Short Korean quotes that resonate with the heart: words that can change your life.

중요한 것은 속도가 아니라 방향이다.

A famous saying in Japanese that’s important when moving things forward is: “What matters is not speed, but direction.” People tend to prioritize speed to some extent, and especially in work, we’re often pushed to go faster for the sake of productivity.

However, no matter how quickly you work, it’s meaningless if you’re headed in the wrong direction—and it’s inefficient, too.

This message reminds us that speed only has value when there’s a clear vision and direction to guide it.

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Hoshino Takashi

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최고보다는 늘 최선을 다하라.

The phrase “XX-first” has become trendy.

You see it in the news and online almost every day, but if you don’t know what exactly the “first” refers to, the real intent doesn’t quite come across, does it? Maybe it’s used so often because it sounds pleasant to the ear.

Take “children-first,” for example: rather than giving kids the best education as defined by adults, shouldn’t it mean thinking all the way through what the best education is for the children themselves and providing that? It may sound a bit self-serving, but if we dig deeper into this expression used in Korea as well, I wonder if it might actually help clarify what constitutes good or bad approaches.

What do you think?

포기하는 것은 선택이지 운명이 아니다.

Those who are on the verge of wanting to run away might feel a jolt reading this.

The Japanese saying that means “Giving up is a choice, not fate” sternly admonishes people who try to blame others and quit.

Whether it’s a dream or a goal, when people are about to give up, they tend to justify it by citing something beyond their control—like their environment or abilities—and tell themselves “it can’t be helped.” However, the message teaches that the one who ultimately decides whether to give up is you yourself.

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Hoshino Takashi

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피할 수 없는 고통이라면 즐겨라.

It sounds like a cool phrase you might hear in a pop song.

“I really hate school exams,” “Pointless company meetings are agony…” — depending on your situation, the kinds of pain differ.

I wonder if this idea of “If the pain is unavoidable, enjoy it” is a minority view in Japan, where enduring hardship is often considered a virtue.

With that mindset, you might even get through Korea’s famously tough mandatory military service without being tense, saying, “Gwenchana-yo, it’s okay.” Of course, it’s an encouraging phrase for Japanese people too!

인생은 뭐든 해봐야 알지.

Shinjiro Torii, the founder of the beverage company Suntory, is famous for the phrase “Give it a try—if you don’t try, you won’t know,” which you often see on calligraphy boards and hanging scrolls.

If someone like Mr.

Torii were your boss, everyone would probably work with real vitality.

By the way, the company name Suntory is a coined word combining “sun,” the source of life, and “Torii,” his own name.

The Korean saying also connects to Torii’s spirit of “give it a try,” doesn’t it? It’s a curious phrase that makes you feel emboldened.

How did you interpret it?

즐기는 자가 노력하는 자를 이긴다.Seo Jang-hoon

Seo Jang-hoon, a former professional basketball player who is now active mainly on variety shows, is a popular TV personality.

His famous quote, rendered in Japanese as “Those who enjoy themselves defeat those who work hard,” may be a message born from his experience as an athlete.

Of course, working hard to win is a given, but whether you do it begrudgingly or with enjoyment can change the results.

This quote teaches us that it’s important to first adopt a positive attitude toward what you’re trying to do.

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Hoshino Takashi

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사랑이 싶으면 외로움도 싶다.Chikyouko

Chikyo Cho, an artist who studied painting at a university in Tokyo and went on to become one of South Korea’s leading female painters.

Her famous saying, rendered in Japanese as “The deeper the love, the deeper the loneliness,” can be applied not only to romance but to many forms of love.

When we lose someone or something we love—no matter the form—we’re seized by a sense of loss, as if a hole has opened in our hearts.

The deeper the love, the greater the loneliness, sorrow, and pain become.

It’s a sentimental quote that makes you want to savor the happiness you have right now.

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Hoshino Takashi

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