By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young

A world leader is like a high pillar that supports the lives of countless people. If this pillar decays or collapses, those who lean on it will be lost and confused. The most important virtue for a leader to possess is Bulgijasim 不欺自心 (Don't deceive yourself), or a mind that does not deceive oneself. In the world of politics and power, this teaching is more desperate.

Bulgijasim 不欺自心 (Don't deceive yourself)

Politicians are supposed to lead the world by gathering the will and hearts of the people. But if they deceive their own conscience and are blinded by selfishness and lust for power, the result will only be chaos and division. You can deceive the eyes of the people for a while, but you can never deceive your own conscience.

At every moment of political judgment and action, we must ask ourselves.

“Is my decision truly for the public interest?”
“Is this the path I can walk honorably?”

Because a small act of greed in a leader's heart can have a huge impact on the world. Only an honest conscience that does not deceive itself can stop the ripples.

Dockcheomujagi 獨處毋自欺 (Be honorable in solitude)

For those in power, temptation is more intense in solitude. The whispers of “I can get away with it,” “No one will ever know,” gnaw at a leader's conscience. But if you lie to yourself even when no one is looking, your lies will one day be revealed in your actions and destroy your credibility.

Power is like a mirror. Depending on how a leader uses it, it can shine a clear, bright light or reveal a reflection tainted by greed and deceit. No one would dare to hide what they see in that mirror.

Conscience shapes true leadership

Leaders should be more afraid of betraying their own conscience than they are of criticism. True leadership comes from making decisions for the people and choosing the path of integrity no matter what.

Politics is essentially service. The moment a leader uses power as a tool for self-interest, he or she goes out of his or her way. Even in the turbid world of politics, a conscience that does not deceive itself is the most powerful weapon, a light that illuminates the darkness of the world.

The world remembers a leader's lies long after he or she is gone. But truth and integrity can save a leader and the world he leads. 

I hope that you will take the teachings of Bulgijasim 不欺自心 (Don't deceive yourself) and Dockcheomujagi 獨處毋自欺 (Be honorable in solitude). A leader who does not deceive himself will win the trust of the people and remain a pillar of righteousness in the world.

We should all remember that leaders are not those who hold power, but those who follow their conscience and the truth.