[W Forum] A World That Only Remembers the Number One

Junho, the son, always comes in fourth place despite his hard efforts, so he has no medals. The child's mother hires an excellent coach to somehow improve his performance. Finally, he gets second place! He wins a medal for the first time. The whole family spreads out newspaper at home and holds a bulgogi party. But the younger sibling says, "Did you get second place because you got hit? So you got fourth place before because you didn’t get hit?"

The father is shocked to see bruises hidden under Junho’s clothes and scolds the mother. He asks if the new coach hit him. The mother shouts, "I’m more afraid of Junho coming in fourth than him getting hit," and then sobs. "I will cover those wounds with a medal!"

A scene from the movie "4th Place," which deals with the violence in our society toward medals, grades, and rankings, comes to mind. (A 2015 work by director Jung Ji-woo, who made Eungyo)

At this year’s Tokyo Olympics, Korea’s women’s volleyball team came in fourth. Despite having no medals, they receive as much love from citizens as the gold medalists in fencing and archery. There is an outpouring of affection for the young table tennis player Shin Yu-bin, who narrowly missed the semifinals. Not only that, but there is also a gentle warmth around the rugby team, who participated for the first time aiming for just one win.

Changes have occurred. Until now, the public empathized with tears over the hardships and sweat of elite athletes who won gold medals at the Taereung Training Center. Much time has passed, and after going through a period when articles about athletes escaping violence at the training center and even sexual violence were mentioned, now gold medalists talk about their achievements with joyful memories and laughter. And athletes who did not win medals also receive love and encouragement.

Many factors have contributed to this change, but if in the past elders enjoyed sports only with their eyes and mouths, nowadays, having tried it themselves, people personally feel the difference between athletes and ordinary people, and between athletes and national representatives. Olympic athletes are an untouchable "world class."

Perhaps because of the drama Racket Boys, the badminton court in the apartment, which had been bleakly neglected, seems to have been newly renovated with the joyful sounds of children. Watching the women’s celebrity soccer program Kick a Goal, at first it seemed like slapstick comedy with missed kicks and falls, but after a few months, they showed remarkable growth and all displayed great plays. Through soccer as a medium, they showed how they coordinate their roles for the victory of their team.

What stands out most is the change in these "sweating women." They all look younger and prettier. Their bodies look firmer... It seems more effective than any high-end cosmetics or plastic surgery.

I hope many people enjoy recreational sports. I hope they become healthier and find various meanings in it. I want to see the base expand to various sports, and some grow into world-class athletes with efforts and competitiveness comparable to the Taereung Training Center. And the more we realize what kind of organized play is needed for our team to win, and the more we experience individual sacrifice and effort being achieved through mutual encouragement and sweat, the healthier and stronger society will become. I dream of a healthy competitive society through various everyday sports.

Seo Jaeyeon, Executive Director, Mirae Asset Securities Galleria WM