Review on Author Myung-whan Go’s Lecture: Luck Comes to Those Who Move

This article is a personal summary and reflection based on author Myung-whan Go’s lecture, held at the Future Preparation Academy of the Daegu Institute for Lifelong Education on June 25, 2026. Please note that this is not a verbatim transcript of the speaker’s exact words, but rather an interpretation and record shaped by the writer's own understanding.

June 25, 2026, at the Future Preparation Academy of the Daegu Institute for Lifelong Education. Photo: Ludens Times

The character for 'luck' or 'fortune' in Korean/Chinese is Un (運). This character is a combination of two parts: 'to walk slowly' (辶) and 'army' (軍). In ancient times, the character 'army' (軍) represented a line of military troops moving in chariots or wagons. Therefore, Un (運) signifies "the flow of life coming toward you, just as a wagon moves along a road toward its destination." In other words, 'good fortune' is not a sudden stroke of luck dropping out of thin air. Instead, it can be understood as a wagon carrying good energy that passes you by within that flow—provided that you, as an individual, are constantly moving along the path of your life.

In the face of death, consequentialism becomes utterly useless. Lying on one's deathbed, achievements like "I accomplished this" or "I possess that" are things that do not even cross one's mind. Furthermore, if we were to die tomorrow, saying "I must do this now so I can be happy later" is nothing more than utter nonsense. When we have no idea when we might die, there is no such thing as a future happiness! What genuinely comes to mind in the face of death are questions like: "Why was I born?" and "Did I live a satisfying life without regrets?"

If that is the case, is it easy to choose to be happy right now when we never know when we might die? As simple as it sounds, it requires a certain kind of 'courage.' The courage to break free from the standards and frameworks set by the world, society, and others, and to resolve to walk one's own path. The courage to filter out and rise above all the noise and chatter the world throws at you. Blindly walking a path paved by society or others is exactly why people lose interest in life, easily falling into burnout or depression. To enjoy happiness in the present moment, crossing this threshold is an inevitable challenge. It is only when you get onto your own track—the trajectory you create yourself—that you truly begin to feel the joy and value of living.

The More You Marvel, the More Marvelous Your Life Becomes

In our daily lives, we need to live expressing frequent exclamations of wonder—those words that burst out of us spontaneously. Saying things like, "Oh my, what a brilliant perspective!" or "Wow... I never knew someone could think that way!" The more you marvel at the world, the more reasons your life gives you to marvel.

The Secret to Turning the Ordinary into the Extraordinary

Relentless 'Repetition' is Key!

As noted in Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens:

History cares nothing about the happiness of individual organisms.

While the pace of scientific and technological advancement is blindingly fast, the evolution of social institutions is painfully slow. The only two places that have maintained the exact same institutional structure for over 50 years are 'prisons' and 'school buildings.' This architectural and structural style, optimized during the Japanese colonial era for 'control' and 'standardization' rather than individual creativity, can never provide a life guideline for an era defined by AI, technological breakthroughs, and extended lifespans. This system was originally built based on an average life expectancy of 47 years; how can it possibly take responsibility for a generation living well past 100?

Then, how and in what manner can we utilize ourselves as individuals?

Operate on 'Curiosity'

Read books for just 5 minutes a day. Repeat this every single day for a year. Repetition is everything. Go for a walk or exercise right after reading. That is when your Un (luck/movement) begins to stir.

There is an enlightenment that comes from the sheer act of repetition itself. This does not mean that rolling an omelet 100 times simply makes you an omelet master. Rather, through the repetition of the exact same act, you eventually discover a clarity about what you need to do next.

Make the Action the 'Purpose,' Not the Means

Do not degrade your creative acts into a mere tool, such as thinking, "I need to develop an amazing recipe just to make a lot of money." Instead, let the very act of developing that recipe be your ultimate purpose. When it comes to true happiness, there is no such thing as a stepping stone or a means to an end.

Humans Find Happiness in 'Production,' Not Consumption

True happiness comes from producing, not consuming. If you spend your life constantly consuming, dragged around by what the world hands you, you will only end up facing regret at the moment of death.

You Will Learn to Predict the Future

If you read every single day for a year, you naturally gain the ability to predict the future because you begin to read the grand flow of the world. Once you see that flow, the path to generating wealth naturally reveals itself. You can only monetize your thoughts when you are capable of translating them into spoken and written words.

The future will be defined by 'Humans vs. Humans powered by AI.' We are entering an era of zero-employee companies. Sell your thoughts. Those who start clumsily are the ones who succeed. If you sit still waiting for the perfect method to strike, it will never come. The more language you master, the more information you unlock—and that is the ultimate gateway to discovering opportunity.

Do Things That Leave You Feeling Good Afterward

Exercise and reading are the prime examples. Never let your labor and time sit in a strict 1:1 ratio with money. Money is ultimately a reflection of credit and trust. If you elevate your trustworthiness, money naturally follows. Before you ever try to build credit with the world, build credit with yourself first.

Be even more cautious with your actions and words when no one is watching.

By doing so, you heighten your autonomy and self-control, allowing you to experience a thrilling sense of catharsis.

Cultivate the Capacity for Metaphor and Abstraction

Trying to develop these abilities solely through direct experience demands an astronomical opportunity cost. However, cultivating them through books completely offsets that cost. A 'metaphor' is a 'connection.' Connection transforms into 'emotion,' and emotion ultimately translates into value and wealth. The power of 'abstraction' is the ability to extract a worldview and a system that others completely miss. Today, technical functionality alone is no longer enough. You must inject 'meaning' into that functionality, build 'trust' on top of it, and then offer it to the world.

The Power to Win Before You Even Fight

This power is unlocked when you commit to a one-year repetition. Repetition is paramount. If you read daily and exercise for a full year, you will finally see what you are truly capable of (=your own path and trajectory). You will learn to predict the future, develop the capacity for metaphor and abstraction, and ultimately create your own unique product—infused with meaning and trust—ready to be shared with the world.