Money and woman

By Nam Sang-so

It’s a heartwarming combination of the two most beautiful words, for men. They are the ultimate objects of men’s pursuit but they aren’t easy to catch – women and money.

Some lucky guys, after hard work, get one or both but in due course they lose interest in the game, mostly of the second one. Some unlucky guys don’t get either of them. ``Die for your woman, run for a thousand miles for money,” so the Chinese proverb says. Then it must be true that most men’s religion is centered on these two words. Yet, it seems that their worshipping of them is concentrated on its pursuing process rather than on the end result.

Woman and money are always in need when most needed and more often flow in one after another when there are ample supplies.

The swarming in of either one or two has nothing to do with handsomeness, ability or personality but oddly, it appears to be mostly determined by fate. Many men fail to achieve either one or both of the goals; some men ruin themselves in pursuing money while others create motives for small or big crimes in an effort to win a woman’s heart and a close connection between the two always exists.

But it’s not a disgraceful phenomenon as it proves how men make a point of wanting money and women in their life.

I just happened to be a man and as such I can only hold a male view. Of course, the situation can be easily inverted if to be seen from women’s perspective ― money and men.

It’s also a heartwarming combination, for women, but a tiny problem is hidden in this disposition. When man is not so rich he comes home meekly on time. On the other hand, he not only comes home on time but often stays out overnight when his wallet bulges.

I’m sure women know by instinct that they should hold onto money rather than a man when they have to choose. I don’t believe all women are so mercenary but they have learned by experience that love is slender and unreliable.

A man will go out against her will but money stays home if she wants to keep it there. Or she can exchange it for anything she wants; cosmetics, handbags, shoes, dresses, whatever. Money is far more stable and has far more merit than a troublesome man and naturally women heavily rely on banknotes.

It’s one of the weak points, especially of beautiful women, as famously expressed in one of the old best sellers; the luckless love story of Shim Sun-ae who dumps her poor young lover Yi Su-il for a large diamond displayed by a rich old man.

Oddly, it can be interpreted that this utilitarian thought of females in a way motivates men to work so hard for money, as Yi Su-il later demonstrated by earning a lot of money to take revenge on his lover who was dazzled by wealth.

Rich men must always be happy with their abundant wealth, you may assume, but it is not that simple. They know their happiness is entirely dependent on money, so they are always afraid of losing it along with their female companion(s). ``Money comes with the devil,” so Buddha teaches, which further explains that ``the strongest is the person who holds nothing.”

Poor men often venture to bid even their own life in exchange for money, as recently well demonstrated by many famous Korean politicians and high ranking government employees.

Dear ladies, if you are still with me please consider yourself very lucky that you weren’t born to be a man.

The writer is a retired architect-specifications writer, who shuttles back and forth between Seoul and New Jersey. Email him at sangsonam@gmail.com.