Here Comes “Sutabucks”!

New Employees in the second half 2024

Recently, K-water has welcomed 124 new employees aboard and they will form part of the foundation upon which to shape its future. And “Sutabucks(a coffee truck for the employees)” embarked on a little campaign to offer support for the new members of K-water. Initially, some ice breaking was needed for most of them who met for the first time, but they started to bond quickly and the meeting was soon filled with a sense of warmth and excitement.

📝Text by. Su-bin Cho  /  📷Photos by. Ji-hyeon Hwang  /  🎥Videos by. Ui-in Choi

We are ready to learn!

K-water has welcomed 124 new employees as its new members. Before they started working, they gathered together for onboarding to acquire basic knowledge and understanding of K-water and its operations. The current and new employees needed some ice breaking to get to know each other before the onboarding program started in earnest. The 2-week program consisted of introduction of K-water’s major businesses, job training, field trips to Sihwa Tidal Power Plant, Songsan Observatory, and other major facilities, and communication class to improve their at-work people skills. The new employees were all burning with passion to learn throughout the program. Sutabucks members were dispatched to share the special moments, boost their morale, and offer support for the newcomers.

A surprise visit by Sutabucks

On November 5, the new employees went on a field trip to Sihwa Tidal Power Plant and Sutabucks members sneaked in to the venue where the onboarding program was ongoing. They started to set things up for a surprise visit as well as gift presentation before the new employees came back. By the time everything was ready, including the layout of Sutabucks members, aromatic coffee, and croffle, the bus arrived and the new employees walked in the room to find that it had been completely changed. At first they were puzzled, but soon they started to wave at the Sutabucks members and greeted them with a smile, realizing who they were.

“It’s Sutabucks! I’ve seen them on YouTube!” “Seriously? We’re the ones?” They were happy and shocked to see Sutabucks right before their eyes. They eyes were glued to Sutabucks as they walked into the building and Sutabucks hurried to get things going for them. Still, none of them approached Sutabucks first. Contrary to how they felt, they were hesitant to talk to Sutabucks because it was something they had never experienced before. There is always a first for everything, and the first is the hardest. “Hello! What drink would you like?” When a Sutabucks member asked, one of the new employees ran to Sutabucks and shouted, “Iced Americano, please!” handing over a tumbler. Then, the rest of them started to pick their drink. The same is perhaps true when it comes to their first day at work. When someone new is looking around, not knowing what to do, some words of kindness like “Come on over here. Let me help you” can go a long way. Once you give them a little kick-start, they will likely find a way to get it done on their own.

A moment to remember for many years to come!

There was more than the free coffee and croffle to this surprise event. Next, they moved on to the Bangwoori photo zone. Yujin Lee, one of the onboarding trainees, said that the big character Bangwoori grabbed her attention from afar and invited others to take photos together. After spending just a week together in the program, they started to bond quickly and seemed to enjoy each other’s company as they enjoyed chatting in small groups.

“It’s only been a week, but so many things have happened to me. It was really a nice surprise to have Sutabucks with us and enjoy the free coffee and croffle they offered when we were so busy learning so much every day. Actually, I'm a bit worried, thinking that soon I will really start working at K-water, but this surprise visit by Sutabucks certainly boost my expectations of what things would be like at work,” said Si-woo Park. Other trainees nodded as if they felt the same way. Sutabucks members were surrounded by the trainees and they often burst out laughing as they talked, creating a festival-like scene. For the 124 new members of K-water ready to march on a new career path, charged with fresh momentum from the much-needed support of Sutabucks, this moment can be a celebration indeed.

Building a Shining Future

Q, What would your future be like at K-water?

  • Da-han Choi
    I always wanted to start working at 20, and I’ve got a job at K-water even before I graduate from high school! My next goal is to get married. I want to get married at around 26 and have two lovely daughters. If I start working on it(?), I guess I can achieve the goal.
  • Jun-hyung Park
    My top priority is to settle down in the new city because I’ve never left my home city before. This is my first visit to Daejeon and I thought, "Wow, I like it here!". After the program is over, I will go to Sung Sim Dang, the local bakery that's famous nationwide.
  • So-yeong Gwon
    There are so many things I want to do. First, I want to join a same-interest group within the company. Is there a swimming club within K-water? And I will take full advantage of the company cafeteria. I love Korean food and I can’t wait to taste kimchi at the cafeteria.
  • Jae-min Kim
    I’m very nervous since I’m the only new employee among all those hired for landscaping. I am just a rookie now, but in a few years, I want to be the “god of landscaping.”
  • Si-woo Park
    I picture myself as a proud and happy K-water employee driving to work every morning and enjoying the daily routine. The problem is I’ve got a driver’s license but no actual driving experience. I guess I have to practice driving right away so that I can “drive” to work
  • Jae-won Choi
    I want to get the knack of things at work as quickly as possible and grow as a professional. Well, for your information, I fix my mistakes quite quickly once I become aware of them. So, be hard on me when you have to. I am determined to grow and become a division head. Until then, I’ll keep pushing my limits and grow.
  • Seung-yong Lee
    My plan is to acquire an engineer’s license and get promoted. I know it’s too early to say this, but I guess all salaried workers want to climb up the corporate ladder faster than others. I want to be the person whom people run to when they have a problem with electricity.
  • Bo-mi Park
    I can’t wait to get to know my coworkers on the same team. I am the type of person who approaches and talks to others first to break ice. So please don’t be scared but relax when I do so. I would appreciate your welcoming gesture and smile when I make the first move.
|