In this blog post, I’ll talk about why I’ve chosen advertising genius Lee Je-seok as my role model and the direction I hope to take in life by following his example.
Not long ago, I had the chance to reread my college application essay. It was truly embarrassing. I wondered if I had really been such a bold kid with such grand dreams. The utopia I’d envisioned just a year ago had vanished, and before I knew it, I’d been replaced by someone worrying about “how to skip class without getting caught.” Where had that version of me gone? As I pondered this, a person I’d always held dear in my heart as a role model came to mind: Lee Je-seok, the advertising genius—a man better known for the ads he created than for his name.
My greatest goal in life is to break free from the mold. I don’t want to be remembered merely as someone who graduated from a decent college, worked at a decent job, got married at the right time, and had and raised children. I want to be someone who constantly unleashes my potential without confining myself to limits set by others. In that regard, Lee Je-seok is the perfect role model for me. Lee Je-seok began shattering the prejudices surrounding him as early as his college days. He graduated from the visual design department of a regional university. Although he graduated at the top of his class, his work was repeatedly rejected in design competitions, and even the owner of a local sign shop failed to recognize his talent. To truly learn advertising, he set off alone for the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in the United States with just $500 in his pocket. Although he was a poor international student, he refused to let societal prejudices confine him; instead, he actively sought out opportunities. That choice ultimately transformed his life completely.
Like Lee Je-seok, I, too, want to devote myself to what I love, achieve success, and find happiness in the process. I want to become someone who throws themselves wholeheartedly into work that makes them think, “This is it,” and possesses the tenacity to never give up. The School of Visual Arts in New York, where Lee Je-seok studied, had many young professors who were recognized for their outstanding abilities in the advertising industry. One of them, Anselmo, repeatedly gave Lee Je-seok harsh evaluations without even properly reviewing the advertisements he created for assignments. However, Lee Je-seok worked even harder to gain recognition, and eventually began creating and submitting ten assignments a week—even when none were assigned. Eventually, Anselmo became a mentor who greatly contributed to Lee Je-seok’s growth. Although Lee Je-seok is called an advertising genius, he is someone who constantly jots down ideas and works tirelessly, regardless of time or place. His achievements cannot be explained solely by innate genius. As he himself has said, I believe they are the fruits of the time he has spent pouring his heart and soul into what he loves.
Finally, I always want to be someone who looks out for the underprivileged in society and contributes to the public good. Since coming to college, I’ve been taught time and again that I must prioritize the public good and live a life that contributes to society. Just as I am who I am today thanks to the help of many people, I believe I, too, must become someone who is of service to society. What moved me most about Lee Je-seok was not his journey from a poor job seeker to an advertising genius, but rather his life after he became famous. Feeling disillusioned with commercial advertisements that encourage consumption, he resolved to do work that would make the world a better place. He boldly left his high-paying job at an advertising agency to dive into public service advertising, and later established the Lee Je-seok Advertising Research Institute to consistently produce such ads. In the process, he created works that left a deep impression on many people, such as the Dokdo ad and the anti-war ad. The fact that many people remember Lee Je-seok’s public service ads before his commercial ads shows that his challenges were by no means in vain. I, too, want to be someone who does not turn a blind eye to the cries of those in need, even after I have found stability in life through my career.
