Han Jung-soo, 32, achieved what many office workers dream of: becoming part of the Fire – which stands for “financial independence, retire early” – movement. After joining South Korean credit card company Shinhan Card in 2018, he capitalised on the global financial market turmoil caused by Covid-19, earning 3.5 billion won (US$2.6 million) through domestic and international stock and cryptocurrency investments. He resigned in March 2021. His new book, Fired, co-written with another Fire member, Kang Ki-tae, is not a guide to making money quickly. Instead, it delves into the stories of Fire members who discovered that wealth alone does not guarantee happiness. “Many people in Korean society believe that money can solve everything, but my experience showed otherwise,” Han said in a recent interview. “I wrote this book to discuss our attitudes towards money and the philosophy behind it.” Initially, Han believed that wealth would bring him happiness. He began crossing off items from his wish list – things he could never afford on a regular salary. As an avid photographer, he bought a Leica camera worth 20 million won, splurged on luxury shoes and dined at high-end omakase restaurants without checking price tags. However, the excitement was short-lived. “It lasted only three days. I realised that happiness from material possessions is fleeting. Once you get used to it, you need to buy something new to feel that happiness again. But over time, the threshold for satisfaction rises, making it harder to feel fulfilled,” he said. Instead of viewing money as a means for acquiring goods, he started seeing it as a tool for securing intangible values like time. “I earned 30 years of my life through investments,” he explained. “I gained a few extra chances to fail and try again.” Han eventually re-entered the workforce, founding a drama production company called Yeondu Company, where he now works daily. His decision stems from a long-held dream of directing films and dramas. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 한정수 HAN Jung-su (@junxoo) “I realised that work and happiness are not mutually exclusive. Work is not just about earning money,” he said. “Becoming part of the Fire movement actually made me reflect more seriously on the meaning of work.” He also noticed a common trait among the wealthy young individuals he met – they all continued to work. Han runs an investment community for asset holders born in the 1980s and 1990s, requiring a minimum net worth of 3 billion won for membership. While these individuals could afford a lifetime of leisure, none of them chose to do so. “Having a lot of money does not automatically lead to a happy ending. Life goes on,” he said. “Some people obsess over accumulating wealth at the cost of their health and personal relationships. But once they achieve financial freedom, they feel deceived. They thought money would bring ultimate happiness, but it didn’t. Some even assume they just need to earn more money, leading them into a cycle of unhappiness.” For this reason, his book does not define financial independence simply as having enough money to stop working. Instead, it promotes “pursuing wealth without becoming enslaved by it”. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 한정수 HAN Jung-su (@junxoo) The book, whose English title is Financial Independence: Release Economic Dominion, reflects this philosophy. “Money is just a tool for happiness, and one should not abandon personal goals for the sake of accumulating it,” he said. “I hope this book helps people avoid being controlled by money and instead find joy in the process of earning it.” This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times. Read the original story at The Korea Times.