“Extinguishing the Fire in My Heart” KARP Hosts March Taoreum Talk Concert

Employment, Welfare and Pension Advancement Alliance, an affiliate of the Korean Association of Retired Persons (KARP, President Juch Myong-Yong), held its first Taoreum Talk Concert of March on the theme “Extinguishing the Fire in My Heart” on March 10 at the KARP auditorium in Gwangjang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. 

At the event, Min Eui-sik, a professional lecturer from the KPO Master Lecturers Association, delivered a talk explaining the profound impact of non-violent empathetic communication on personal health and life, while also presenting practical ways to apply it in everyday life.

Mr.Min emphasized the importance of communication, saying, “Words are often spoken impulsively, but once they are said they cannot be taken back. In that sense, words become a decisive factor that shapes our lives.”

He explained that negative emotions and stress can significantly weaken the body’s immune functions. According to him, the TSL program (Therapeutic Research Institute)—which encourages the practice of saying “Thank you,” “I’m sorry,” and “I love you”—has been shown to reduce stress levels by more than 50 percent.

The central message of the lecture was “accepting differences.”Mr.Min noted that people naturally tend to have self-centered biases and unconscious misconceptions. He stressed that when we accept differences with others not as “wrong,” but as diversity, we can better control the emotional “fire” within our hearts.

As practical steps, he introduced the four stages of non-violent communication: observation, feelings, needs, and requests. He also advised that when anger arises, one should step away for about 15 minutes—the time it takes for anger-related hormones to subside—or practice breathing meditation. In addition, he encouraged participants to build positive habits such as smiling, hugging, and keeping a gratitude journal for 66 days.

Concluding the lecture,Mr.Min said,“When we strive to make each word we speak a gift to others, our own lives will also become happier.”