Hello everyone, how are you spending your weekend? Many people really liked the video I uploaded last week. It was about how, after working in the United States for ten years, it might be better to return to Korea sooner, retire early, and live a life with more value. Many people resonated with that message. I felt a sense of fulfillment in creating that video. While making it, I reflected on my own situation, as I am now in my early 50s and approaching my mid-50s. I briefly discussed the societal perceptions of retirement in Korea at this age, as well as the concerns of people around me. However, today, I want to emphasize that being in your 50s is not just about age; it’s important to consider when we should take a pause in our lives.

When is the appropriate time to retire? When should we consider stopping? I wanted to talk about this today, so I started this video. I currently live in Las Vegas, but I originally lived in LA for about 35 years. Even though I now reside in Las Vegas, I still visit LA often, and since Las Vegas is relatively close, I go there frequently. Many people in the U.S. have probably visited Las Vegas at least once, even if some have lived in LA and never been to New York, or vice versa. I think it's a fun place for adults. There are those who dislike gambling and those who have never tried it, but when you come to Las Vegas, you might be tempted to test your luck, even just a little.

There are people who come to Las Vegas, and first of all, anyone who comes to Las Vegas wants to have fun, enjoy themselves, eat delicious food, and experience a lot of different things before they go back. Isn't that what life is all about? Once you've been born, you want to spend your life having fun, enjoying yourself, and being happy. I think everyone shares the same sentiment. 

Now, when you come to Las Vegas and start gambling, who ends up being the happiest person? I believe the happiest person is the one who has a great time in Las Vegas and, after all the fun, goes home with some money left over. I think that person would be the happiest. 

Even if you spend the same two nights and three days in Las Vegas, it varies from person to person. Some people arrive in Las Vegas and on the first day, they check into their hotel.

I checked in, and just like that, I hit the jackpot! One million dollars just popped up! Wow, even if I spend a lot over the two nights and three days, the money keeps coming in. For those two nights and three days, I could just drink and eat to my heart's content, buy luxury items, and still come home with a ton of money. That would be amazing, right? But does that happen to just anyone? No, it doesn't. So, how do we think about it? We hope to have a good time in Las Vegas and maybe win a little bit, right? Even that would be a successful Las Vegas trip. But what is the worst-case scenario? It's when you lose all the money you brought right from the start and end up with nothing, feeling miserable for the next two days and taking it out on your family.

I couldn't eat or enjoy anything, and just frowned while leaving. That could be considered the worst scenario. Even if it wasn't the worst, on the first and second days, I lost money, but everything matched up. I just had bad luck. However, on the last day, I won a little, so I managed to recover all my travel expenses. Coming back felt really refreshing. This isn't bad, but it doesn't mean I was extremely happy. The best part is that during my entire stay in Las Vegas, I both won and lost money. When I won, I felt good and treated myself to delicious food, took some time to relax, and went sightseeing. Then, I had dinner, lost a little, but I didn't push myself too hard. I saved some for tomorrow's gambling, and the next morning went well too.

Suddenly, oh, I won money today. Since Dad won money today, let's eat something delicious and have fun. While doing that, let's take it easy, and when we go back home, that’s actually the best way to enjoy Las Vegas. Now, let's compare this to life. You see, there are some people who are really lucky and achieve tremendous success at a young age. They might become chaebols or incredibly successful individuals. There are even those who earn enough money in their twenties to last a lifetime. While that is certainly something to celebrate, as I mentioned earlier, it’s not something that happens to everyone, like hitting the jackpot as soon as you arrive in Las Vegas. On the other hand, there are people who struggle their whole lives. They endure hardship and, in the end, manage to earn money, allowing them to live comfortably in their later years.

It's not a bad life, but some people inherit everything from their parents when they're young, and it's almost like they're bringing in money. In Las Vegas, they bring in money, but they end up spending all the money their parents left them when they're in their twenties. Then, they live the rest of their lives in poverty. It's the worst, really. They keep failing in life. Some people earn a little money and manage to live a bit better; they buy a house and go through tough times, but then they overcome those difficulties, save some money, and work hard. They live a bit of a rollercoaster life, but overall, they manage to live fairly well. So, life isn't that bad. In fact, the best thing is to live a stable life.

It's good to live a simple life. Winning a million dollars is mostly about luck. In our lives, when I made money in my twenties, whether it was a million or ten million dollars, I believe it was largely due to luck. Of course, personal effort plays a role, but we can't always rely on luck. Spending the remaining time in Las Vegas for a two-night, three-day trip, or enjoying our lives, makes me think that I need to roll with it. Pouring everything into my twenties and then struggling for the rest of my life is a problem. Of course, if I invest everything in my twenties and it goes well, that's great, but if it doesn't, then the remaining two nights and three days in Las Vegas can turn into a complete mess. However, rather than pouring everything into my twenties, it's just three days.

During the 2 nights and 3 days, we share that experience. Today, I brought 500 dollars, so I will spend 200 dollars today if things go well. If not, I will stop and just enjoy the remaining time today. Tomorrow, I might spend another 200 dollars, and so on. If it works out well in the end, that's great. However, even if it doesn't, those who enjoy themselves will have gone to Las Vegas with the intention of spending money anyway. They will eat delicious food and see interesting sights. If they have a good time and come back, it's okay if they spent the entire 500 dollars over the 2 nights and 3 days and have nothing left. As long as they had a fun time, it's fine. But if they lose all 500 dollars on the first day, then they won't be able to enjoy the rest of the 2 nights and 3 days. If they lose the 500 dollars gradually over the 2 nights and 3 days, they can still enjoy themselves. Now, everyone...

Now, I want to turn $500 into $5,000 or even $50,000. However, the reality is that it's not that easy. But what can make it a bit happier is that when I come home, I might have almost lost all my money, yet I could have won $500 or even $5,000. Then, coming home would feel good, right? I think that's what life is all about. 

So, when it comes to age, there’s no right answer for when to retire. Everyone ages differently, and people are in different situations. Therefore, retiring in your 50s might seem early to some, while others might be able to retire in their 40s. There are various possibilities. For example, if you win about $100,000 on the first day, would you not continue for the rest of the days?

It won't happen, but since I'm bored, I might do it. However, I will have some leisure time because I will have money left over regardless of what I do. So, at a young age, I earned money, and that doesn't mean I need to retire early. I might think, I have some leisure, so I can try other businesses and take on new challenges. These kinds of thoughts can arise. In the past, I also had ambitions. When I was young, I thought, Now that I've entered society and the world, I should try to succeed. I tried various businesses and took on challenges. But as I turned 50, I started to see cases around me, like my older brothers, and reflecting on my own life, I began to feel that I should stop at this point. So, in a way, it’s somewhat different from the typical thoughts of Korean people.

I may have thought about retiring earlier, but there were several reasons for that. First, I've seen many people around me who started businesses in their 50s, only to find their lives becoming more complicated. What I mean by that is they become anxious. For example, I spent two nights in Las Vegas and lost money continuously for two days. Today is the day to leave, and I have to depart this afternoon. Since it's the last chance, I thought, If I lose the $500 I brought, I can just leave it there. But then I wondered when I would lose all $500. So, I went to the bank and withdrew $1,000. With just a few hours left and time running out, no matter what I did, I ended up losing everything. If I had just left, I would have only lost $500, but by the time I went home, I had lost $1,500, which made me feel even worse. However, looking around me, I see people in their 50s.

People who start something with the intention of making a change often end up with a bitter conclusion in life. Statistically, this seems to be more common among those in their 50s. Taking on new ventures at this age can be incredibly risky. It might be better for someone in their 50s to simply raise their children and then work a little bit, living off the remaining money they have. However, many are driven by greed and end up losing everything in their 50s, then find themselves depending on their children in their 60s, living a more miserable life. I see many seniors in this situation. When I think about this, I realize that it’s okay to fail in business in your 30s; you can save money and try again in your 40s. Even if you fail in your 40s, there is still time to recover before hitting your 50s. But if you fail in your 50s, it becomes much more difficult.

Now that I'm in my 60s, the chances of recovering are getting slimmer. When you go to Las Vegas, on the first day, you might throw down $200, $500, and just lose it all. So you lose that $200, but then the next day, you go back with another $200. And if that doesn't work out, the day after, you might try with just $100. You think it might work out. But then on the last day, you might try to turn things around and end up losing $500, thinking it will be different. In the end, you could lose $1,500, $2,000, or even $3,000. I’ve seen many people come back feeling defeated. This really makes me think about life. Of course, there are many successful people in business who have thrived in their 50s, like Warren Buffett, who started investing when he was young. However, he truly built his wealth starting in his 60s.

Because there were things that had been done, it became possible. And in the semiconductor foundry sector worldwide, we can say that Taiwan's TSMC is number one. The founder and chairman of that company, Morris Chang, was born in 1931. Interestingly, he started his first business at the age of 56, which means he began his entrepreneurial journey later in life. TSMC was founded in 1987. So, there are successful people who started in their 50s, but isn't it a bit early to give up on camping? Yes, there can be successful people, but looking at many others, it’s quite rare to hear about someone who, after spending two nights and three days in Las Vegas, leaves with a rush, having won money at the casino. However, we hear those stories often because they are rare. Most people seem to be more focused on gambling their money away.

It's about life. So, getting older and starting a business isn't very easy. In the United States, the rate at which Koreans engage in business is higher than that of those in Korea. There are various factors, such as language barriers and the invisible walls that exist in another country. Because of this, I feel that it's quite difficult to wrap up a career with just a regular job, which is why many people engage in business in the U.S. In fact, the number of people running businesses in Korea has also increased quite a bit compared to the past. There has been a significant rise in small business owners. However, whether in the U.S. or Korea, I've noticed that there are individuals who specialize in business. There are those who are specialized in small businesses, such as restaurants or retail stores.

But even if specialized people do it, I wonder if they can succeed. I can't even bow down to others, and I don't have a service mindset. Yet, those people are doing business. After coming to the U.S. and living here, I worked hard, but I noticed that some people opened restaurants and later made more money than I did. Some people started other businesses and ended up earning more. I kept feeling greedy. They don't care whether they fit that business or not; they just keep being greedy. I think it's the same in Korea. In the past, if someone opened a restaurant in the neighborhood, only those who were good at cooking and had experience running restaurants would do it. But these days, it's hard to find a job.

Even if I get a job at someone else's house, I really don't want to work under someone else. Sigh, I just want to run my own business. So, I thought about opening a restaurant, but I don't know how to cook. So, I considered going with a franchise. When you do a franchise, they take a lot of cuts, so there's not much profit left. Then, I start complaining or thinking that since I know a little bit about cooking, I can just watch some videos on YouTube and cook. But the reality is that running a restaurant and cooking at home are completely different. Plus, there's no service mentality, so it ends up failing. There are many cases like this in Korea too. Back when I came to the U.S., for example, if someone’s child worked at a bank, that was something to brag about. If a daughter graduated from a women’s college and got a job at a bank, people would say, Oh, well done! But these days, working at a bank is...

Instead of calling the restaurant owner boss or representative, we refer to them as the restaurant uncle or the restaurant aunt from a certain day. I think that's better. Why? Because when I watch TV, it seems that running a restaurant and making money looks better than working in a bank. You only see successful people, right? Young people dream of that and don't want to work at someone else's house. It's the same in Korea. For example, people think they can make money by setting up a coffee shop. But is making money that easy? It's not. The same goes for the U.S. Of course, there are people who, due to unavoidable circumstances, can't get a job at someone else's house and end up starting their own business. Some of those who start their own businesses succeed if they have a knack for it, but there are also quite a few who don't succeed.

There is a problem with constantly encouraging people to start businesses. In South Korea, according to a survey conducted in 2023, if three restaurants open, one of them is likely to close within a year, indicating a closure rate of 30%. This is quite alarming. In 2023, it was reported that 3,344 businesses received permits, while 1,164 businesses closed down. The closure rate has significantly increased. The highest rate was recorded in 2020, when the pandemic was just starting, and it reached 51.5%. This means that if you start two businesses, one is likely to fail. Currently, the average closure rate in South Korea is around 30% to 36%, with 32.7% being the specific figure. This means that for every three businesses started, one is likely to fail, which is a very risky game to enter. The same applies to the situation in the United States.

It is said that when four businesses open, one will close in the U.S., on average. This means that 23.2% of private sector businesses close right after opening. One in four businesses shuts down. So, when you look at all of this, it’s not easy for a business to last five or ten years. If a business lasts ten years, 65% of them will close. This means that two out of three will shut down. So, is running a business easy? Not at all. 

Now, if I’m in my fifties and working at a company where I have a pension and retirement plans are being discussed, I wouldn’t retire. Since I’m working anyway, I would think that if I keep working, things might get better, and I would invest for the future with that mindset. However, at my current age, I have no desire to start a business.

I have often seen cases where people start businesses after turning 50 and struggle. We need to evaluate surgery coldly after turning 50. Honestly, can someone in their 50s compete with someone in their 30s? I find it difficult. When I was in my 30s, I made efforts to learn new technologies as they emerged, to keep up with trends, and to adapt. However, now that I am over 50, the speed at which I forget what I already knew is faster than the speed at which I can learn something new. So, rather than progressing, it feels like my abilities are on a downward curve. Can I really compete with those in their 30s? Some may argue that in your 50s, you have life experience and a better perspective, but...

In my opinion, the abilities of someone in their 50s are not as strong as those in their 30s. Of course, those in their 30s can take risks, but those in their 50s should avoid reckless behavior. However, there are people in their 50s who want to start a business, and they are acting just like those in their 30s, taking risks while lacking the abilities of someone in their 30s. The reality is that they think they can succeed, but I see a common trait among the 50-year-olds who fail. They are often people who, at some point in their youth, experienced success, whether big or small. They tend to reminisce about their past, saying things like, Back in my day, I was the king. Those who think like this often end up failing in their 50s. The reason is simple: they made money when they were younger, in their 30s or 40s, but that success was not something they truly earned.

People think they are successful because they are smart. Even if someone believes they succeeded because of their intelligence, the methods they used are already outdated by 10 or 20 years. They say a decade can change everything, so thinking that the methods that worked 10 or 20 years ago will still work today is foolish. Even if someone earned money because they were smart, those who have lived a bit longer realize that the money they made back then wasn’t solely due to their intelligence; it was because they were lucky, the economy was good, or the timing was just right. Those who think this way are relatively wise. Of course, there are cases where people earn money because they are smart. I also thought I was making money in my 20s and 30s because I was smart. But as time passed, I realized that wasn’t the case; everything just aligned perfectly.

The problem is, back then, I wondered if I had succeeded, and now I think I can succeed as well. Yes, I haven't changed in the past 20 years; in fact, my mind has become duller, and my body has gotten lazier. If I apply the methods from 20 years ago now, I feel like I can succeed. Where does this confidence come from? I think it's a rather foolish thing to believe. Why do I do it? If I just leave things as they are, it could at least be a temporary solution. If I had a house, I could just stay there. Why would I end up with nothing later on, searching for a senior apartment and being mindful of my children's reactions? Why would someone in their 60s or 70s live like that? It seems so suffocating and pitiful to me. So one day, I thought about it: as I turned 50, what are my abilities that I can utilize now?

Of course, the opportunities increase much more than in your 30s. The reason for this is also a problem. When I was in my 30s, most of the people around me were in their 50s. There are many people who have established themselves socially, so even if you leverage connections and power, when you reach your 50s, those connections can become even more powerful. If I wanted to supply goods to a friend in my 30s, that friend, who held a mid-level position in their company, could ask their boss to help me get my products supplied. However, in the case of someone in their 50s, they might be the owner of a company. If I talk to that owner and they agree to take my goods, I can supply them immediately. So, I believe that I have gained more power. But my mind isn't as sharp as it was in my 30s. My stamina isn't as good as it was in my 30s. My passion also isn't as strong as it was in my 30s.

I can't do it; my body has become lazy. You all think that way, but let's face the reality. I am in my 50s, and I have friends in their 50s who are successful. Are those successful people just coasting through life? The representatives who are successful now and making good money are surrounded by many who have failed. Are those successful people just ordinary folks? Even if they are my friends or classmates, are they just average people? Can't you understand? If I talk about something unrealistic, would they help me? Even if they are my friends, they wouldn't help. They might buy me a drink or a meal, but they don't want to do business with me. They can see the obvious too. So initially, when I think about who my friends are or who I know, I try to do business based on that. This is definitely something that needs to be shattered. Those people won't accept you.

So, it's not easy to do business in your 50s and 60s. At some point, I was in my 30s, doing business, and then I stepped back. I lived my 40s relatively smoothly, but just before I turned 50, COVID-19 hit. During the pandemic, my life took a turn, and suddenly, I started doing YouTube. One day, I realized that what the ancient sages said about the age of 50 being the time of knowing your destiny was true. Living by the words given from above made me think about what my true calling is. I thought, Yes, now is the time to focus on YouTube. If another calling is meant for me, that opportunity will come. However, I don't feel like I should act recklessly. I believe that what needs to happen will naturally unfold, and I will find my purpose within that.

There are so many things that need to be done, and I don't know why they all become celebrities. When I try to create something, I feel like it would be really easy to end up in a disastrous situation. That's why I've been thinking that maybe I should retire. I feel it's time to let go of my ambitions. At 50, I realize that dreaming about becoming successful in business and making millions is something I need to realistically abandon, because the chances of that happening are slim. If someone in their 30s gives up on such dreams, it might be unfortunate, but for me, being in my mid-50s and still having those dreams feels completely out of touch with reality. Even now, many of my older friends tell me they have great business ideas, but when I listen to them, it's really...

In this world, it’s really frustrating to see how things are. Everything seems to be based on instinct. Some people think that if they just act arrogantly, everything will go well. But everyone else is making plans and running their businesses, yet some are closing their doors in their first year. It’s perplexing to think that they would approach business so naively, believing that if they just do this, it will succeed without any strategy. It’s really frustrating. When someone approaches me with a proposal, I often say, Oh, I don’t have money, and that’s the end of it. I have no money, and I’m not interested in collaborating. Those people might say, Oh, you’re still young, you should be working. But I just don’t want to work. They assume that I must have a lot of money because I’ve probably made a lot. But I’m not greedy; I have enough to get by. I make it clear that having a lot of money isn’t the reason for retirement. It’s the moment when you let go of greed.

It's necessary, but this could be a wise decision. Instead of gambling recklessly right now, it might be better to end things here in a stable way and spend the rest of my life enjoying it. Let me talk about Las Vegas again. I went there with $500 for a two-night, three-day trip. On the first day, I lost $200, and on the second day, I lost another $200. Now I have $100 left. With that remaining $100, a person can think in a few different ways. I feel like I've lost $400, so I need to find a way to make it back. I should withdraw some money from the bank and with that, if I win a few rounds, I can get back all my $400 and still have money left over. Of course, there are people who win money after withdrawing $1,000, but 999.9% of the time, they lose it all. That's what gambling is—gambling without odds. Some people, on the last day, just...

There are people who hold onto regrets and have a mere five hundred dollars. When they come here, they think, Oh, the original plan was just five hundred dollars. But apart from that, there’s nothing special. Some people might think, Oh, I spent two hundred dollars for two days. What will I do with the last hundred dollars? Let's just have something to eat or drink with my kids. Anyway, since we have to go back home to LA after everything in Las Vegas is done, let's enjoy something to eat or drink today. We can have a barbecue and share a meal with family, creating good memories. That’s actually the wisest choice, isn’t it? I think that way too. Now that I'm in my fifties, of course, everyone’s situation is different, and we never know when our time will come. Some people live to sixty, some to a hundred, and others to one hundred and twenty.

이렇게 살 수도 있는데, 저는 어떻게 될지 모르겠습니다. 50세에 어떤 비즈니스를 하겠다고 마음 졸이고 신경 쓰며 제 인생을 즐기지 못하고 그렇게 사는 게 나을까요? 아니면 그냥 지금 돈을 생각하지 않고 남은 돈 백 달러로 가족과 맛있는 한 끼를 먹고 싶어하는 그 가장의 마음으로 살아가는 게 나을까요? 남은 50대를 즐겁게 보내는 것이 저에게 더 맞는 것 같고, 그렇게 생각하니 그게 제일 현명한 것 같습니다. 라스베가스에서 천만 달러를 따는 것은 본인의 능력이 아닙니다. 100만 달러, 천만 달러를 벌어들이는 것도 본인의 능력이 아닙니다. 세상에 태어나서도 마찬가지입니다. 어제도 돈을 버는 것은 본인의 노력과 능력이지만, 진짜 부자라고 얘기하는 사람들, 몇 천만 달러, 몇 억 달러를 벌어들이는 사람들은 그게 본인의 능력만으로 될까요? 저는 운이라고 생각합니다.

It's about being one of the lucky people among those who have tried hard to achieve something. However, when you leave Las Vegas, there are people who walk out smiling, and then there are those who are frowning throughout their stay in Las Vegas, or those who struggle even after returning home because of their losses. This isn't just a matter of personal choice; it's about what one can afford. If someone wants to live their life with a perpetual frown, they will inevitably end up living that way. Looking back at my own life, it seems like this: on my first day in Las Vegas, I gambled with $200 and ended up winning $400 or $500. I was so excited that I thought, Let's eat something delicious, let's buy something nice. I spent all that money. The next day, I went in with another $200, but I lost it. But if that was the end of the story, it would be fine. On the last day, I remembered that when I first arrived, I had $200 and won $1,000 again.

I can't win, and then I put money in and say let's do this. This is the most dangerous cycle. A person who has won even once when they were young is the one who is most at risk. They think they can win money for a lifetime. Isn't that right? On the first day in Las Vegas, if someone brings $200, and on the second day they still have $200, by the last day, they often leave with just $100, having spent the rest on food and drinks. But someone who has won even once, that's the problem. Life is similar. Whether in their 20s, 30s, or 40s, a person who has made a little money and felt a bit of success often thinks they can do it again in their 50s. But that's a big misconception. Realistically, it doesn't work that way. I thought that living wisely is something we can do with our own abilities. This is what I realized during the pandemic.

As I turned 50 and experienced the pandemic, life became quite challenging. Now, as I approach my mid-50s, I've gradually come to realize that I want to enjoy the remaining years of my 50s as much as possible. While doing this, I've been smiling and sharing information with many people. There are ways to live in Korea or other countries, and I've realized that I don't have to be tied to the idea of living in the United States. I can shorten my retirement by ten years. This is something I wanted to share with all of you. What do you think? There are times when I feel that life is too precious to waste. I know someone born in 1955 who has already retired, and they are enjoying life.

I talked to someone who has a lot of knowledge. However, I wondered if they felt regret when they decided to leave the company, considering all that knowledge. Surprisingly, they said they didn't feel regret at all. After leaving that job, they now live very comfortably, watching all the dramas they missed, reading books, and listening to their favorite music. They completely stopped doing any work related to that high level of technology and knowledge. I thought they would feel it was a waste, but they said they didn't. I can relate to that experience. In my twenties, I had moments where I learned various things while watching movies, and my knowledge kept increasing. However, now I feel like that knowledge is slipping away. Even when I learn something new, I keep forgetting it. At some point, I might also have to give up on that.

There are times when I feel that I have to give up on what I can do with my abilities. I often think that way. So, I don’t know. As a person, I can't make any guarantees about the future. Now that I’m in my 50s, if a job that truly suits me is presented to me, and if it’s something that is genuinely meant for me, then I might consider taking on that challenge. However, I don’t really feel the urge to create work for myself or to try something new. 

Additionally, there’s another factor: the symptoms of menopause. During this time, my desires tend to diminish significantly. When I ask my older brothers about it, some have experienced menopause while others have not. One of my brothers shared his experience with me, which really resonated. He said, Did you go through menopause? Oh, I struggled for several years. It’s tough.

What should I do? At that time, it was when money was accumulating. Yes, I thought, Ah, it's menopause; that's when money is accumulating. Why? Because I have no greed, I don't spend money. Yes, and also because I have no greed, I don't do silly things. Yes, that's why I save money. I talk about this, and then it came to me. Since I do YouTube, I get to know a lot of people, and many discussions come up around me. So, I receive many offers. They say, I have this business; can you manage it for me? They say it won't cost me a dime to run it, but in the end, it's because their business isn't doing well, so they want me to manage it, and if it succeeds, they ask me to buy the business. But if it succeeds, they will do it themselves and ask me to do it. Yes, but I want to try it. No, no, I don't need to pay. I won't ask for money first; just try it. Ah, no, I don't want to. Ah, it's too much money.

There are many offers coming my way. I think I've earned quite a bit, but it's just that I don't plan to spend any money, so I have enough to spend. Let's just say that and move on. I receive a lot of offers these days, asking me to collaborate on various projects. Perhaps it's because more people have come to know me through YouTube. I get a tremendous number of business proposals, but I don't fall for those temptations. In a way, it might be due to my midlife transition that I resist those temptations. Not falling for them could be a way of preventing myself from making bigger mistakes later on. So, I believe this is a really good opportunity right now. When you pause, you notice things. What I mean by things you notice when you stop is that when I travel, I really dislike traveling by plane because until you land, you can't see anything outside.

There's nothing to see except for the blue sky. There are no intermediate processes. When you take a train, at least you can see some scenery, but if you take a car, you can see things at a slower pace. If you travel by foot, you can really explore every nook and cranny. I remember when I did the Camino de Santiago in Spain, walking for over a month. Walking allows you to see flowers, bees resting on those flowers, and the expressions of passing farmers. When you stop and go slowly, you notice things that you wouldn't otherwise. I feel like, now that I'm in my 50s, I've started to desire a life where I can take things more slowly. So, I've been thinking that it would be nice to retire a bit earlier. So, everyone, in Korea...

I would like to advise those who are thinking of coming to Korea to reconsider starting a business here. If you are thinking of doing business, it might be better not to come to Korea. Why? Because there is nothing easy about it. Even people who are already in Korea struggle, so how do you think you can succeed in business here? 

Moreover, it's not just Korea; Southeast Asia may seem manageable as well. The reason it appears manageable is that it doesn't require much investment, which makes people think they can try it out. However, there is nothing easy in this world. In places like Korea, especially in regional cities, you would find it impossible to open a restaurant in the U.S. But in Korea, if you have a few thousand dollars, you can easily start a restaurant. It’s much easier to get permits than in the U.S., and equipment and labor costs are also lower.

That investment cost isn't small, and it's not something to take lightly. Just because the investment cost is low doesn't mean that the business is easy. Since the investment is low, it’s also harder to make money. Therefore, I hope you don't even consider doing business in Korea. Also, in the U.S., I want you to think about everything more comfortably. Making money without any investment, just by doing whatever comes my way, is fine for a side job. However, if I need to make an investment or get involved in something, then there seems to be a problem. Among our viewers, there are many excellent representatives. There are indeed many people doing business all over the U.S. I met one representative who came to the U.S. in their thirties, and by their fifties, they were still working from home.

He said that at a restaurant, a man in his 30s started working and continued until he was in his 50s. After turning 50, he opened his own restaurant for the first time. During his 50s, he had already laid the groundwork for his business and opened dozens of restaurants. Why was he able to succeed? It’s because he hadn’t experienced success before the age of 50; he spent that time solidifying his foundation. The chairman of TSMC, Mr. Morris Chang, is a similar case. He started his business at 56 and has been successful in making money. This person is remarkable; he grew in companies like Texas Instruments in the U.S. and eventually rose to executive positions. At one point, he was considered the highest-ranking Chinese individual in the U.S. among overseas Chinese, indicating that he was at the top of his field. He didn't just focus on his own business.

Because I have experience, I can succeed even in life like this. You know, the business I briefly engaged in during my 30s made money. Back then, I drove a Benz, and I had a house. I still hold onto that dream. Now, I'm in my mid-50s, and I’m still making money through business. It’s a tough story. Yes, it’s a tough story, and I recognize that. Therefore, I think the world should move probabilistically. If we consider it in terms of probability, the likelihood of succeeding in business in your 50s is probably lower than the likelihood of failing. Yes, realistically, that might be the case. Of course, it varies from person to person, and age is defined by my own standards. However, I believe it’s good to acknowledge that after reaching a certain age, people tend to become less sharp. They can’t keep up with young people mentally, physically, or in terms of passion. So, what do you rely on to keep going?

Have the people around me succeeded a lot? Yes, successful people are truly smart individuals. They encourage others to help those who are passionate and in their thirties. However, the reality is different; the likelihood of success is often slim. Rather than risking losses just to gain something, it's wiser to enjoy life. Think of life as a short trip to Las Vegas, lasting two nights and three days. If we just gamble for those two nights and three days, that's not fulfilling. It's sad to live a life that only revolves around work. Just like going to Las Vegas, if we have the chance, we should enjoy the beautiful sights, watch the fountain shows, try delicious food, and experience love. There's no rule that says we must only work hard and die. We should explore the world, appreciate the scenery, and enjoy life.

You try different foods and live your life, but when you come home, do you come back feeling bittersweet or happy? Well, that's under your control, isn't it? Ultimately, with the right mindset, I believe you can live the rest of your retired life happily. So today, I wanted to share my thoughts on why I am considering retirement in my 50s and talk a bit about it. I hope you all have a happy weekend, and I wish you abundant joy. Thank you.

50대 은퇴를 결심한 이유

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