny given to me and fulfills heaven's mandate at the end of that path. Mencius said that one is not human without the four-virtue mind (四端之心). 

What is the difference between continuing to only talk about health while ignoring the reality that the free market system is being threatened, and abandoning the human mission of 'Gojongmyeong' and walking the path of a beast?

Remember that the lives of the sages who sacrificed their lives for heaven's mandate are the true Gojongmyeong. 

A long life is merely a bubble in the face of a collapsing nation

We are often trapped in a mire of ignorance, mistaking dying in bed without illness and living long as Gojongmyeong. But look at the great souls in history. 

“If the nation is collapsing, what value does living to 100 while only taking care of my own health have in the mirror of history?”

Did Jesus, who saved humanity by dying young at 33, Admiral Yi Sun-sin, who sacrificed himself on the battlefield at 53, and General An Jung-geun, who died for his country at 31, fail to achieve Gojongmyeong? Absolutely not. 

Although their physical lives were short, they perfectly fulfilled heaven's mandate, thus achieving the most brilliant 'Gojongmyeong' in human history. 

On the other hand, even if one lives to 100 while the nation is collapsing, only taking care of their own health, what value does that have in the mirror of history? Without the mission to protect the nation, individual longevity is nothing but a bubble. 

Discard the paltry toasts and become patriotic intellectuals armed with reading and national salvation. 

Cast off the slave mentality and resolve to fulfill heaven's mandate

Fellow citizens, the sovereign people! Let us boldly cast off the low-level slave mentality of '9988'. Instead, let us shout "Go (考) Jongmyeong (終命)!" like a roar in the wilderness, filled with the resolve to fulfill heaven's mandate! 

Leader: Go (考)! (Let us examine and achieve my heavenly mandate!)

Follower: Jongmyeong (終命)! (Let us love and fulfill my destiny!)

Only free-market capitalism makes humanity prosper and establishes us as true masters. Even in communist dictator North Korea, the proliferation of "Jangmadang" (informal markets) occurs because no one can stop the vitality of the market. 

The people must become wise to prevent evil laws that kill businesses and save the nation. Continuously pursue learning with diligence and sharpen the blade of patriotic education. Passing on a free nation to our grandchildren – that is the true path of Gojongmyeong that we must practice. 

I, Shin Baek-hoon, appeal with my life, with the spirit of holding an axe to present a memorial (持斧上疏). Arise now! Let us stand on the side of truth, defend the values of liberal democracy, and together complete the Gojongmyeong of Korea! 

Doctor of Confucian Philosophy & Director of Jeongik Academy

◆ Shin Baek-hoon

Doctor of Confucian Philosophy

Volunteer soldier for the defense of the free market

Director of Jeongik Academy