Goo Bon-hyeong, a best-selling author of self-help books, died of lung cancer on Saturday. He was 59.

Goo published the first self-help book “Farewell to Something Familiar” in 1998, which led the rise of self-help literature in Korea and the establishment of his own self-help research company, the Goo Bon-hyeong Change Management Lab, in 2000.

He wrote four other books and numerous columns for newspapers, and held workshops.

His motivational lectures attracted hundreds of participants, especially employees of big enterprises, who were inspired by his practical advice based on management principles and the humanities.

Born in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, Goo studied history and management at Sogang University. He became a self-help author after leaving IBM Korea where he worked for 20 years.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)