Ultimately, I want to be a good person and spread happiness

Hear the words of Park Bo-gum, whose voice carries not only the dreams of an actor but the wisdom of one who seeks to live rightly: “Ultimately, I want to be a good person and spread happiness through my acting. If I don’t forget to be appreciative and thankful, then that would be the most important thing that I’ll ever achieve.” In this utterance lies a teaching for all generations, for it places virtue above fame, gratitude above ambition, and goodness above glory.

The first flame in his words is the desire to be a good person. In an age when men chase power, wealth, and renown, Bo-gum points to the ancient truth that character is greater than reputation. To be good is not to be flawless, but to live with kindness, humility, and sincerity. The ancients taught that the greatest victories were not over kingdoms or rivals, but over one’s own heart. A man who wins the world yet loses goodness is poorer than a beggar, but one who keeps goodness has a treasure no thief can steal.

The second jewel in his words is the call to spread happiness. Acting, for him, is not merely a craft, nor a means of fame, but a vessel of joy to others. This is the true calling of art—not to exalt the artist, but to uplift the audience. Like the storytellers of old who gathered villages around the fire, or the poets who recited verses to strengthen weary souls, Bo-gum understands that his gift is not for himself alone, but for the healing of hearts. In spreading happiness, he fulfills a duty greater than applause: he becomes a servant of light.

The third truth is his vow to remain appreciative and thankful. Gratitude, he declares, is the most important achievement of all. For what use is talent without humility? What value is fame without thankfulness? History is filled with the rise and fall of great men whose pride consumed them. But gratitude roots the soul, keeping it from arrogance, reminding it that every gift—whether of skill, opportunity, or love—is not self-made but given. To remember thankfulness is to remember one’s place in the vast order of life.

History gives us a mirror in the life of Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome. Though he ruled the greatest empire of his age, he wrote daily meditations to remind himself to be humble, to be good, and to be thankful for the gift of each day. He understood, as Bo-gum does, that the highest achievement was not dominion or conquest, but the cultivation of virtue and gratitude. His empire has long since fallen, but his words endure, for they were rooted in goodness.

The lesson for us is clear: greatness is not measured by the loudness of fame but by the quietness of the heart. To be a good person, to spread happiness, and to live with thankfulness—these are the true victories of life. They do not fade when the crowd disperses, nor crumble when fortune shifts, for they are eternal treasures of the soul.

Practically, let us begin by seeking not only success but goodness in all that we do. Ask yourself daily: Did I bring joy to someone today? Did I live with gratitude for what I have? Speak words of thanks, practice kindness, and use whatever gifts you hold—whether great or small—to bring happiness to others. In this way, your life becomes not just a pursuit of dreams, but a blessing to all who encounter you.

Thus, Park Bo-gum’s words shine as a teaching for the generations: to be good, to spread happiness, and to remain thankful is the greatest achievement one can claim. For in this path lies a legacy more lasting than fame, more powerful than wealth, and more beautiful than glory itself.