Student Hall is always busy with students because lots of students have their own clubs, or Dongari there. Two security guards watch over Student Hall, though we usually don뭪 notice them. The Dongguk Post interviewed Choi Ok-chon and Song Yong-hwan, who work there as security guards, and learned about their lives...................................Ed
God Tempers the Wind to the Shorn Lamb!Mr. Choi watches over Student Hall to prevent accidents, working a two-day shift. If we have any problems, we can call at Student Hall him from 8 a.m. to 8 a.m. the next morning.Mr. Choi did many jobs before arriving at DU. "My slogan is that there is no frustration. Before working here, I was engaged in agriculture and fishing in South Cholla province. With my hard-earned money, I ran my own restaurant. And then, I managed a nightclub in Itaewon, Seoul," he said quietly and in deep tone."I focused on making money, which later caused problems. I heavily invested my money in a new project. However, I failed in my business because of the IMF crisis. I wanted to make big money and neglected my own situation. In other words, I bit off more than I could chew," he said. Mr. Choi's pursuit of money ended in failure, and he considered committing suicide by throwing himself into the Han river. However, he didn't do that because the saying "God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb" flashed in his mind at the very moment he was about to jump.After one year had passed, he started to work in Student Hall as a security guard. "Today's students are apt to feel frustrated when they taste failure. They need to be strong-willed to live in this harsh world and reflect upon themselves,?he advised.I could grasp Mr. Choi's faith "God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb," when he said with a smile that he's happy with his security guard job.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race!
After Mr. Choi goes back to his home at 8 a.m., Song Young-hwan, another security guard, takes his place in Student Hall. The first time I met Mr. Song, he gave a strong impression to me. I think every student feels like me when they see his smile. "How are you, Jung-yoon?" said Mr. Song as he smiled to me like my father. "Why do you always have a broad smile on your face?" was my first question in the interview. "My daughter, who is 27 years old, graduated from the Dept. of Sociology at DU. I visited here in 1993 when my daughter attended this school. The coeds look as lovely as my daughter did, which could be the reason why I always smile," he said.Mr. Song worked for Daesang Corp., a famous brand of food additives in Korea, for 28 years and then retired in 1999 due to the age limit."My life has been more easygoing than others. Maybe because I have been slow and steady," he said. "Young students spend their money and time too fast. Even though Korean society is better off than it was in the 60's, students sometimes forget who they are while chasing after something speedy, temporary and impulsive."While I was walking down streets where people were busy about their business, I thought about Mr. Song's smile in which composure and calmness lies.