BTS를 키운 방시혁의 서울대 졸업식 축사 (2019-2-26)_ "분노하고 맞서 싸워라" _

[맥지청소년]

BTS 키운 방시혁의 2019년 서울대 졸업식 축사 "분노하고 맞서 싸워라" / YTN _ 2019-2-27

방탄소년단을 세계적인 스타로 키워낸 방시혁 빅히트엔터테인먼트 대표가 모교인 서울대 졸업식을 찾아 '분노의 힘'을 강조했습니다. 방시혁 대표는 자신은 별다른 꿈 대신 분노가 있었다면서 납득할 수 없는 현실과 불행한 상황과 싸우고 분노하며 여기까지 왔다고 말했습니다. 또 큰 꿈이 없다고 자괴감을 느끼지 말고 자신이 정의한 것이 아닌 남이 만든 행복을 추구하지 않길 바란다고 강조했습니다.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv_aR3k3HvI

BTS 만든 방시혁의 2019년 서울대 졸업식 축사 "내 원동력은 분노" (풀영상)/SBS _2019-02-26

'방탄소년단'을 세계적 스타로 키워낸 방시혁(47) 빅히트엔터테인먼트 대표가 오늘(26일) 오후 서울대 관악캠퍼스 종합체육관에서 열린 제73회 전기학위수여식에서 한 축사에서 모교 후배들에게 '분노의 힘'을 강조했습니다.
1997년 서울대 미학과를 졸업한 방 대표는 "'위대한 탄생'이라는 방송 프로그램에서 최선을 다하지 않는 참가자들에게 분노를 폭발하는 제 모습을 기억하실 것"이라며 "굉장히 비호감이죠?"라고 청중들에게 물으며 축사를 시작했습니다. 방 대표는 "이제는 그렇게 분노를 폭발시키는 경우는 거의 없어졌지만, 그 모습이 제가 '불만 많은 사람'이라는 걸 설명하기에 좋은 예인 것 같다"고 말했습니다.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i25IEJfVIqs

- 방시혁 대표 축사 전문 -

존경하는 오세정 총장님, 교수님 그리고

오늘의 주인공인 졸업생 여러분들과 가족, 친지 여러분.

안녕하십니까. 빅히트엔터테인먼트 대표이자 음악프로듀서인 방시혁입니다. 오늘 화창한 날씨만큼이나 졸업식장을 가득 메운 여러분, 졸업을 진심으로 축하합니다.

오늘 이 자리에 서기까지 많이 고민했습니다. 이미 기성세대가 되어버린 제가 어떤 이야기를 한들 지루한 ‘꼰대의 이야기’가 될 게 뻔하고, 삐딱하게 보려면 방탄소년단이 성공했다고 잘난 척 하는 걸로 비칠 수 있어서 말이죠.

그런데 요즘 빅히트엔터테인먼트와 방탄소년단이 핫한 건 사실이지 않습니까. 그래서 자랑도 좀 하고, 제 삶의 여정에서 여러분과 맞닿는 지점에 대해 이야기해보려고 합니다.

학력고사 세대인 저는 법대를 가고 싶었지만 뭔가 쿨할 것처럼 보였던 미학과에 진학했습니다. 그리고 무언가에 이끌리듯 음악을 시작했습니다. 2001년부터 직업프로듀서의 삶을 시작해 JYP에서 일하다, 독립해 지금은 빅히트엔터테인먼트의 대표이자 음악프로듀서로 살고 있습니다.

저는 큰 그름일 그리는 야망가도 아니고 원대한 꿈을 꾸는 사람도 아닙니다. 미래를 알 수 없는 사람은 없잖아요. 어쨌든 저는 지금 꽤나 성공했고, 행복한 하루하루를 살고 있습니다.

방탄소년단은 빌보드에서 2년 연속 톱소셜 아티스트상을 수상했고, 4만석 규모의 뉴욕 시티필드 공연을 매진시켰습니다. 불과 2주 전에는 그래미 어워드에도 시상자로 초청받아 또 하나의 최초 기록을 세우며 과분하게도 유튜브 시대의 비틀즈로 평가받고 있습니다.

그리고 신인그룹 투모로우바이투게더 역시 아직 공식 데뷔 전임에도 불구하고 많은분들이 관심을 가져주고 있습니다. 이를 바탕으로 저희 회사 역시 엔터테인먼트 업계 혁신의 아이콘이자 유니콘 기업으로 커 나가고 있습니다.

오늘 이 축사에서 어떤 말씀을 드릴까 고민하면서 오늘의 저를 만든 에너지의 근원이 뭔지 곰곰이 생각해봤습니다. 그것은 다름아닌 화. 즉 분노였습니다.

여러분 저는 화를 많이 내는 사람입니다. 오늘의 빅히트가 있기까지 제가 걸어온 길을 되돌아보니 분명하게 떠오르는 이미지는 바로 분노하는 방시혁이었습니다. 적당히 일하는 무사안일에 분노했고 최고의 콘텐츠를 만들어야 한다는 소명으로 타협없이 하루하루가 마지막인 것처럼 달려왔습니다. 제가 태생적으로 그런 사람이기도 했지만 음악으로 위로를 받고 감동을 느끼는 팬들과의 약속, 절대 배신할 수 없는 약속이었기에 그래왔습니다.

그렇게 음악 산업에서 최고의 콘텐츠를 만들기 위해 달려오는 동안에도 제게는 분노해야 할 것들이 참 많앗습니다. 이 산업이 처한 상황은 상식적이지 않았고 저는 그것들에 분노하고 불행했습니다.

작곡가로 시작해 음악 산업에 종사한 지 18년째인데 음악이 좋아서 이 업에 뛰어든 동료와 후배들은 여전히 현실에 좌절하고 힘들어합니다. 음악 산업이 안고 있는 악습들, 불공정 거래관행, 그리고 사회적 저평가 등. 그로 인해 업계 종사자들은 어디 가서 음악 산업에 종사한다고 이야기하길 부끄러워합니다. 단적으로, 여러분도 “게임회사는 가더라도 엔터테인먼트 회사에든 낙지 마라”라는 이야기를 들어보셨을 겁니다.

우리의 고객들의 상황도 크게 다르지 않습니다. K-pop이라는 콘텐츠를 사랑하고 이를 세계화하는 데 일등공신 역할을 한 팬들은 지금도 ‘빠순이’로 불립니다. 아이돌 음악을 좋아한다고 떳떳하게 말하지도 못합니다.

세계적인 명성을 누리며 전 세계 팬들에게 위로와 감동을 선사하는 우리 아티스트들은 근거없는 익명의 비난에 절망합니다. 우리 피,땀, 눈물의 결실인 콘텐츠는 부당하게 유통돼 부도덕한 사람들의 주머니를 채우는 수단이 되고 있습니다. 그래서 저의 분노는 현재진행형입니다.

저는 혁명가가 아닙니다. 하지만 저의 행복과 음악산업의 불합리, 부조리에 대한 분노 때문에 제가 할 수 있는 것들을 해 나가고 있습니다. 앞으로도 계속 꼰대들에게 지적할 거고, 어느 순간 제가 꼰대가 돼 있다면 제 스스로에게 분노하고 엄하게 스스로를 꾸짖을 겁니다.

음악산업 종사자들이 정당한 평가를 받고 온당한 처우를 받을 수 있도록 화내고 싸워서 제가 생각하는 상식이 구현되도록 노력할 겁니다. 그래서 우리 산업이 상식이 통하는 동네가 되어 간다면 한단계 한단계 변화가 체감될 때마다 저는 행복을 느낄겁니다. 분노의 화신인 제가 행복을 이야기하니 모순처럼 들리죠. 그러나 저도 행복을 느낄 때가 있습니다.

저는 행복을 이렇게 정의합니다. “우리 회사가 하는 일이 사회에 좋은 영향을 끼치고 특히 우리의 고객인 젊은 친구들이 자신만의 세계관을 형성하는 데에 긍정적인 영향을 주는 것“이라고 말입니다. 여기 덧붙여 산업적으로는 음악 산업의 패러다임 변화를 위해 노력을 아끼지 않는 것 그래서 그 변화를 저와 우리 빅히트가 이뤄낼 때 저는 가장 행복합니다.

여러분은 행복이 뭐라고 생각하세요? 종일 학업과 업무에 시달리던 고단한 몸을 따듯한 샤워로 달래고, 뽀송뽀송한 이불 속에 들어갈 때... 행복하지 않나요? 맛있는 음식을 먹을 때도 마찬가지일 겁니다. 이렇게 감정적으로 행복한 것들도 있지만 행복한 상황도 있을 겁니다. 어떠한 상황에서 행복을 느끼려면 여러분 스스로가 어떨 때 행복한지 먼저 정의를 내려보고 그러한 상황과 상태에 여러분을 놓을 수 있도록 부단히 노력해야 할 겁니다.

누구에게 취업걱정 노후 걱정없는 공무원의 삶일 수 있고, 다른 누군가에게는 포브스에 나오는 전 세계 몇 대 부자들처럼 돈을 많이 버는 것일 수도 있습니다. 명예와 권세를 누려야 행복한 사람은 당연히 명예와 권세를 좇아야 겠지요. 문제는 자신이 정의한 것이 아닌 남이 만들어 놓은 목표와 꿈을 무작정 따르고 그래서 결국은 좌절하고 불행하게 되는 경우가 아닐까요. 절대 그러지 마세요. 그것은 여러분의 리듬, 여러분의 스웩이 아닙니다.

사회에 나가면서 여러분이 깊은 고민 끝에 선택한 길이 무엇이든, 앞으로의 여정에는 무수한 부조리와 몰상식이 존재할 겁니다. 이런 부조리와 몰상식이 행복을 좇는 여러분의 노력에 악영향을 미친다면, 여러분은 어떻게 할 건가요.

분노의 화신 방시혁처럼 여러분도 분노하고 맞서 싸우기를 당부합니다. 그래야 문제가 해결됩니다. 그래야 이 사회가 변화합니다. 모든 것은 여러분 스스로에게 달려있음을 기억해 주셨으면 합니다. 소소한 일상의 싸움꾼이 돼보는 것도 나쁘지 않을 겁니다.

두서 없는 저의 축사를 마무리하려고 합니다. 대학이라는 일생에 매우 중요한 또 하나의 과정을 잘 마무리하신 여러분 모두를 다시 한 번 축하합니다. 그리고 이제부터 시작될 인생의 다음 단계들을 행복 속에 잘 살아내 10년 후 20년 후에 내가 제법 잘 살아왔구나 라고 자평할 수 있는 여러분이 되기를 바랍니다.

개인적으로 저는 제 묘비에 "분노의 화신 방시혁, 행복하게 살다감"이라고 적히면 좋겠습니다. 상식이 통하고 음악콘텐츠가 정당한 평가를 받는 그날까지 저 또한 하루하루를 치열하게 살아갈 겁니다. 격하게 분노하고 소소하게 행복을 느끼면서 말입니다.

여러분만의 행복을 정의하고 잘 찾아서 여러분다운 멋진 인생을 사시길 바랍니다. 다시 한 번 졸업을 축하드립니다. 감사합니다.

2019.02.26.   방시혁.  빅히트엔터테인먼트 대표.

- 방시혁 대표 축사 전문 (영문 번역) -

http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201902271750579774162_2 

[FULL TRANSCRIPT] Big Hit CEO Bang Si-hyuk says ‘anger is driving force’ at SNU commencement

Esteemed Seoul National University President Oh Se-jung, faculty members, graduates, family and relatives,

Hello, my name is Bang Si-hyuk, CEO of Big Hit Entertainment.

Today’s weather is bright and beautiful to celebrate your graduation. Sincere congratulations on your graduation.

When the president asked me to speak at the graduation, I immediately accepted because it’s a great honor to deliver a graduation speech at my alma mater. But frankly, I contemplated a lot before coming up to this podium. Because I am undeniably part of the older generation. I worried that I will talk like “kkondae” (Korean slang for an elderly person who is stubborn and lectures a lot). I was also concerned whether I will have something meaningful to say to the graduating class who are taking their first step today.

But come to think of it, a commencement speech is where the speaker talks about what they learned in their life to the graduating class or perhaps from “seonbae” to “hubae” (senior to junior). So I will stop worrying about sounding like a “kkondae,” and try to speak honestly as possible about myself. I will probably brag about myself a bit, and talk about my life journey that crosses your own as well.

I attended high school at the end of 1980s. It was the time when you have good grades you study law (in college). So my first choice was law school. It wasn’t that I had a strong desire for law. Frankly speaking, I had no passion nor dreams, but followed the goal and the prerequisite for success that others set up for me. The time for college entrance exam was approaching, and due to my close score, I had to choose between applying to law school with the risk of failing to get admission and retake the exam the following year, known as “jaesu,” or enter Seoul National University with other non-law major. I chose the latter.

As I just told you, I had no such an aspiration for law, nor did I want to retake the exam next year. When I was searching what majors to study, I found the study of aesthetics. The adults in my family, who expected me to study law, strongly opposed this decision. But I fought them back by threatening, “If I fail the exam, it’s bad luck,” and that’s how I enrolled at the aesthetic department.

Surprisingly, aesthetic was a perfect match for me. The classes were so interesting, although I didn’t know what aesthetic was. I had so much fun taking aesthetic classes, which others found difficult, probably because I was always interested in arts and even vain discussions. So I put music aside, which I pursued since middle school, and totally forgot of following my dream of a music career.

Then how did I ever become a music producer? Honestly speaking, I can’t remember exactly. Lot of people assume I have some kind of great story or grand decision for a SNU-grad to make music his career.

But even when I look back, there wasn’t any exact crucial moment. The right way to put it is, as time passed by, I was doing music. Are you disappointed?

I started music as if I was possessed by something. Since 1997, I became a full-time producer and found JYP Entertainment with Park Jin-young. After I left JYP, I found Big Hit Entertainment and worked as the chief and producer. Funny thing is, there were many other choices after JYP, but I can’t quite remember why I decided to establish a new company.

The reason why I am telling this long story about myself is, some of the most important decisions in my life and seemingly meaningful moments really don’t mean that much. And I can’t even remember the reason behind those decisions.

I am not a person who is ambitious with a big picture, or a big dreamer. To be exact, I never had an exact dream. So I made decisions based on what I want to do at each time.

When you take a look at recent activities of BTS and Big Hit Entertainment, It’s hard to believe what I just said. BTS won Billboard’s Top Social Artist Award for two consecutive years and sold out a concert immediately at New York Citi Field with a capacity of 40,000 audience. Recently, BTS was invited to present awards at the Grammy Awards, making another record as the “first.” The foreign media even overpraised BTS as “Beatles of the YouTube Generation.” Not to mention, BTS is one of the few artist who can do a world tour concert at stadiums of major cities around the world. Based on this achievement, I received an honor to put my name on Billboard’s list of “25 Top Innovators,” while Big Hit Entertainment is eval‎uated as an innovation in the entertainment industry and a unicorn company.

When you heard this story on the news, everyone would probably thought there is a great dream behind this success, or Bang Si-hyuk is a high-flyer who plans a big future and fulfills them step by step. But when I said I don’t have much ambition nor a dream, you will wonder what that means. And I am not trying to say I got to where I am today by doing whatever I want spontaneously and choosing anything.

Let me change the topic a bit.

I don’t have many dream, but I am a person with endless discontent. I think this phrase best describes me. As I look back my life for today’s Big Hit and BTS could exist, one clear image that comes to my mind is that I am a person with lots of dissatisfaction.

There are so many compromises in this world. Many are complacent about change, even when there are better ways to do things for many reasons, from not wanting to stick out, not wanting to cause trouble, or perhaps because it was always done this way. But by nature, I can’t just compromise. When it comes to my work, and even with things that are not directly related to me, I will complain if the best efforts are not made in any situation. And if the situation doesn’t improve despite that, I become furious.

Some will remember me as a mentor from audition program “Star Audition: The Great Birth.” You will remember me flaring in anger when participants didn’t try their best. I know I wasn’t the most likable person. Since then, I realized expressing anger doesn’t bring out good results, so I rarely lash out like that. But the reason I am referring to this episode is because it’s a good example of how I am a person with lots of dissatisfaction.

That kind of temperament is shown in my work as well as the company I made. I was angry for complacency of picking the second best instead of the best, or the custom and practice of settling for mediocrity for many different reasons. But above all, I was most unhappy with the situations facing the music industry. This industry was absolutely unreasonable, unfair and irrational. As I chose music as my career, getting to know about this world, my anger got bigger. It felt as if the music, which I loved the most in the world, was treated unfairly and is being used by this world.

I have been in the music industry for 21 years since I began as a composer. But my colleagues and juniors in this industry are still having a hard time frustrated with reality. Many music industry personnel are still ashamed of saying they are part of this industry, due to the industry’s corrupt practices, unfairness and undervaluation by the society. Many young people still regard a music company as paying pittance for hard work.

Our customers aren’t much different. Fans, who love K-pop contents and played a leading role behind globalization, are still degraded as groupies. They can’t proudly say they like K-pop idol’s music. I cannot understand such a treatment, and it angers me, in a time when the industry and the society should praise and respect them.

Our artists, who are enjoying global reputation and give comfort and move fans, are hurt by groundless criticism by anonymous people. There are still so many cases where contents, the product of our blood, sweat and tear are unfairly distributed and used as means of filling pockets of unethical people.

That’s why I am always angry, and has been fighting against these problems. It’s still continuing.

I am not a revolutionary. But I cannot simply overlook the irrationality and irregularities of the music industry. Ignoring, settling and compromising are not my ways of life. This is not because I have a grand dream or big plan about the future. But it’s because I can see it with my eyes right now, and I feel that is unfair.

Now, I feel that anger has become my calling. Getting angry for people in the music industry to receive fair eval‎uation and reasonable treatment, getting angry for unfair criticisms and belittle against artists and fans. Fighting for what I regard as common sense to be realized, is the tribute to music which I loved and was with me for my entire life, as well as in respect and gratitude for fans and artist. And lastly, it’s the only way for me to be happy.

I believe there are two ways to become happy.

Aren’t you happy when after a long day of studies and work you take a hot shower and go inside a clean blanket? You will feel the similar happiness when eating tasty food. There are this kind of “emotional” happiness, as well as realizing happiness rationally. If you want to feel happiness in certain situation, you have to first define when you feel happy. And then you have to constantly work hard to be in that circumstances and status.

For me, based on the definition of the second type of happiness, I want to put it this way. I am happy when my company spreads good influence in the society, and especially gives positive influence to our customers who are young people, helping them create their own world view. Going further, I feel happy when I can be part of changing paradigms of the music industry for development and take part in improving qualities of life of the professionals in this industry. My happiness is when Big Hit and I achieve this kind of change.

Now, let’s go back.

Earlier, I said I didn’t have details or big dreams. True. That’s who I am, even when I was young and now. I didn’t have a picture of what kind of company Big Hit Entertainment will be, or what the future will look like for BTS. Even more, I had no idea what kind of person I will become.

But from the outside, I will look like a person who is following and pursuing constantly a big dream. And it could look like an ideal situation where in the process of achieving my personal dream, I created happiness for people around me and clients who I have to serve. But as I said, this is half true and half false.

I was always furious, instead of having a special dream. I came to where I am today with anger and rage against the reality that cannot be accepted and situation that made me unhappy. That was my driving force behind my actions, and the reason I cannot stop. So maybe the reason why I can give comfort and happiness to many could possibly be driven not by my dream, but my dissatisfaction.

I will continue to live without a dream. I will try to improve unreasonable problems in front of me, rather than spending time to actualize uncertain future. Big Hit Entertainment will strive to improve lot of problems facing the music industry, while BTS will work hard to break the wall that is regarded as inherent limitation as a band from Asia or as a K-pop band. I will continuously improve and examine myself to live up to carry out this kind of work.

What I want to tell you today is this. There is no need to feel devastated because you don’t have a big dream or a detailed future planned out. Don’t devote yourself to pursue happiness that is defined by others, and not by you. Instead, strive to give your best in each and every moment of everyday life. Contemplate on what makes you really happy. But be prepared in advance to find answers based on your own consistent standard so that when the decision time arrives, you don’t run after standards set by others. Define the situation that makes you happy, get rid of things that hinder you, and in the process of pursuing continuously, happiness will come. And when you continue, repetition forms habit, habit becomes a calling that will lead your future path.

One more thing to add, I hope your happiness is based on common sense. Things that harm common good, or negative and destructive desire that can’t improve one’s life are not happiness. To do this, you have to keep unceasing interest in the world outside, while show affection and tolerance toward your surroundings. In this process, you will discover the problems facing your life, and factors that are disturbing your happiness. In doing so, you will strive hard to solve and implement what you think is common sense. In other words, pursuing your own happiness will expand happiness in this world, while this is also responsibility given to the graduates of our school.

At this time, I would like to conclude my address.

I would like to congratulate all of you once again for successfully completing college, which is one of the very important steps of one’s life. I hope that all of you will live well and happily through the next steps of life that will start now, so that you will become a person who can say after 10 or 20 years from now, ‘I’ve lived a pretty good life.’

Personally, I want my tombstone to read ‘Bang Si-hyuk, who had lots of dissatisfaction, lived a happy life and was blessed by many. Until that day when common sense prevails and when music contents and consumers receive fair eval‎uation, I will live fiercely, and get angry, while also feeling small moments of happiness every day.

Please define your own happiness and find it, and live out a great life.

Congratulations on your graduation.