"True Genius Benefits Humanity... Overcoming Anti-Intellectualism Through Humanities"

Genuine Genius Uses Outstanding Talent for Humanity's Benefit
Societies Failing to Balance Material and Spiritual Civilization Struggle to Produce Geniuses
Talent Grows Over Time; Life Can Change Depending on Whom You Meet

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] The dictionary definition of a genius is "a person born with innate talent far superior to others." Anyone with talent can become a genius.

However, the criteria of genius researcher Cho Seong-gwan are stricter. He names a genius only as "a talented person who uses their innate abilities beneficially for the community, the nation, and ultimately human society."

This includes Nam June Paik, Sigmund Freud, George Orwell, Virginia Woolf, and Natsume S?seki. Since his days as a daily newspaper reporter until now after retirement, he has published nineteen books. Ten of them are about geniuses, and the response has been enthusiastic.

The academy "Genius Table," which covered nine geniuses including Nam June Paik, successfully concluded its first season last month. Opinion leaders from various fields such as corporate CEOs, former metropolitan governors, former ministers, architects, poets, singers, and artists participated and indulged in in-depth genius analysis.

The newspaper column he started to share the knowledge acquired through genius research has already surpassed 100 installments, yet there is still plenty to write about. "Because geniuses continuously inspire me."

Genius researcher Cho Seong-gwan, director of the International Genius Institute, says his life changed through genius research. We met him at a Starbucks Reserve near Gyeongbokgung Station. This place also serves as his writing room where he conducts genius research and writes columns.

- You are a genius researcher who studies geniuses. It sounds somewhat unfamiliar.

▲There are only a few genius researchers worldwide. I am probably the only one active in Korea. The start of my genius research dates back to December 2005. Ahead of the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth on January 26, 2006, I visited Vienna, Austria, for coverage. While braving a snowstorm heading to Mozart's house, suddenly Symphony No. 40 played. As I approached the house, the sound crescendoed, and I got goosebumps all over. It was an overwhelming shock. That experience is still vivid. Afterwards, I returned to Vienna and immersed myself in genius research for ten days, and in 2007, I published the first book in the genius series, "Geniuses Loved by Vienna."

- I heard the most frequently asked question is the definition of a genius. Has that definition changed?

▲Being good at solving math problems or memorizing well is not genius. A genius is someone who benefits many people with their talent. I believe not only those who benefit human society but also entrepreneurs who create something out of nothing are geniuses. That is why I include Lee Byung-chul and Chung Ju-yung as geniuses.

- You have written many books about geniuses. Among the figures you covered, who do you feel most attached to?

▲Journalist and senior George Orwell. Other geniuses cannot be imitated even with research, but George Orwell was an excellent writer. I often think about trying to put in even one-tenth of his effort.

- What is the process of genius research?

▲First, I read every book related to the figure, including original texts, to cover almost all books about them. Then I visit places related to the person. People often overlook the significance of space, but when you visit the place, you can have a silent communion with that person. Whether you visit the site or not makes a world of difference. I hire a local coordinator to plan the optimal route and immerse myself in research for ten days. When I was a reporter, it took two years to publish a book, but now it takes about one year.

- Why don’t you introduce geniuses of the current era?

▲Living figures tend to become subjects of controversy. A person can be a genius for a certain period but not for a lifetime. Continuity is important. Time is needed to review a life. I knew the late Lee O-young well, but I did not write about him while he was alive.

- It is said that it is difficult for geniuses to emerge in Korea, where tolerance for differences is low. Why do you think geniuses are rare?

▲Two elements are necessary in advanced countries: material and spiritual civilization must be balanced. Korea became the seventh country to launch a commercial satellite successfully with the Nuri rocket launch. With Samsung, LG, and Hyundai, Korea is clearly an advanced country anywhere. On the other hand, how is the spiritual civilization? It is very lacking. Only when both rise together can the foundation for producing geniuses be established.

- I heard the recent ‘Genius Table’ Season 1 event was a great success. How was it created?

▲I retired in 2018 and debuted as a full-time writer. I started giving lectures the following year. But when COVID-19 broke out in 2020, the next two years were hell. Then former Deputy Prosecutor Bong Wook, who was a candidate for Prosecutor General alongside President Yoon Seok-yeol, gave me the idea to open an academy. He said, "You have abundant genius content, so gather people." After preparing for a year, we launched it, and it sold out in two months. I owe him a lifelong debt of gratitude. (laughs)

Genius Table Season 1 Textbook - Virginia Woolf Edition

- What part do people show the most interest in?

▲Many were interested in how talents exploded. Even geniuses find it hard to succeed by their own strength alone. Many cases show that meeting someone changed their lives. Virginia Woolf would not have blossomed her talent if she had not met her husband. If Yun Dong-ju’s junior at Yonhui Professional School, Jeong Byeong-wook, had not preserved the handwritten poetry collection, he could not have been resurrected as a poet. I believe a genius is made up of 1% talent, 29% surrounding environment, and 70% effort. Talent grows gradually. I emphasize that your life can change depending on whom you meet. That is why I stress "Thanks to~." Entrepreneurs are also very interested in the humanistic perspective that penetrates public needs.

- I heard your lecture on Virginia Woolf received great response.

▲It is perfectly suited to the current era. Virginia Woolf was a representative 20th-century British writer and a notable victim of sexual crime (sexually abused by her stepbrother). Her life is heartbreaking. Poet Park In-hwan called it a "sorrowful story" in "The Mare and the Lady" (1950). During the lecture, I show Virginia Woolf’s birthplace and the place where she died to raise awareness of how serious sexual abuse is as a crime.

- What are your future plans?

▲The genius series is tentatively completed with ten volumes. Afterwards, I plan to compile and publish "Cho Seong-gwan’s World Humanities Journey," which I serialized 142 times in newspapers. I am also preparing for Genius Table Season 2. The goal is to overcome anti-intellectualism. For that, a foundation of humanities education is essential. A society with deep humanities literacy among its people is never easily swayed by propaganda and agitation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.