230914_W8 [Principle]
When I searched "principled person" on Google, the definition that emerged was someone who faithfully follows their principles, refusing to abandon them when convenient. Based on this, I can judge myself as someone who doesn’t have strong principles, as I usually behave differently depending on the situation. In fact, I once experienced working with a PM who had strong principles. Team members liked and respected her at the beginning, but in the end, the members stopped expressing their opinions to the PM as she solely listened to the professor's words. So, even when the professor made mistakes due to the overwhelming workload, team members needed to follow the wrong path even if they knew that it was wrong.
There is another historical example: the 남한산성 battle in 1636 which was also released as a movie. That movie shows the conflict between a principled person who insists that they shouldn't surrender to the Qing dynasty and a flexible person who insists that they should surrender. In the beginning, King 인조 of the Joseon Dynasty agrees with the principled person, so he decides to do battles with the Qing even though they have much less military power. As time goes by, however, the mounting losses, including deaths from starvation and battles leads 인조 to embrace the flexible person's opinion to surrender to the Qing and save their people. Consequently, 인조 kneels before Qing. Even though it still remains a sad and embarrassing chapter in Korean history, it is estimated that this choice ultimately saved many lives as he stopped the war.
When I have these kinds of experiences or watch something related to it, I hold respect for those who follow their faith even when a convenient alternative presents itself. I think it requires a lot of commitment and integrity. To be honest, it is thanks to them that we could be independent from the Japanese colony as well. However, In today’s modern society, except for certain positions like public servants, some flexibility is often needed to work together or build relationships. Let’s say there is a situation where you need to cross a street without a traffic signal. The road is short and cars rarely pass. If a friend suggests crossing without waiting for the signal, what would you say?
In my opinion, upholding your principles even when there is a more convenient and easier way is really important in this corrupt world, but sometimes depending on the situation, being flexible is essential. If you are a principled person, perhaps occasionally allowing yourself to deviate from strict rules and ethical standards, even if just once a month, could provide valuable insights and balance.