When I was a child in Korea, there was a question that every elementary school student inevitably faced: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

If I answered, "A president," the adults around me would always laugh and say, "Ha ha, this kid is going to be something big."

That one comment would make my shoulders lift, and even though I didn't really understand what being a president meant, it felt like the pinnacle of life.

I vaguely thought that a president had to be smart, lead people well, and above all, hold a position that is respected.

Even in my young mind, it was clearly a symbol of the number one 'impressive life' in our country.

When I went to university, I heard a different version of life philosophy. One senior in my department had a saying he would repeat whenever he drank.

"Hey, every man will have a day when he lives impressively at least once in his life. You just have to hold on until then."

At that time, those words were quite comforting.

It was a story about how, even if you struggle now, there will come a moment when people recognize you, and something cool will happen.

Whether that's a promotion, success in business, dating your ideal partner, or just some scene in life, it could be anything.

But these days, when I watch the news, I suddenly wonder.

Does a position that looks impressive really exist?

Looking at former President Yoon Suk-yeol, the feeling is a bit strange. He was definitely someone who rose to the highest seat of power in South Korea just a few years ago.

From prosecutor to president. Just looking at his resume, it's like a drama protagonist. It's a textbook story of a life reversal.

If someone had said in elementary school, "I will become president," the adults around would have likely thought, "This kid is going to be something big."

But looking at the current atmosphere, it feels like that glamour has faded too quickly.

It's like a story from a Joseon-era movie.

Just yesterday, a person who was a king in front of his ministers suddenly gets deposed and sent into exile.

Power is originally like that, but the speed of it is much faster than expected.

When you're rising, it's the peak of life, but when you're coming down, you're evaluated like a historical figure.

This brings a bittersweet thought. Could it be that the 'impressive position' we dreamed of as children doesn't actually exist?

Presidents, corporate executives, celebrities, they all just shine for a moment.

The position itself doesn't make a person shine; it could be a place that shakes even more when circumstances change.

The senior's words suddenly sound different. Instead of "A day will come when you live impressively," wouldn't it be more accurate to say, "A moment that looks impressive comes briefly"?

And once that moment passes, people are evaluated again, compared, and sometimes criticized.

The higher you go, the stronger the wind blows when you come down.

Maybe that's why these days, the standards of success seem to have changed a bit.

It feels like it's harder to endure for a long time than to rise to a high position.

In this era, the time spent passing without being criticized is more precious than the moment of applause.

There was a time when adults would laugh when I said I wanted to be president as a child.

Looking back now, perhaps that laughter was because they knew, "That position isn't all that special."

Life might not be a game of becoming a king, but rather a game of not being exiled.

This is what I think while watching the news these days. In this era, a position that doesn't crumble is harder to find than an impressive one.

And perhaps, that's what living a truly big life might be.