Dr. Kang Young-woo's Parenting Methods

Dr. Kang Young-woo: A Mentor for the Visually Impaired

Dr. Kang Young-woo was born in 1944 and lost his eyesight as a child after being hit in the eyes by a soccer ball. Shortly after this incident, his father passed away, and his mother, devastated by the news of her son's blindness, also died. His older sister, who worked tirelessly to support Dr. Kang and his younger brother, later succumbed to overwork and passed away. Although his future seemed bleak, Dr. Kang did not succumb to despair. He began studying later in life, graduated from Yonsei University, and became the first visually impaired Korean to study abroad. He later worked at the U.S. State Department after being invited by President George W. Bush. Despite his challenges, Dr. Kang also succeeded in raising his children to excel: his eldest son, Jinseok, was named a "Super Doctor" by The Washington Post in 2011, and his younger son, Jinyoung, served as senior legal counsel to President Obama. Let’s explore Dr. Kang’s unique approach to parenting.

Dr. Kang Young-woo

Lessons Learned from a Jar

Dr. Kang believed that setting priorities in life was of utmost importance. He taught his children using the lesson of a jar filled with stones, pebbles, sand, and water, emphasizing that if the order was not followed, everything would not fit. He explained that if sand and pebbles were placed first, there would be no room for the stones. This taught a profound lesson: the stones represented big goals, while the pebbles were smaller objectives needed to achieve those larger goals. He described the development of one’s abilities as a significant stone, supported by smaller goals, or pebbles. By prioritizing in his parenting, his sons thrived and became major successes—Dr. Kang’s own large stones. It’s likely that Dr. Kang considered the education of his children one of the biggest stones in his life.

Finding Positivity Amid Negativity

Dr. Kang did not believe his children would suffer ridicule from their peers due to him being a visually impaired and small-statured Korean. Instead, he showcased his unique capabilities. He explained that while their mother could not read books to them in the dark, he could read Braille books with his hands. He never felt ashamed of his disability in front of his children. Dr. Kang made an effort to find positivity in his circumstances and taught his children to persevere even in the worst situations. His example became an inspiration, teaching them to build self-confidence without being overly concerned with others' opinions. He emphasized that achieving success in one’s unique way requires relentless effort. His belief, “If a visually impaired father could come this far, you can achieve even greater things,” inspired his sons to excel.

Despite becoming visually impaired later in life and facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, Dr. Kang Young-woo’s determination to lead a successful life serves as a valuable lesson not only to his children but to everyone. His clear understanding and teaching of his approach to success in difficult circumstances likely played a major role in his children’s growth into remarkable individuals.

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