Han eventually reentered 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. “I realized 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.
Han Jung-soo discusses the meaning of money at the Hankook Ilbo office in downtown Seoul. Hankook Ilbo
“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.” The book’s title, “Fired: 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.”
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