Challenge Whatever You Want to Do

By Lee Han-na, Student Editor

   Ni hao! As China has been growing rapidly in various fields, many people from other countries, including Koreans, go there for better future and success. The Overseas Cover Second Team (OCST) left Gwangju for Shanghai, China on June 25. Upon our arrival in Shanghai on the same day, the humid atmosphere made us notice that we were in Shanghai, a city situated at the mouth of the Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia. Park Yeong-seok, the President of the CNU Alumni Association of Shanghai, came to welcome and guide us. Let’s meet three CNU alumni living in Shanghai, Park Yeong-seok, Wi Kang-hwan and Lim So-yun.


“Accumulate Various Experiences” 

   While he was starting up his own trading company, China began to open its market and turned into the fastest growing market in the world. He figured that it would be a really good business opportunity. In 2001, he went to China and started to trade in raw materials for the textile and clothing industry because China is abundant in raw materials and industrial resources, more than many other countries, and production costs are very low in China.
   “I established Dooree Trading Corporation in Shanghai. The low wages and the government support have persuaded foreign companies to set up their businesses in the country, which successfully landed huge amount of foreign investment in those days,” he said. 

During the interview with Mr. Wi, we learned that China provides a good environment for a foreign businessman. But its open environment was not just the only one reason for his success. He must have made a strenuous effort. As a matter of fact, he did everything he could to satisfy buyers’ needs. It was no surprise that his company has grown up over the years led by his sincerity and hard work. 

   We asked him what he thought about today’s young people in comparison with his own generation. He said, “I feel sad that young people are so busy studying these days. I think they don’t have enough time to enjoy their lives. I hope CNU students, my juniors, spend their time gathering experience in various activities through the college years.”
He lastly emphasized that diverse experiences are indispensable for students in the era of globalization. “In the twenty-first century, students have to acquire a cosmopolitan outlook. So, I think CNU students should make an effort to attain their international competitiveness. Learning a foreign language is important, but it is more important to accumulate various experiences through traveling in foreign countries. I hope that CNU students play an influential role in the world.”


“Aggressively Challenge Whatever You Want To Do” 

   The OCST visited Lim So-yun’s studio (Painter) on the same day, where we recognized her passion for art through many works displayed. She entered the Dept. of Art Education in 1982 and majored in Western oil painting. As she had a great interest in Chinese black and white drawing, she learned Chinese language during the college days.
After graduation, she became a middle school art teacher and taught students with passion for two years. Then, she decided to leave the school and went to Taiwan in 1989 in order to study Chinese black and white drawing.

She had yearned to study Oriental painting ever since she became a university student. “I was affected by my professor whom I respected. He told me that an oil painting was not Oriental but Western and we should draw pictures using water. I agreed with him and decided to study Oriental black and white drawing,” she said. 

   To her discouragement, she failed the entrance exam for graduate school several times in Taiwan because her major was Western oil painting and her knowledge of Oriental arts was limited. She almost gave up painting after marriage, but she had been persuaded by her husband to specialize in oil painting at graduate school. She said, “At that time, I was satisfied with keeping up my study because I realized that my ability was restricted and also like western painting. After I got married, I stopped painting because I wanted to devote my time to taking care of my family. And then, my husband encouraged me to restart painting.” 

   Having moved to Shanghai with her family in 2003, she held her second exhibition last year and started to paint portraits of modern people. She said, “In spite of numerous vicissitudes, now I feel stable enough to paint pictures. I thank God for guiding me continuously. I hope to communicate messages with other people through my painting.”
While interviewing her, this reporter felt how much she loves her work and life. She finally advised us, “It is a pity many students give up their own dreams because they have anxiety about money. Do what you want to do with your life. If you are prepared, you can really get a chance to accomplish what you want. There must be a way to guide you toward the goal. You can do it. ”

“You Do Have Possibility and Opportunity”

   We met our last alumnus Park Yeong-seok (General Manager of Clean World Trading Corporation) in his office. He entered the Dept. of Library & Information Science in 1981. When he was a university student, he enjoyed his life and spent most of his time idling with his friends instead of studying. “I was not interested in my major in those days. So, I worked at an insurance company for five years after graduation.” 

   Afterward, he left the company and started his own businesses, selling paints and opening a Korean restaurant. Though his business thrived, he made up his mind to go to Shanghai in order to establish a new business in China. “At that time, Korea was faced with economic crisis and China’s market was opened. I thought it would be better to move to China for my success. So, I came to China.” he said. 

   He had difficulties in running business in China because he could not understand Chinese culture. Initially, he often got cheated by Chinese people and failed in business due. He said that lack of knowledge about Chinese culture was the leading cause of initial business failure. He is currently running a company that manufactures and sells water purification equipment in Shanghai.

   “I hope that CNU students are not possessed by inferiority as local university students. I know it is difficult to get rid of that feeling in a Korean society. However, you have a lot of possibilities and opportunities for your future. I believe there is nothing impossible if you devote your life to any kinds of things you want to do,” he said. 

   He added, “Though it is actually difficult for all alumni to get together at a time, we are trying to have a frequent meeting and also to promote interchange programs between Fudan University and CNU. We hope CNU students would develop their global sense and attain their international competitiveness through programs such as an academic-industrial cooperation and cultural exchange.” 

   During the interview with three alumni, the OCST members felt our alumni’s love and affection for juniors. On the way back to Gwangju, this reporter thought CNU students should learn our alumni’s passion and positive attitude towards life and feel proud of CNU. The reporter hopes that we can give valuable instructions to our juniors when we become seniors as alumni represented above have done.