- JungYeol Kim
- Nov 20, 2024
- 2 min read
Was it back in 2013? I remember a simple assignment for a graduate class: to design a store and community activities. I’ve mentioned this story a few times before.
The assignment included:Three stores, three activities, and one church.
Be Free, Go Slow – A thrift shop, a used bookstore, and a repair shop.
Small Talk, Long Walk – F&B combined with music.
Honey, Moon, and Stars – A small hotel paired with an art gallery.
Activities included:
Ordinary People – A local market.
Paper People – A community newspaper.
Wild People – Light overseas volunteer work.
And then, there was the church.
Surprisingly, many of these ideas have become a reality over the years. What started as a purely conceptual project turned into something tangible, almost eerily so.
Be Free, Go Slow became Soobaak Vintage.
Ordinary People became Goomirae (Old Future Flea Market)
Paper People became Green and Black (we published three issues before it paused).
And the church? That evolved into Soobaak Church.
Today's Story: Wild People
In my twenties and thirties, I participated in numerous overseas volunteer (or mission) activities. Back then, it was intense—serious, purpose-driven, and often a niche effort.
What I envision now is different: a lighthearted, fun, and meaningful volunteer experience for the majority, not just the serious few. I’ve always admired initiatives like TOMS’ shoe drops. They were impactful but approachable, combining purpose with simplicity and fun.
The idea?Gather a group of friends, travel somewhere—Thailand, Cambodia, you name it. Do some meaningful volunteer work, create engaging content, and attract others to join, not with somber intensity but with a spirit of joy. And of course, we’d eat delicious food, get massages, and maybe even shop for treasures along the way.
A Visit to Cambodia
Recently, I visited Cambodia. About 15 kilometers from Phnom Penh lies a place called Dangkor, a landfill village where people live and work among the trash. They collect recyclables to earn around $5 a day.
Climbing the garbage mountain, inhaling its stench, and witnessing barefoot children eating and playing amidst it all—it was overwhelming.
Meanwhile, back in Phnom Penh, I stayed at a relatively luxurious hotel for about $80 a night. One evening, I browsed listings for an 18K gold Piaget watch priced well over 10 million KRW. That stark contrast hit me hard. Yet, I reconciled with it: they are who they are, and I am who I am. I can only focus on what I can do.
Not About "Good Influence"
I’ve had casual conversations with friends about simple actions, like cleaning up trash in our neighborhood. But here’s one thing: I avoid the term “good influence” like the plague. That’s not what we’re after. It’s not about seeking recognition or being a beacon of virtue. It’s just about doing what we can—because we can.
Imagine this: having fun, engaging with people, and doing a bit of good along the way. Nothing grand, nothing intense. Just a lighthearted group of people doing their part.
Maybe my role is to connect these worlds—mobilizing the “lighthearted many” to support the “serious few.” If that’s something I can do, then I’ll give it a shot.