[칼럼] My Story 1 - ● My Little Kingdom, Geoje Island

(NewsKorea=Seoul) Digital News Team = My Story 1 - ● My Little Kingdom, Geoje Island

The island of Geoje holds the untouched landscapes of my childhood. The deep blue sea stretching out to the distant horizon, the fields and paddies spread wide before meeting the ocean, the languid scene of calves grazing on the hillsides—all of these ordinary, unassuming details made up the peaceful tableau of my youth. This small kingdom was my haven, the world I never dreamed of leaving during the many years I lived there.

Thanks to my father’s position as the Chief of the Dongbu Substation at Geoje Police Station, I was often the object of envy among my neighbors and friends."

“Jeong-kee, can I come over to your house to watch the TV drama? I’ll carry your school bag for you tomorrow.”

Our house, the local police chief’s quarters, was the only place in the town with electricity and even had a rare luxury: a private bathroom. But most notably, we owned a television. When friends begged me to let them come over to watch TV in the evenings, I couldn’t help but feel a bit smug, as if I were the scion of a noble family.

Moreover, my father, a “man of learning” who had even studied in Tokyo—a rarity in our rural town—had filled our home with a library of over 200 books. This made our house a cultural hub for local children and a source of immense pride for me.

How much could a local police chief have earned back then? Compared to our neighbors, who farmed or fished to make ends meet, my family enjoyed a relatively comfortable life when it came to spending cash. Unlike my friends, who wore black rubber shoes, I had the 'luxury' of sneakers. On special school occasions, my father would take the stage as the local dignitary to give speeches, while my progressive mother, who served as the school’s parent association chairwoman, further cemented my place in the community. At a school with three classes per grade and over 1,000 students in total, I naturally stood out.

“That’s the second son of the local police chief’s family. I hear he’s a brilliant student.”
“They say he always comes in first place. He really does look bright.”
“I heard he won first prize in the school essay contest and even represented the school in a speech competition!”

Whenever I walked through town, adults would pat my head and shower me with praise. Even in nearby towns, people seemed to know who I was. It was only natural that I mistook my father’s small jurisdiction for my entire universe.

With the invisible support and backing that came from being the local police chief’s son, I was free to excel in whatever I did. I had the confidence to take risks without fear of losing, and this allowed me to act with ease and assurance. Whether it was academics, essay writing, speech contests, or soccer tournaments—where I led my team as captain—I always emerged victorious. In my later years of elementary school, I was even elected as the student council president.

Among the town kids, I was admired for having the largest collection of marbles, cards, and spinning tops. When we played games, I never feared losing, which kept me calm and focused—a state that almost always led to me winning it all. This sense of self-assurance, born from a relaxed mindset and sharp concentration, laid the foundation for my confidence and boldness in adulthood.

However, the time finally came for me to step outside the familiar boundaries of this small kingdom. It happened during the summer vacation of my first year in middle school.

“Father, I’d like to go to Seoul. There are so many places to see and things to experience. This vacation, I want to explore Seoul on my own.”
“Why put yourself through unnecessary trouble? We’ll visit together some other time. I don’t want to burden our relatives with hosting you.”
“No, Father. I can manage on my own. Please let me go.”

After much insistence, my father finally relented.
“Fine, go ahead and give it a try.”
“Well, if I get lost, I’ll just ask for directions,” I told myself confidently.

I boarded a bus, then a ferry, and finally a train to Seoul. But when I arrived at Seoul Station, I was overwhelmed. The bustling crowds, the endless stream of cars, and the towering skyscrapers were sights I had never encountered on Geoje Island. Feeling small and daunted by the unfamiliar cityscape, I suddenly felt like a “real country boy.”

The streets around Seoul Station all looked the same to me, and I couldn’t figure out where to go. I asked passersby for directions, but most simply glanced at me and walked on without saying a word. After three failed attempts, I approached a kind-looking woman.

“Ma’am, how can I get to Gwancheoldong?” I asked in my thick Gyeongsang Province accent.
“Take a breath and speak slowly, child. I can’t understand a word you’re saying,” she replied, looking puzzled before walking away.

For the first time, I felt utterly alienated under the Seoul sky. I realized no one in this vast city cared about me, and the once-familiar world of Geoje seemed small and insignificant. It dawned on me that Seoul had no place reserved for me, no space where I naturally belonged. Despite feeling lost and overwhelmed, I resolved to complete my trip on my own. I used a hand-drawn map to find my way and spoke as slowly as I could to communicate with the locals. By the end of my visit, I had decided that one day I would return to Seoul to pursue my dreams.

It was then that I discovered a new world. Beyond the boundaries of my small kingdom lay a vast and unfamiliar realm. Unlike Geoje, Seoul offered none of the confidence or ease that came from familiarity. For the first time, I began to see reality for what it was.

In life, we all encounter a few pivotal moments. Yet, many people are so afraid of leaving their comfort zones that they shy away from dreaming of new possibilities. During my childhood, Geoje provided me with comfort and privilege, but such conditions could not last forever. Once I saw the world with clear eyes, I found my once-cozy environment stifling and outdated. I knew I had to leave it behind to embrace new opportunities and create the future I envisioned.

Had I stayed in Geoje, surrounded by familiar faces and satisfied with the small comforts of my youth, my path might have been easier. But I was drawn to a life filled with challenges and achievements rather than one of complacent security. I believed that if I stood at a crossroads, I had to abandon what was familiar and comfortable to embrace change and growth.

“Conventional wisdom would say it’s impossible. But if the future is inherently uncertain, why not think differently? Ultimately, possibilities depend on those willing to take the risk. So, I’ll dive in, disrupt the status quo, and seize the opportunity to grow and soar.”

To build the foundation for my potential, I struggled to distance myself from the familiar. As Mencius once said, “If you do not advance, you will retreat.” Breaking free from one world to move toward a greater life is, perhaps, a truth that applies to all of us.

☆ Author:  Atty Jeong-kee Kim ☆

● Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, State University of New York at Stony Brook
-  Doctor of Jurisprudence, Marquette University Law School
- Senior Executive Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- Research Scholar in North Korean Studies, Peking University

● Experience
- Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai
- Commissioner General for the Korean Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo
- CEO, Asia-Pacific Local Government Network for Economic and Social Development (CityNet)
- Secretary General, World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization(WeGO)
- Law Clerk, Milwaukee Circuit Court, USA
- Senior Attorney-at-Law, Dr & Aju LLC
- Distinguished Visiting Professor, World Economy Research Institute, Nanjing University
- Research Professor, Institute of Oriental Studies, Peking University
- Distinguished Professor, Graduate School of Political Science, Kookmin University
- Chair Professor, Graduate School of Business, Dongguk University
- First President of Soongsil Cyber University

● Publications
- Georo English Studies Series for College Students [10 volumes] (Georo Publishing)
- I Challenge the Possibility of One Percent (Chosun Ilbo)
- The Art of Negotiation (Cheongnyonneongsin Publishing)
- Korea and the World (Chekmidum Publishing)