Rejecting the '꼰대' Mentality

[What is a 'kkonde'?]

Slang and derogatory term for elderly people, the older generation, or teachers. The meaning has gradually expanded and transformed from its original meaning, and is now used as a derogatory term to belittle those who, regardless of age, have an authoritarian mindset and engage in malicious misconduct. In English, it can be translated as old folks, fogey, square, curmudgeon, or condescend, and the act of 'kkonde behavior' can be expressed with the adjective 'bossy'.

-Source: Namu Wiki

Few people consider someone a 'kkonde' simply because of their age. Someone who gives sincere advice to others, regardless of age, is not a 'kkonde'. However, there are also people who engage in 'kkonde behavior' under the guise of giving genuine advice. Thus, there's a clear distinction between those who provide necessary advice and those who don't.

Since I believe a person's life is like a book, I try my best to be receptive to other people's opinions. However, I've been so stressed out from dealing with 'kkondes' for a while that it's even affected my writing.

Looking back, I realize that there was no reason to endure their constant unnecessary advice, comparisons, and criticisms just because they were older than me... I don't understand why I wasted my time like that.

Well, eventually, even that experience will become good material for my writing.

Life is about encountering both truly helpful advisors and those 'kkondes' who need to be blocked. Don't ruin others' moods, and use your amazing abilities to upgrade your life and write beautiful stories.

▶ If someone starts talking about the good old days or what they did when they were young, you can respond like this: "Yes, you must have had many different experiences. But how can you guarantee that because you did it that way back then, I should do it the same way?" This expression effectively conveys that you'll do things your way to someone who might try to use you as a pawn and manipulate you to their liking.

-Wayne Dyer, You Don't Have to Be Loved by Everyone, Small Big Life