[Book Sip] The Long-Awaited Intimate Relationship... Creating 'Yeo-baek' Space Comes First

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This is a collection of 63 columns by Pastor and literary critic Kim Gi-seok. The author points out that economic instability, climate crisis, and social conflicts are reinforcing social boundaries, pushing the socially vulnerable to extremes. He insists on the need for a 'space of hospitality' in a society rife with exclusion and hostility. Emphasizing that embracing diverse values and differences is the essence of democracy and faith, he offers humanistic insights based on Eastern and Western classics.

The world tries to silence those who died unjustly and their families. There are those who say, "Be quiet!" "Wait!" "Isn't this enough? What more do you want?" and treat the incident as if it were resolved with a few coins of compensation. True mourning for those who have suffered absurd tragedies is to improve social systems and create a culture that respects life so that such events never happen again. Those who do not back down despite ridicule and insults, who resist oblivion and wage a struggle of memory, never lose. As long as there are those who try to revive fading memories, justice will not collapse. The date when Luther sent a letter to clergymen from Birmingham Jail was coincidentally April 16.

Even if we cannot expect Plato’s philosopher-king, it would be good if those with humanistic education became representatives of the people. This is an era that requires people who deeply understand the complex and diverse realities of humanity, listen attentively to the voices of marginalized people, and have a clear stance on the direction history should take. Such a person must also be someone who constantly strives to face the various crises our era confronts and possesses practical wisdom to overcome them. Their thinking must be flexible, and respect for humanity must reside in the deepest part of their mind. If people who base their existence on belittling others or who shout loudly to silence others take the stage of history, history inevitably regresses.

Humanity, having boarded the chariot of desire, lives in Cassandra’s time. The religion of consumerism captivates people’s souls. Capitalism, maintained through the expanded reproduction of desire, constantly creates signs of scarcity to tempt people. People cannot endure the time lag between desire and satisfaction. The moment they grasp the sign of happiness they have desperately obtained, another deficiency becomes apparent. Happiness is postponed, leaving only a tiring daily life. Thus, the fatigue society arrives.

There is a saying that a name is an omen. The moment we hear a name, our body and mind respond simultaneously. When we hear the name of a favorite food, our heart naturally warms and saliva gathers in our mouth. When we hear the name of a disliked food, our face wrinkles. When a name is called, there are people whose longing spreads like mist and a smile appears on their lips, and others whose hearts fill with discomfort and bodies stiffen. A name is a symbol for distinction. Knowing a name means awakening to individuality.

To form intimate relationships, one must first create space to welcome others. However, at some point, houses that once welcomed neighbors without formality have become highly private spaces, and even when meeting friends after a long time, conversations are awkward. Indirect meetings through social networking services are more familiar than face-to-face encounters. In that space, one can express empathy with ‘Like,’ ‘Cheer up,’ or ‘Sad,’ but does not deeply engage with the other’s reality. A safe distance is maintained. The meaning of life is a gift given when responding to the needs of others.

When crushed by the weight of life and unsure what to do, one must have a place to go. Of course, that place can be a specific space, a person, or a community. Even if no words are spoken, if there is a place or someone by your side where you can just be yourself, you can overcome life’s hardships. Some soothe their worries by tending a garden; others calm their minds by hoeing in the field. (...) There are people everywhere who beautify places through hospitality. Thanks to those who spring forth wells of hospitality in a sea of hostility, we gain the strength to live again.

Minimum Dignity | Written by Kim Gi-seok | Hyunamsa | 308 pages | 20,000 KRW