MANNAM: Follow your friend to MANNAM! Not Gangnam!

MANNAM: Follow your friend to MANNAM! Not Gangnam!

 Since ‘Gangnam style’ is popular these days, people all around the world now wonder where Gangnam is. Do you know where it is? It is an area in Seoul. Han River cut across Seoul, so it can be divided into 4 parts. It depends which way from the river you are standing. North, South, East, West of the river indicates Gangbuk(강북), Gangnam(강남), Gangdong(강동), Gangseo(강서). Many of the rich lives in Gangnam, like Beverly hills’ in the states. So if you say you live in Gangnam, it means you are a wealthy person.

 Actually ‘Gangnam’ is in one of Korea’s popular proverbs. Have you ever heard of “친구 따라 강남 간다(Chingu ddara Gangnam ganda)”? Translation is this, ‘follow your friend and go to Gangnam.’ Someone does something because his friend does it, not because it’s logical. In this case, Gangnam is not the place where we looked above. In the past, Korean said ‘the Yangtze’ for Gangnam. Koreans had to walk or sail a long way if they wanted to go to the Yangtze. So, if the place where I am going is farther, you can notice the person who follows his friend to Gangnam is indecisive. So, a person who can’t decide well is a person who follows his friend without his thoughts. Therefore, in this proverb, it asks you to be a person who can decide and speak your opinion! Don’t be a fool and just follow what others say.

You also can learn a different meaning in this proverb. If you are a person who can’t decide well, why don’t you follow a friend who is wiser than you? In this case, the results will be better than what I thought of. So make a good relationship with a good friend that can help you on your way. A wise friend is a precious gift that you can give to yourself. If it is a good case, maybe going to Gangnam with your friend is good after all.

 I have a good friend who led me to MANNAM. And I really appreciate him for doing so. Here, I can volunteer to the people and animal that needs my help without asking anything. Also I can become a really special person by helping others. MANNAM helps people who are in need, but not only them, but MANNAM also helps the volunteers become a necessary human being. Don’t go to Gangnam, come to MANNAM! In Gangnam you may become rich, but in MANNAM you can become rich by in the heart.