By Seo Ye-jin KT Reporter
Nelson Mandela was a human rights activist and the president of South Africa who dedicated his life to fighting against racial discrimination. He emphasized that courage does not mean the absence of fear, but the act of overcoming it. Fear is an instinct that helps humans detect danger and survive. However, if fear overwhelms us, we cannot move forward. Looking back on history, those remembered for great achievements were not without fear—they are remembered as courageous because they acted despite their fear. Mandela himself was imprisoned for 27 years, yet he never gave up and continued his fight to end racial segregation. His life clearly shows that true courage lies in overcoming fear.
Examples of such courage can also be found in Korean history. During the Japanese colonial era, countless independence activists risked their lives for the nation’s freedom, even in the face of arrest, torture, and execution. Yu Gwan-sun, a prominent female independence fighter, participated in protests despite the oppression of Japanese rule. Even after being arrested, she endured torture and never gave up her beliefs. Without their courage, we would not enjoy the freedom we have today. Their sacrifice and determination demonstrate the importance of conquering fear with courage.
Today, we face different kinds of fears— fear of failure, anxiety about an uncertain future, and uneasiness about change. What matters is not avoiding fear but confronting it head-on and taking one step at a time. Even small but consistent challenges mark the beginning of true courage. Mandela's words, "Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it," define courage not as a lack of emotion, but as a conscious choice to act. In this way, true courage is the power to keep moving forward even in the presence of fear. When each of us confronts and overcomes our own fears, we can begin to build a better future.
