NA Member Go Seung-Deok of GNP Emphasizes the Importance of Hard Work Well known to the public due to his stint on the TV program “Solomon’s Choice” as a legal consultant, National Assembly member Go Seung-Deok of the GNP gave a lecture entitled “The ABCD Strategy for Success” on November 3. A member of the 18th NA and a lawyer, Go graduated at the top of his class from the law department of Seoul National University and was at the center of attention when he managed to pass the legal (youngest to pass), administrative (highest score), and foreign policy (second highest score) exams while still in college. He is also an expert in economics and investment, having been a consultant and an author of bestselling books on stock market investments. Mr. Go shared his strategies for success from his life experience in his trademark witty and comfortable manner. Hard work was his main theme. “Your life is decided not by your talents or wealth but how you live. Hard work is especially important in life. In microeconomics, greatest profit with smallest investment is the credo, but in investment, it is important to achieve the better result, even at a greater cost. I would like to advise you to follow the investment principle and put in hard work for success.” However, his emphasis was on the qualitative aspect of hard work, as opposed to the quantitative. Creating a strategy that sets you off from the crowd and putting in concentrated work was recommended over putting in as much time as you can without looking around. Mr. Go also recommended that students let go of the past, rediscover the present, and look onto the future. “In high school, my grades fell so low that my teachers told me I couldn’t go to college. If I had allowed myself to become discouraged, I would not be what I am today. You must believe in yourself and do the best you can in your current situation. Let go of the past and discover the future.” “How” you live is also important, according to Rep. Go. He categorized the ways of living one’s life into the four categories of A, B, C, D and said that individuals make the choice to live their lives in one of these categories. People at the level D work reluctantly, people at the level C work as they are told, people in the level B work in consideration of what others expect, and people at the level A work autonomously to create new value. Companies do not like the C or D types because there is no potential for growth or development. A types are superior to B types because they are self-motivated and actively create value, rather than catering to what others expect of them. These types can be found in any occupation or industry, and people in the A group are the most respected. “Due to the rise of individualism in the 21st century, the most ideal individual is not a saint or leader but an autonomous, self-motivated, creative individual. In order for Korea to become a stronger nation, we need more people in the A group.” During the question session, Mr. Go said his image of the ideal judge is someone who never stops developing his or her specialty, while an ideal lawyer should be active in society in addition to her duties as a lawyer.