So, for the past two days I've been judging the Korean High School Debating Championships. This is the third day, and the final day of the preliminary rounds. The next round, which is also the last preliminary round, starts in 20 minutes, so I am going to keep this short.

To begin with, we all know that Koreans are obsessed with winning. To add to that, the tournament has high stakes. Not only will the top teams be awarded, but also, the top speakers will be invited to represent Korea at the World High School debating championships. What a great entry it would make in anyone's university application. The students are bright-eyed and enthusiastic, but I know that they are a shell all but too easily crushed by defeat.

Here's where it gets interesting. As a judge, I have to decide who wins, and by how much margin. The five preliminary rounds determine who goes to the octofinals (16 teams, knock-out).

I just found out, from unofficial channels, that the teams I am judging both have 2 win-2 loss records.

You need 3 wins to advance.

Whichever team I pick will advance. And the other won't. And I'm the only judge in the room, instead of being in a three-person panel.

I just know that the moment I announce my decision, somebody is going to start celebrating.

And somebody is going to start crying.

Can you tell I am dreading this? It's because I am. Well, in a sense, it's a compliment. It means that the feedback forms the debaters fill out on me have been so good that the organizers recognize my ability as an adjudicator. It means that they have enough confidence in me to put me in such a high-stakes debate round, and let me judge it alone. It's a compliment, and for that I am happy.

At the same time, I know I will be thinking very long and very hard about this debate. I secretly hope that the results are clear, that one team really does exceptionally well and the other... well, doesn't. But I know that won't happen. They are both very good teams, and that's why they are where they are at the moment.

I should get used to this. Chances are good that I will also be judging the elimination rounds. But there, at least I will be a part of a panel, and I know it won't by my sole decision. Here. . .

Ah well. What is one defeat in the vicissitudes of life? After all, it is the victories that make us happy, but the defeats that teach us lead us eventually to victory. And I hope the debaters I judge will realize that.