My Journey

Young Officer's Life at Army

As a sophoremore at Yonsei University, Seoul,Korea, there were a number of options available to me in pursuing my future career. I realized that I need to develop a wide rang eof leadership skills and increase my inter personal skills in order to be an effective member in Korean business congromerates and succeed to the executive level. So, I entered the ROTCand after two years I performed my military service as an officer, patrolling the demilitarized zone (DMZ). Although my overall military service was exceptional, I faced many hardships at first despite all my leadership practice in the cadet society. I was a Leader of Cadets, I realized the difficulties of the hard leadership. I was a Korean officer on the front line, standing closest to the North Korean army, and keeping my men under control was very tough. They showed me little respect at first because I was young and new. They regarded me as an boyscout- inexperienced but full of pride. In order to maintain full control, I made every efforts-sometimes by force sometimes by peursuasion. In Korea, Military service is compulsory and direct unwilling people to achieve goals is a special endeavor requring dedication and perseverance.

My First Step into business World

While assisting the president in his daily activities by following up on important projects requiring his direct involvement and control, I helped him to supervise the implementations of numerous overseas investments projects.  Working with the president and senior executives allowed me the excellent opportunity of seeing first hand process of effective management in pursuing the organization's goals.  In the course of my management activities, I provided the leadership with providing informations and alternatives for decision making and planning as well as assisting in the daily activities of directing and controlling company directions.

Engaging in various management activities, I participated in many overseas business trips with the president and the other senior executives to such countries as the USA, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, and others.  I found that the business environment of each country is deeply rooted in its past history and is a reflection of that country's unique culture.  So, an effective manager should have an extensive knowledge of cultural differences. For example, nodding  a head in Vietnam does not mean " Yes" or "I agree with you", but simply  " I understand". This is a reflection of Confucian modesty-that is not showing directness when answering. To take another example from Myanmar, smoking in front of seniors should be avoided, as in the case in Korea.  The cigarette is the symbol of maturity in both Myanmar and Korea, so if a junior smokesin front of senior, it presents an embarrassing situation.  There one should avoid smoking until allopwed to do so, or if you are host and eldest, you may express genorosity by permitting a junior to smoke with you.

There is a plenty of diversity among people's characteristics and personalities, and in addition to being aware of other's outward behaviors, one also should need to understand the driving forces behind those behaviors.  As effective manager need to understand how people motivate thaemselves, especially what motivates people from within.  Most people's characters are a reflection of their own cultures and past histories.

Personally, being involved in overseas trips has greatly enlarged my global perspective.

In 1995, I promoted to business manager after five and half years since I joined Daewoo.  I moved to new position - global operation support department which was in charge of measuring the performance of overseas branches, analysing the operational descriptions of an anticipated operations and ensuing that each organization is operating within specific guide line and is achieving its goals.  At that time, I realized that I needed more solid academic background in order to make up for my relative lack of experiences compared to the other managers at my level in Daewoo corporation.  I was also encouraged by president Mr. Kang.  Moving rapidly towards globalization, Daewoo has taken the lead among other companies and Daewoo absolutely needed more managers who think globally.  I thought that in order to successfully develop into an effcient manager, I should strive to meet the requirements that would be demanded of future managers-a full knowledge of management skills, extensive experience in various management situations, a spirit of  innovation to meet the changing demands of a global market place, a global perspective that understands specific cultures as well as leadership abilities.  I had no doubt that MBA experience will aid me in achieving my professional goal of becoming a truly enterprenuer in an overseas investment operation,

The Truth shall set you free

I graduated from Shin Il high school in Seoul,Korea, a prosbyterian school founded by the Chairman of HanGlass, A north Korean refugee who escaped to the South during Korean War for religious freedom.  Indeed, I am greatly indebted to ShinIl's chrstian eduction for my ethical independence.  Since the dawn of my life, "My actions are always consistent with God" has been the personal code that guides my daily activities.

At the Yonsei University as well, which is known in Korea for its sincere devotion to the Chiristian spirits I remain absorbed in the committment to freedom fro sin, as expressed by its motto; " The Truth shall set you free".

Korean society consists of many kinds of relationships.  Due to the Korea's particular situations-one homogeneous race of people, one language and its vulnerability to continous invasion, being a small peninsular bridge between the continent and the ocean- we have kept ourselves in relatively small groups and as a result, have valued the relationships within those groups very much.  Losing face within one society causes loss of face everywhere since the links between all the groups with which one is associated allows scandal to spread beyond any person's control.

The business world has these inter connected relationship.  I believe few concerns are more important to modern society and business activity than ethical independence.  I continuously face ethical dilemas in my daily activities, often being confronted by the force of the temptaion and corruption. For example, in securing law materials from supplyers, they sometimes offer " monetary aid" along with their goods, mentioning some sort of special relationship with me, such as being alumni of the same school.  All else being the same, this may be an attractive offer for me.  To overcome this ethical dielema, however, I ask myself " How does this reflect in the eyes of God?" and then I think " Fight the good fight with all your might"

In this regard, church is sanctuary where one can share a special kind of relationship with people of the same beliefs.  Sharing freindship with neighborhood in a church is also very interesting .  Nowadays, as Korean develop into a modern society, relationships between neighbors have become drier that in the past: We can't say Hi while strolling around the park.
But in Sunday, gathering around in church and communing with friends, we can have discussions that both enhance the welfare of the community and help combat against the alchohol abuseand violence brought into our homes by TV and portrayed in film, drama and magazine.  So, in a chuch, we improve upon our patience, self-sacrifice, friendship and humor.  Of these, we especially take patience as a first priority.  Patience does not mean passive or submission to defeat.  Rather, It does mean forbearance.  It is a great value that leads us to mutual harmony.  As reflecting on involvment in the church, I realize what a large impact it has made on of my life.  My inspiration I receive fro church inevitablys spreads to my home life and personal relationships as well as business settings.  It has been a guiding force that continously influences every aspect of my daily conduct.
 

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