[Current & Culture]You Are Like 'Braille' to Me

Twelve-year-old writer Park Eun-seol, who is visually impaired
Describes those who help him as "braille"
A different way of saying "thank you" resonates deeply

There is one memorable scene in the drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo. When lawyer Choi Soo-yeon asks Woo Young-woo, "What am I to you?" he replies, "You are like the sunshine on a spring day to me." She had been quietly supporting Woo Young-woo, who has autism, and that is why he called her like the sunshine on a spring day. The moment he heard those words, his expression became complex?filled with gratitude and tenderness, mixed with a sense of apology, wondering if he was someone worthy of such words.

A few days ago, I met 12-year-old writer Park Eun-seol, who wrote A Day of Eun-seol. There was a discussion with him at the Gangneung Office of Education. He was born visually impaired. Reading is difficult for him, and writing is even more so, yet he managed to write a book-length account of his life. I was curious how such a miraculous feat was possible, and he said it was because of braille. In front of him was a device called Hansone, a small keyboard-like tool that uses braille. More precisely, it was an instrument with keys like a melodion, engraved with braille. He said he could do anything with it. He also said that the person who invented braille was truly amazing and very much appreciated. The audience of about 30 people all looked at him with loving expressions.

The word that appeared most frequently in his book was "thankful." He never forgot to say thank you to his teachers, friends, parents, and everyone who helped him. I asked him how he would describe the people who help him in one word. After a moment of thought, he answered, "Braille. Those people are braille to me." At that moment, the expressions of several people watching him seemed as if they were about to cry. I think I felt the same. I was relieved that he could not see my expression. The people in the audience looked like braille at that moment. Sitting here and there, each with different symbols they had created, but all were people who wanted to help someone from their own place. However, many people’s expressions mixed gratitude and apology, wondering if it was okay for them, for us, to hear such words from that child, and if they were good enough to deserve it.

Because there were many people around who became his language, this young writer was able to live so firmly and well. Saying thank you, and saying that they are his language.

After composing my almost tearful expression, I asked writer Park Eun-seol again: what is a good thing that has braille, and what is an inconvenient thing without braille? He said he was thankful that there are cup noodles with braille, so he can avoid eating spicy noodles he cannot eat. Ah, there are cup noodles with braille. But just because some exist and some don’t, I told him I would now only buy cup noodles with braille. Come to think of it, I had never considered whether cup noodles had braille or not. Park Eun-seol then said that an inconvenient thing without braille is signboards. It would be great if braille were always present to convey information.

From now on, whenever I go somewhere or do something, I will try to think like Eun-seol and check if there is braille. It may be nothing special, but I will try to visit places and buy products where braille exists. Before that, I want to become someone’s braille.

Kim Min-seop, Social and Cultural Critic

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