Warm-hearted Message from Japan

By Park Sa-ra, Head Student Editor

During last summer vacation, CNU Press andBroadcastingCenter (CNUPBC) interviewed more than fifteen CNU alumni living abroad, in places such as Japan, China and Indonesia. The CNU PBC planned to cover the story of successful but not well-known overseas alumni in order to give CNU students a sense of pride in their university and encourage them to realize their dreams. Chonnam Tribune will report the findings of this overseas coverage in the article entitled “People” in this and the next two issues. As the first part of the Overseas Cover Team series, this issue deals with alumni residing in Tokyo, Japan. –Ed.-

            For about two months, the members of Overseas Cover First Team (OCFT) had prepared for the meeting with CNU alumni in with the hope of becoming good correspondents for our alumni and CNU students. On June 25, the OCFT finally went toTokyo to meet four alumni, Lee Seong-beom, Lee Young-in, Shin Jae–sik and Kim Jae-ho. It began to rain when we arrived in Tokyo, the capital of , which seemed to be as crowded and dynamic asSeoul . We first met Lee Seong-beom (CEO and President of World Win Technology Corporation) in his office. He entered the Department of Japanese Lang.& Lit. in 1983. When he went to after graduation, he first worked at his senior’s office in and then entered a general trading company Marubeni. In 1999, he founded World Win Technology Company, which develops products like B2B, B2C software, and Hybrid STB and provides video on demand service to hospitals and hotels as a broadband service provider.

      At that time he was determined to start a broadband business, he had to study Information Technology (IT) and broadband technology very hard because he was not able to understand the concept of core “8technique”. He said, “In the early 1980s, many Korean IT companies advanced into, but two or three years later, about ninety percent of them closed down due to the failure to understand Japanese business culture.” However, he could continue with his business because he had learned it while working at Marubeni for a few years. He said, “Working as an incubator in the company, I learned how to consult with customers in. The work required patience because it required a long period of time from six months to one year. The experience during the period was a big help to me to start my own business in . Korean companies need to know Japanese culture so they can put down roots in .”

     While interviewing him, the members of the OCFT felt that he was a determined man with a strong will. Whatever happened to him, he makes his deliberate decisions through careful consideration even without eating and sleeping, and then he never looks back at his decision. “I just believe it comes true,” he said. We thought he was a really well prepared CEO. At last he advised CNU juniors, “If you want to be a successful businessperson, , challenge for a developing country such as , , orAfrica . There are many more chances there.”

      The next morning we hurried to another office located near Osaki Station and met our second alumnus Lee Young-in (Director of Japan Branch Office of Charmzone). He entered the Department of Business Administration in 1988. After graduation in 1992, he studied international marketing and commercial law at two graduate schools,WasedaUniversity andGeioUniversity . After that he entered Samsung Corporation of in 1995 and moved to Charmzone.

      We asked him why he chose and how he has been changed while working in . He answered, “At that timeoffered very good conditions to study insurance. It is well known that Japanese surely keep their time, so I learned it. I always show up a little earlier at the appointment place and then wait my customer or buyer while preparing the meeting. That’s my changed attitude while living in Japan. ”  

        His motto is ”Do your best and wait for God’s orders”. He said, “I think the important thing is that we do our best and do all our work honestly. I learned this attitude from my uncle who was a chef in a restaurant, where I worked as a part timer. He always worked honestly during his working hours.” Like his motto, he was a person of high moral integrity. During the interview, we wanted to follow his consistent attitude of integrity. Our heart was full with delight that we learned something. He sent a message to CNU students. “There are a few students from Gwangju here. The majority of students studying here were from Seoul and Pusan . I don’t think living abroad is difficult. Go to other places and don’t just stay in Gwangju.”

      The OCFT had trouble to find Shin Jae-sik’s office in Fuchu in a suburb of Tokyo . That was because we did not know the Tokyo subway system well. Finally, we met Shin Jae-sik (Director of Kyobo Information & Communication Corporation) and he has a strong charisma.  He entered the Department of Japanese Lang. & Lit in 1982. After graduating from CNU, he went to to study the Japanese language. When he came back to and worked at Kyobo Information & Communication Corporation, he received and accepted a proposal to work in the Japanese branch office of the company. He moved to in 1992 and has been working here until now.

     We first asked what difficulties he had while working at the company of field quite different from his major. He said, “At first, I had worked as an engineer for ten years. Actually, it was so difficult for me to learn technology because I had a propensity to the humanities. But, I worked really hard and many senior co-workers helped me. As a result, I could adjust to the technology and engineering fields.” He added, “At that time, I thought it was only one of the courses that I had to follow in order to realize my dream, to become a business man. While working as an engineer, I made an effort to realize my dream. I read financial newspapers everyday to know Japanese economic trend and started to play golf for the future.”

     His motto is ‘it is possible to incur a great loss by pursuing a small profit’. It was so fit for him. He also pointed out that it is important to have a broad mind. We could feel these thinking through his character of statement. He told us, “We have to be charged with a task at each age. I divide my life into three sections -30’s, 40’s, and 50’s. In the thirties, prepare and invest for your future. It’s the most important age. Your forties and fifties depend on whether how you spend your thirties. In the forties and fifties what you prepared comes true and go straight forward.” To our question what we should do in twenties, he answered, “In the twenties, do whatever you want to and enjoy it. When you are a university student, play as much as you want to do.” At last, he advised, “CNU students, have a bold dream and set a goal as specific as possible. Especially students who want to become businesspeople should improve communication skills. It is very important. To have these skills, make an effort to respect others from now. It’s the key of communication.”

     Finally, we visited Kim Jae-ho (President of Asia Network) and he was waiting for us with cool drinks prepared. He entered the Department of Political Science in 1982. After graduation, he became a public officer in 1988 and worked only for a year. In 1990, he moved to to learn Japanese. We asked, “did you have any particular reason to major in political science?” He answered, “above all, I have been interested in politics and social structure and change. Looking back on my university life, I joined Campus Crusade for Christ and liked to play the guitar. I was just an indifferent student. Many students in those of days demonstrated against the dictatorial government. When I was a freshman, Park Gwan-hyun, the president of Student Council, died in a prison. I deeply regretted the unfortunate death of Park Gwan-hyun,” he added.

     At first, he established the Korean Satellite Broadcasting System and then ran a travel agency. He said, “establishment of Korean Satellite Broadcasting system was a good idea but I had a serious financial difficulty. Finally, I had to quit. As for running a travel agency, I had undergone some serious hardships. But it made me stronger.” He is currently working in many places: he is a president of Asia Network real estate business, editor of magazine of Korea entertainment, general affair director of World Overseas Korean Traders Associations which is world federation of overseas Korean trades associations. We asked, “why do you have many jobs?” He answered, “as I heard that the number of different occupation is more than twenty thousands in. It is one of my goals to experience those various jobs in .” He gives good advice to CNU students. “CNU is a great university. I’m living with a sense of pride in CNU. I hope you’ll live aggressively with your pride. My juniors will work all over the world.”

      After finishing the interviews with four alumni, the reporter’s heart was filled with joy and satisfaction because the reporter learned and realized so many things from our respectable alumni who live with their vision. The reporter realized the following: first, the importance of having a concrete dream, second, setting a specific plan, third making an effort to achieve goal with a firm will. If so, dreams will come true. It is also necessary to have a touch of humanity for achieving these three things mentioned above. This reporter hopes CNU students put a strong effort to achieve their goals with warm-heartedness like our four alumni in this article. All of you will be a people of high integrity. This will be an important key to being a winner in life.