The ‘MBN Y Forum’ began with a lecture by Yoo Seung-min, the president of the Korean Sports Council, followed by talks from speakers like Choo Sung-hoon and Shim Eui-teum, who are considered role models for the MZ generation, instilling challenge, courage, and hope in the youth of the 2030s.
On the 28th, the ‘MBN Y Forum’, a mentoring festival for the youth of 2030, was held at Korea University’s Hwajeong Gymnasium. The ‘MBN Y Forum’ embodies a vision for the youth of 2030 to extend their aspirations globally, seeking paths to personal and national prosperity and creating a hopeful world together. This year’s theme for the ‘MBN Y Forum’ is ‘Paint your Colors!’
In the afternoon, lectures by the speakers took place. The opening performance was by Song So-hee. Following that, lectures were given by Yoo Seung-min, president of the Korean Sports Council, mixed martial artist Choo Sung-hoon, YouTuber Shim Eui-teum, founder of ‘Red Helicopter’ James Lee, Le Sserafim’s Heo Yoon-jin, YouTuber Mimi Minu, Korean National Railroad Corporation SNS team deputy Kang Ha-young, YouTube channel Tabb’s Yoon Tae-yong, Kim Gyu-nam, and Yoon Hyuk-jun.
First, surprise guest Congressman Jin Jong-o appeared and said, “I was a national representative for 20 years. In my youth, I often wondered, ‘What will I become next?’” He continued, “I felt lost without goals or motivation during my childhood. I wondered if I could succeed in shooting sports in Korea, but at some point, my goals appeared, and I found motivation to pursue my dreams.”
He added, “Do not lose hope and strive to create a country where life is good, a country you desire, a country where you can dream. I hope you achieve your dreams.”
Yoo Seung-min also mentored the youth. He shared, “I was a genius as a child. I was nicknamed a table tennis prodigy. The pressure from that nickname was immense.” He recounted, “I went to the Olympics as the youngest national representative, but due to the pressure of the stage, I couldn’t show even 50% of my preparation and failed to win a medal. People around me said, ‘I thought he was a prodigy, but he’s nothing special.’ I had always received praise, and hearing that made me fall into a slump.”
He then mentioned his achievement of winning a gold medal at the Athens Olympics, saying, “It was truly an honor, and I felt like I had accomplished everything. It was a dream stage.” He added, “Many people say, ‘Yoo has only walked a flower path,’ but that’s not true. Even if you are on a rocky path now, aren’t you working hard to walk a flower path? (I did too).”
He continued, “Weaknesses cannot be completely compensated for. So, I thought it was important to acknowledge weaknesses and further highlight and maximize strengths. I maximized my strengths and won an Olympic gold medal. The strengths you have are unique to you, while weaknesses can be common to everyone. Spend more time highlighting your strengths. If you think more sincerely, one more time, one more hour, I believe you can achieve your goals and walk the flower path.”
Choo Sung-hoon, who has transformed from a judo athlete to a mixed martial artist, YouTuber, and broadcaster, also attended as a speaker. He mentioned his past as a judo athlete, saying, “I practiced judo from a young age. When I was doing judo, many things happened. When I was in Japan, I was told, ‘You are Korean,’ and when I came to Korea, I was told, ‘You are Japanese.’ I came to Korea to become a national representative, but there were many issues, so I couldn’t represent Korea. I had a goal to win a gold medal in judo, so it was painful, but I changed my nationality to Japan. I became a representative to win a gold medal, and I did. My next challenge was mixed martial arts. I want to keep challenging myself.”
Choo Sung-hoon has been sharing his daily life through his YouTube channel. From revealing his home to showcasing popular restaurants, he has gained significant attention and achieved 1 million subscribers in a very short time.
Choo Sung-hoon humorously stated, “It’s strangely going well, even though I don’t understand it. Thanks to you, I now have 1.49 million subscribers. It’s been about 4-5 months since I started, and I received the gold button.” He continued, “When I told my child, Sarang, she said, ‘Hmm, that’s true.’ There wasn’t much of a congratulatory message. When I asked, I found out that the YouTube channels she watches have 10 million or even 100 million subscribers. My child said, ‘Dad, shouldn’t you not be satisfied here and work hard looking up?’ I’m determined to work hard to reach 10 million.”
He added, “It won’t be easy. I might fail. But what’s important is the process of moving towards the goal rather than the mindset of ‘I can’t do it.’ I will work hard to reach 10 million subscribers.” He advised, “Life is shorter than you think. No one knows what will happen. So, I want to live by challenging and taking action.”
Fitness creator Shim Eui-teum emphasized the importance of consistent effort by sharing her experiences. She said, “I was born a twin. Right after birth, I was placed in the NICU and spent a month in an incubator, and I was very weak throughout elementary and middle school. My parents used to say, ‘If we combine the hospital bills for the twins, we could buy a house,’” explaining how far she was from health in the past.
She continued, “I was quite good at running, and my teacher told me, ‘You should do sports.’ My parents were worried, saying, ‘You might not be able to handle it,’ but I’m a girl who takes responsibility if I decide to do something, so I worked hard at sports. (While working hard at sports) I had severe muscle pain, and in the morning, I couldn’t even lift my body due to the pain. For 6-7 months, I fought against muscle pain. As a result, my stamina built up.”
Shim Eui-teum also said, “Since I started exercising, I haven’t lived a life away from sports; I live my life within sports. I have never neglected exercise for a single day. I do 1,000 squats a day. Even if our bodies are tired, consistency is the answer. I hope today’s lecture serves as motivation, and when exercise comes into your life, I hope my words, ‘Consistency is the answer,’ come to mind.”
Heo Yoon-jin participated in a lecture by James Lee, the author of the bestseller ‘Red Helicopter’. Heo Yoon-jin said, “I am part of a team called Le Sserafim. You may know, but the team name is created by rearranging the letters of the phrase ‘IM FEARLESS’,” and added, “Le Sserafim means ‘without fear’ or ‘fearlessly.’”
She continued, “Fear is not something that can be eliminated. However, saying that there is no fear means accepting the pain or suffering that comes from pursuing what you truly love, the growing pains. Since there can’t be a life without fear, it’s about saying that you will love what you love while embracing that fear. That is the identity of our team,” and expressed, “I strive to live a life where I continue to choose what I love, even if it hurts. I hope you will also face and love what you love.” She concluded, “One of the sayings I believe in is, ‘We do not live for love, but we love to live.’ I hope you gain strength to live while loving a lot.”
Finally, ‘New Jeans’ Yoon Sung-ho wrapped up the event with a DJ performance featuring popular tracks like ‘Butcher Handsome’ and ‘Don’t Be Greedy,’ amidst a heated atmosphere.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, the ‘MBN Y Forum’ is an annual youth mentoring festival held to inspire and provide dreams to the 2030 generation, the future leaders of South Korea. It is designed as a unique festival where participants can communicate, enjoy, and learn together, featuring various events such as archery, bicycle stepping, mini curling, speed pitching, and golf putting, allowing for both competition and cooperation while naturally fostering a sense of community. The goal is to discover one’s unique colors and embark on a journey to color the world together.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
