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Pres. Kim Young-sam’s calligraphic style suggests straightforward character

Pres. Kim Young-sam’s calligraphic style suggests straightforward character

Posted October. 12, 2018 07:58,   

Updated October. 12, 2018 07:58

한국어

The late former President Kim Young-sam had a quite unique calligraphic style without following traditional styles. His writings of one of his favorite expression‎ “Daedomumun,” which roughly translates to “there are no obstacles to great belief,” are good representation of his calligraphic style. One of the most salient features of his style is that he left little empty space and wrote large Chinese characters. People with such a calligraphic style tend to demonstrate incessant actions throughout their lives, as they are full of passion, desire for accomplishments, spirit of adventure, positivism, self-esteem, progressive spirit, and diligence. However, they also tend to have a weak sense of reality, naivety, and lack of details.

The lack of empty space in the beginning part indicates that he had a positive spirit. People such as Korean independence fighter Kim Goo or U.S. human rights activist Martin Luther King have such handwriting styles that leave little empty space in the beginning part. In addition, Kim’s calligraphic writings go sharply upwards as they progress to the right, suggesting that he was very optimistic and positive. The fact that he wrote Chinese characters in a square form with little technique indicates that he was far from refinement but was a man of integrity. It is very fortunate that Korea had Kim with passion, progressive and adventurous spirit, positivism, optimism and honesty, as a leader during its democratization process.

Kim also had a very speedy calligraphic style, indicating that he was a smart and fast decision maker with a straightforward character, a sense of goals, and a strong desire for changes. People with such characteristics have their own weaknesses, as they tend to have weaker self-restraints, be superficial, see what is just before their eyes without thinking too much about the future, and wrap up what they do without perfecting them. The narrow spaces among the components of the Chinese characters suggest that he was not a good communicator. Although Kim was a leader of Korea’s pro-democracy movement and later became the leader of the country, he was probably poor at communicating with others. The inconsistent and changeable sizes, slopes, and baselines of his calligraphic writings are characteristic of people who are lively, impulsive and passionate. People with such a calligraphic style tend to take strong pride in themselves, think quickly and are sensitive. Kim was a charming and humane person.