It is often said that a forecast of a nation's future can be found in its youth. In the pre-dawn of New Year's morning, I believe I caught a vivid glimpse of Korea's future and it was good. It was the simple, but powerful humanity of one young man that convinced me something is very right about what is happening in Korea today. Let me tell you the story.

I was with a group that was climbing Geyjuk Mountain to participate in the Korean tradition of welcoming the first sunrise of the year from a mountaintop. We began the ascent around 6:30 and I insisted the others go ahead without me, as I knew I couldn't keep pace with the much younger and healthier legs of the other 8 members of the group. This was my fourth time to do this, but the first for the others, and I knew they would be excited to get to the top and join the festivities.

As I climbed, I granted myself frequent rest stops to regain my wind and rest my legs. I was not alone in this - particularly, there was a mother and her son who were lagging behind Dad and the other son. A couple of times in the middle of the climb, I passed them as they were taking a break and they passed me as I stopped to recover. On one occasion when I was resting the boy, perhaps ‘seeing’ me for the first time in the improving light, stopped and being several paces upslope from me, turned and said hello. After our brief exchange of greetings, they moved on, only to have me catch up with them in a few minutes, as they were resting on the stone steps of the path. I took the opportunity to make a little small talk with the boy, asking where he lived and explaining I lived in Seongcheon dong. Again I moved on ahead of them to the final part of the climb.

With the sound of the Samilnoori drawing me to the peak, I pushed myself hard for a while and really paid the price. Just some 25 metres below the summit, I stood with hands on knees, my burning lungs gasping for sweet air. I nodded, but couldn't speak, as Mom and son once again passed me on their climb. I watched their progress and after perhaps 10 steps the boy turned to his mom and had a conversation with her, which I couldn't overhear, but I knew it was about me as he kept glancing down at me. He then walked back down the rugged steps towards me and suggested in Korean and body language that he would help me finish the climb. At that moment, I just couldn't begin again, so I insisted he move on, at the same time expressing my gratitude and grudgingly he began to climb again.

In a few minutes I decided to take the final push and as I neared my goal I found the boy sitting on the path alone, quite obviously waiting for me. His parents and brother were watching from the top of the path. As I stopped before him, he said, ‘Let's go to the top together.’ And so, a 58 year old Canadian man and a 12 year old Korean boy (already a man in my eyes) beat the mountain - side by side.

Inherent traits of great leaders are their humanity and their willingness to share success with others. I can't be sure - but I may have met a future resident of the Blue House.

 

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Korea’s Future is very Bright.