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2023. Oct VOL.667
2023. Oct VOL.667
Hello! Everyone is sitting here in a very stiff posture. Let’s take it easy. It’s best to work as if we’re playing, so I hope that today’s meeting isn’t an extension of our work but an enjoyable conversation. I recognize certain faces from my on-site visit, and there are some employees I am seeing for the first time today. It’s really nice to meet you all! I hope I can hear many thoughts and stories from the younger generation who will take charge of the future of our corporation.
I was very much looking forward to seeing you today, but I have also been a little nervous. As you started the conversation cheerfully, I feel much more at ease now. Here’s the first question. If you are given a 1-week holiday, how would you like to spend it?
As soon as the holiday starts, I will get on a plane (Laughs). In my life, I have tried many things and experienced various organizations. Meanwhile, whenever I had free time, I traveled alone. The most memorable place among the destinations I’ve been to is Laos. I remember that it was about a week after the first flight to Laos was opened in Korea. I have fond memories of riding a motorcycle on rural roads in Northern Laos where only one car could pass through. I still vividly remember the moment I felt liberated while looking at the open landscape.
I’d also like to start with a lighter question. I’m curious about your mobile phone wallpaper!
Do you want to take a look? This is a photo of my wife and my youngest son, who is in 5th grade of elementary school. They attended my inauguration ceremony as well. For your information, my wife’s mobile phone wallpaper is always our son’s photo only (Laughs).
I think your words will serve as a firm steppingstone for us to begin our social life. I’d like to ask you a slightly different question. In the past when you were a new recruit, did you ever think, “I shouldn’t behave like that”?
I guess everyone has that kind of experience at least once. I have learned a lot from experiencing superiors who were accustomed to disregarding others in their speech and behavior, who only emphasize working hard without a break although there is a reward for work, and who only talk about what they have to say at length without thinking of the other person’s position. I also really like talking, but when I’m having a conversation, I always try to check the other person’s reaction and if the person looks uncomfortable, I end the conversation even if I want to say more. As I have experienced, I can put myself in the other person’s shoes. I think things that were difficult for me at the time actually helped me in my life. I believe I am where I am today because even when I met a superior who made me think, “I shouldn’t be like him or her,” I didn’t only complain but instead used the occasion as a lesson to learn for personal development. There is a saying that good medicine tastes bitter. We can use the occasion as nourishment and turn it into an opportunity to grow further. Instead of saying, “I can’t go on working at the company because of that person,” we could think, “I can grow thanks to that person.” It’s not easy, but it’s for ourselves, not for the other person.
After looking at your phone wallpaper, I feel like we have become closer to each other. Today, we have 15 Super Rookies here who entered the company from one to five years ago. We are the MZ Generation, so to speak. Have you ever felt the generation gap with the MZ generation?
Yes, quite often (Laughs). Whenever I say something, my son who’s in fifth grade whom I mentioned earlier says, “Dad, stop talking about the past. What era we are living in……” Of course, I know that there’s a difference in the amount of information we receive and the way we see the world between the two generations. So, I think it’s natural to have a generation gap.
Then, please give advice to us as the younger generation, if you have any.
If there’s just one thing I’d like to ask the younger generation, it’s to have “the will and passion to do something.” I have experiences of living enthusiastically and of being motivated to do my best for “what I have been given, and furthermore, by finding what I should do.” It has been very rewarding for me. I hope that everyone, including myself, will have the experience of being motivated and of doing their best with passion.
You’re nearing your 100th day in office. I am curious about how differently you felt about K-water when you were still an outsider and now that you’re in the company.
‘One of the many public corporations!’—that was the image I had of K-water before. Now, as I’ve spent 100 days since taking office, my thought has changed to ‘It’s a valuable corporation.’ I sincerely think so. After taking office, as I took a close look at the organization and met employees, I realized that there is no company in the country like K-water, which has competent human resources, sound financial conditions, and unique business and portfolio. I thought it’s a really valuable company and I have now developed a desire to make K-water a corporation with an unrivaled status in the global water sector, just as we naturally think of Samsung when it comes to semiconductors. It may not be easy to obtain complete results during my term, but I am confident that I can at least lay the foundation for that. Above all, as we are a public corporation, our first mission is to protect the lives and property of the people and manage water safety. Based on that, I believe we have the capacity to advance as a global corporation. I was able to confirm that possibility through what I saw, heard, and felt from all of you during my first 100 days in office. Now, I have trust in K-water and our employees. Based on such trust, I’d like to establish a foothold to take off toward global communities during my term.
You must have received a lot of reports during your first 100 days in office. Do you have anything to say to employees regarding the way of reporting?
In general, many employees just read out the contents of their report. However, if there is a two-page report, sometimes the information of only two sentences or less is what I need to know in the report. Of course, there are meaningful contents, but most of them are information that can be found in writing later or are already in my head. When I receive reports, I feel that some employees obsess over the thinking that ‘As I have worked hard to prepare a report, I have to read it all!’ But that’s not ideal reporting. It’s natural to write a report meticulously with detailed information and attached materials, but when reporting, it’s important to understand exactly what the other party wants and to state the main points. I think you can make a good report when you think about it from the perspective of the person receiving the report, not the person reporting it.
I joined the company last year, so I still have a lot to learn about company life. Is there any advice you would like to give to us rookies?
This is a story I told at a recent meeting with employees of the on-site department. When ten people ask you for something, some people do a favor only for one or two people who are close to them, but some people try to do a favor for all of them as much as they can. Because it is a ‘favor,’ there’s no obligation to comply, but in this case, I’d like to advise you to ‘be the latter.’ Of course, even if you comply with all ten people’s requests, it doesn’t mean you will get the response you want. About two out of ten might respond, ‘You’ve done it only for this much!’ Perhaps six to seven people would only say ‘Thank you’ as a courtesy and forget about it. However, there is always one person out of ten who returns 100 in value when I help the person with about 10. That very person will really help you when you’re having a hard time. Such attitude is not for others, but for yourself. If you continue leading your office life like this, opportunities will definitely come to you. I know this because I have experienced it in life. This is the story I really want to talk about to all of you who have just taken the first step into social life. I have spoken to you here as a senior who walked the path a little bit earlier than you. It would be great if there was even one story that would remain in your mind. Please feel free to let me know your opinion at any time. It’s okay to talk about company operations, and it’s also good to share your big and small thoughts. When a large organization is in operation, there may be things that are different from what you have in mind. I hope there will be many occasions for communication like today in the future so that different opinions can be harmonized and become a steppingstone for K-water’s growth.
I think I have created precious memories today that I will keep remembering while working at the company. Above all, I remember the CEO’s words that any experience will become the strength that helps me grow, so I should do my best in everything I do. Since CEO Yun Seog-dae took office, I believe there has been a sea of change at the company. As a new recruit who starts social life, I will learn and grow a lot by joining in that sea of change.
Today, CEO Yun Seog-dae has spoken clearly about his opinions with flexible thinking and humor. It was like meeting a great senior in my life. As he said, ‘I hope you can experience putting all your passion into whatever job is given to you, without regrets,’ I will remind myself of the initial determination I had upon entering the company, and work hard with enthusiasm.
While driving for 3 hours from Suncheon, I was half-excited and half-worried about ‘what I should talk about when we meet today.’ In a comfortable atmosphere, CEO Yun Seog-dae told us interesting stories needed for our Super Rookies, so my worries disappeared and I had a great time and I was filled with joy and pride. He said he would like to lay the foundation for us to advance into the world.” Accordingly, I will also grow into a talented person who dreams of a larger world.
