"Grabbed My Belly Laughing Multiple Times"... Book Strongly Recommended by 71-Year-Old Moon on His Birthday

Former President Moon Jae-in and First Lady Kim Jung-sook visited Yeongchuksan on the 24th to celebrate former President Moon's 71st birthday.
[Photo by Moon's official Facebook]

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On his 71st birthday, former President Moon Jae-in recommended a book with an interesting title. On the 24th, Moon posted on Facebook that he was recommending a cheerful book. The book is titled "How Is That Friend Who Was Bad at Studying Living Now?" The author is hidden under the pen name Guro Sanbamondeu. Moon said, "'That friend who was bad at studying' is the author himself. Although the author used a pen name, he is a vice principal at a middle school in Yangsan," and introduced the book by saying, "The author, who was bad at studying, struggled hard to get through his school life, became a teacher, and shared episodes from his life teaching children." He added, "'Struggling hard' refers to both 'struggling because of poor academic performance' and 'struggling because of poverty.' Still, it is cheerful."

Moon said, "The desperate part-time jobs to earn living and tuition fees during college and the desperate efforts to fill a hungry stomach can be read cheerfully thanks to the author's humorous writing style," and added, "While reading the book, I laughed out loud several times from the preface and couldn't hold back my laughter." He continued, "Although this book tells the author's story, it comforts and encourages people who have lived through tough times in the same era with 'You worked hard! Still, we did well!' It is also a consolation for the younger generation who must live through hardships." Moon then said, "I recommend this book to all people who are bad at studying," and added, "I also want to recommend it to those who are good at studying and successful, hoping they empathize more with the world."

Book cover recommended by former President Moon Jae-in

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Earlier, Moon posted on Facebook, "On my birthday, it's hiking," along with a photo of himself and First Lady Kim Jung-sook against the snowy backdrop of Yeongchuksan Mountain. The day before, a flower basket congratulating President Yoon Seok-youl on his birthday was delivered.

The author of the book recommended by Moon introduced himself as a current middle school vice principal who attended elementary, middle, and high school in the 1980s and university in the 1990s as part of Generation X. He majored in philosophy in college but switched to English education after military service, passed the teacher certification exam, and became an English teacher. He has taught for 20 years and worked as an educational supervisor in the education office until last year. He said his consistent life motto is to live loved by colleagues, students, and family.

In a portion of the book provided by the publisher, there is a passage that reads, "The curses Koreans use have peculiar characteristics. 'Where did you learn to do such a thing?' (asking about the source of private education). 'Did your parents teach you that way?' (inquiring about the level of home education). 'What did you just say?' (immediately failing to understand the meaning). 'Hey, you sir!' (raising the other's status). 'You damn bastard!' (enjoying the use of metaphor)."

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