A Message From Seoul
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
INT. LIVING ROOM - 01:00
Quiet. Closing his laptop, PETER grabs his smartphone and checks WhatsApp messages.
PETER (V.O.): Oh, my son-in-law has sent me a message from Seoul.
We see on screen: Happy New Year, Father...
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I must say that the word "Father" strikes me with physical force.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It echoes in the hollow space left by his own Dad who loved him dearly but passed away over four years ago.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): To me, the title "Father" feels like a sacred torch, passed from hands he can no longer touch into my own.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Meanwhile, let me create a New Year greeting card for 2026 as my reply.
Act 2
INT. BEDROOM - 11:45
Sitting up in bed, Peter swipes his social media feed. A post titled "FATHER" catches his eyes. He reads it.
PETER (V.O.): The author of the post attempts to define the pillars of fatherhood using the acronym FATHER.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): However, the author conflates foundational qualities with actions.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I think "True" should replace "Teaching". A father who is true naturally teaches by example.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): "Empowering" should replace "Encouraging", as empowering is an ongoing approach that builds a person's capacity rather than just providing momentary encouragement.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): So a consistent version of the FATHER acronym, where each letter represents a core character trait of fatherhold, should be: F (Faithful), A (Available), T (True), H (Helpful), E (Enpowering), R (Responsible).
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): All six are adjectives describing character, creating a cohesive list of who a father is, not just what he does.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A father succeeds when his children stand strong on the foundation he built - no longer needing him.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My Korean son-in-law's message was the first and best thing of 2026. I can see he has made a deliberate effort to write his New Year greetings to me in English.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): His message made me reevaluate the meaning of the word "Father".
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The FATHER acronym serves as a gentle reminder for me to embody the essential character traits of a father.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I think "Father" in any language carries the same silent vows.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): While my son-in-law-to-be was learning Japanese in Fukuoka and became our elder daughter's classmate and boyfriend, his Dad was battling cancer.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): His Dad kept his illness a secret until his son completed his exam and just a few weeks before his passing.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We first and last met online during the COVID travel restrictions in 2021.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): When travelling became possible, my wife and I visited his Dad's burial site to pay our respects.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A photo of his Dad now sits by the sofa in their new home.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My father passed away in 2011. The ache of missing him is still there.
Sighing.
Act 3
INT. LVING ROOM - 21:30
Peter uploads a photo of a vibrant pink neon sign displaying "My Soul Seoul" with a heart symbol replacing the "o" in "Seoul" to a draft on his laptop.
PETER (V.O.): The strongest wifi signal can't bridge a generational gap. But one word, sincerely given, can build a whole new bridge.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I don't select the moments that shape my fatherhood. My son-in-law does, reaching out with a message from Seoul on an otherwise ordinary night.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Two cultures. Two languages. Love doesn't need a translator. Respect needs only a single, perfect word.
The END
FADE OUT
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