“Rural Doctor Park Kyung-chul’s Self-Revolution”

In the early 2010s, when An Cheol-soo transformed from a businessman to a politician, he brought a new breeze to the political arena. Now a member of the “People Power Party,” he has gained an image as a politician engaging in stale and stereotypical politics, but his life story, transitioning from founding “AhnLab” to becoming a programmer combating computer viruses after being a doctor, has inspired many.

During An Cheol-soo’s peak popularity in the early 2010s, he toured the country with “Park Kyung-chul,” a rural doctor, holding talk concerts with university students. Through this process, An Cheol-soo became known to the public and left a positive impression on university students at the time. While Park Kyung-chul also received attention during this period, he remained as a doctor, writer, and stock market expert, without entering politics.

“Rural Doctor Park Kyung-chul Known as a Doctor and Stock Market Expert”

The title always attached to the name Park Kyung-chul is “rural doctor.” Indeed, Park Kyung-chul is a medical doctor who graduated from “Yeungnam University College of Medicine.” After graduating, he opened a clinic in Andong in 2001, and at one point, he achieved the third highest number of patients nationwide in a private hospital.

Dr. Park Kyung-chul has also authored several books and gained recognition online as a stock market expert. Using the pen name “Rural Doctor,” he began sharing stock investment forecasts on the internet in the mid-1990s. Making accurate predictions during crucial moments, he became a trusted investment analyst for many individual investors.

For his contributions, he won the “Securities Futures Award” in 2006, becoming the first non-professional to be selected by a securities firm. While some of his predictions were incorrect, some significant ones turned out to be accurate:

Parting with growth stocks in 1999: Predicting a stock market crash following the dot-com bubble collapse in 2000, he sold all stocks.
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, he stated that there would be no opportunity to buy Samsung Electronics stocks at this price within 10 years: Following the financial crisis in 1998 and the dot-com bubble burst in 2000, stock prices bottomed out and entered a major upward trend.
In 2007, the Korean stock market’s peak theory: After hitting 2000, stock prices plummeted around 2008 amid concerns about the financial crisis.

“Park Kyung-chul’s Book, Self-Revolution”

Park Kyung-chul, with his diverse background, wrote a book titled “Self-Revolution,” which offers various insights. The book is quite thick, with around 400 pages, consisting of independent stories that are not entirely heavy but not entirely light to read either.

The book follows a format similar to John Locke’s “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” addressing philosophical perspectives on various topics and proposing solutions and directions for personal growth.

The book is divided into five major chapters, each addressing different themes:

Finding Myself
Dialogue with the World
Self-Revolution that Moves Me
Learning and Growth for Self-Revolution
Changes and Challenges Opening the Future

Although each chapter covers slightly different content, they collectively form a cohesive narrative, ultimately addressing the question, “Who is the master of our lives?”

“Chapter 1: Finding Myself”

The first chapter explores the theme of “Finding Myself.” It discusses the concept of kitsch, artificial substitutes such as simulacra, and emphasizes the importance of developing one’s own values and worldview.

“Chapter 2: Dialogue with the World”

In the second chapter, “Dialogue with the World,” the discussion revolves around language as an indicator of personality and the role of intellectuals in modern society.

“Chapter 3: Self-Revolution that Moves Me”

The third chapter delves into the theme of “Self-Revolution,” advocating for a proactive approach to life guided by one’s values and attitudes. It emphasizes the significance of maintaining good habits and cultivating talents while focusing on the present moment and critical thinking.

“Chapter 4: Learning and Growth for Self-Revolution”

This chapter emphasizes the importance of meeting people and reading books as essential forms of learning and growth. It also highlights the value of abandoning meaningless habits and routines.

“Chapter 5: Changes and Challenges Opening the Future”

The final chapter addresses the absence of hope and the prevalence of depression, exploring reasons for this phenomenon and proposing attitudes and actions necessary for change. It also draws insights from Eastern classics like the Book of Changes and modern philosophers like Michael Sandel.

In conclusion, “Self-Revolution” by rural doctor Park Kyung-chul offers thought-provoking insights, inviting readers to engage in self-reflection and dialogue. Reading the book feels like having a conversation with Park Kyung-chul himself, making it a valuable read.

“Self-Revolution” by Park Kyung-chul: