[Power K-Women] "Others Are Not Competitors but Allies... Holding the Hands They Extend to Grow Boldness"

Meeting Diverse People from Entertainers to Intellectuals of the Era
Evolving from Interviewer to Minds Connector
Gained Insight: "Become Vulnerable to Move Forward Together"

Editor's NoteAsia Economy will select women active in various fields both domestically and internationally as 'Power K-Women' and announce them at the ‘2023 Women Leaders Forum’ to be held on October 24th at the Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul. These women are leaders who have broken or transcended barriers such as gender, race, disability, and poverty to create new and universal values. Their stories will provide comfort to a weary world, serve as role models for others, and empower communities to move forward. We select and introduce Power K-Women candidates every week?those who have not been intimidated by discrimination or confined by boundaries but have fought back.

"The more interviews I conducted, the more I felt myself growing. I don't know if I was good as a journalist, but as a natural person, I was lacking and only anxious, and they saved me, Kim Jisoo. I learned a lot and changed a lot by holding the hands extended by the interviewees."

Interview specialist Kim Jisoo has devoted 7 of her 28 years as a journalist exclusively to interviews, establishing a unique position in this field. She dreamed of ‘positive influence’ by faithfully serving as a channel conveying the messages of giants in various fields to readers, but she said the greatest influence from the wisdom that permeated the channel was none other than Kim Jisoo herself. Over the years, Kim Jisoo has met and interviewed a variety of people?from entertainers armed with human charm to intellectuals of the era who impart life wisdom?and infused their lives into print. She drew out stories from her subjects with the belief that "no one lacks their own narrative." Sometimes life, sometimes lessons, sometimes wisdom, sometimes inspiration…

"Rather than interrogating interviewees with the thought of extracting something, I raised their switch with just the right voltage so they would reveal themselves."

Interviewing is not just a job but a tool to exert positive influence

The interviewees were both domestic and international. Song Gil-young, Bong Joon-ho, Kim Mi-kyung, Baek Jong-won, Daniel Pink, Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, and others shone brightly before her. Although they met through interviews, encounters with scholars of the era brought various insights.

"When I emotionally exhausted myself by demonizing others in relationships, I realized the process of listening → understanding → persuasion through an interview with Amanda Ripley, author of ‘Extreme Conflict,’ and tried to practice it in my life."

Likewise, when struggling with the question ‘Who am I really?’ she recalled the messages of interviewees. From Malcolm Gladwell, she learned a shift in perspective with ‘Who have I been exposed to?’ to confirm her presence, and before embarking on new tasks, she recalled the attitude of Minagawa Akira, ‘What good memories shall I create?’ When work was blocked, she deeply embraced Sawada Tomohiro’s teaching that ‘It’s okay to work to create a comfortable world for myself.’ Meanwhile, ‘Interviewer Kim Jisoo’ evolved into ‘Minds Connecter Kim Jisoo.’

"Dreaming of being a ‘connector’ who discovers and links the beautiful language within people, interviews transformed from a mere job into a tool to exert positive influence."

Author Kim Ji-su, who published the interview collection 'Great Conversations.' She sat at a book cafe along the hiking trail in Geumho-dong, Seoul. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

"Be weak to go together." This is the insight he gained after meeting countless wise people. Interviewees, regarded as scholars, sages, and mentors of the era, aimed not to stand out as unique beings but to walk together with many others in proportion to the depth and breadth of their wisdom and insights. Sometimes, they even weakened themselves to embrace everyone, share wisdom, and move forward together. In fact, the advice from Lee O-ryeong, whom he met frequently over a year to record the final chapter of his life, "Believe that good people win," became a life guideline.

"I am saving each and every reader"

The impact of the interviews spread widely in our society. A young person who was contemplating extreme choices decided to live once more after reading an interview, and someone trapped in a pitch-dark life of suffering found strength to endure by using the interview as a lighthouse. These stories gave ‘meaning’ to him who was lost in anxiety and confusion, wondering ‘Am I really doing well?’

"In the midst of anxiety and confusion thinking ‘What on earth am I doing?’ I thought, still, I am saving each and every reader... Still, I am standing tall as someone who uplifts people."

Although he once left the magazine company where he had worked for a long time and even received unemployment benefits, he experienced inner fulfillment through challenges at a newspaper company, a new nest. He thought such experiences should not be enjoyed alone. Contemplating not just his own state but what he could achieve through himself, he ultimately chose independence. Although the newspaper company he belonged to helped to some extent, practical constraints limited more diverse delivery, so he chose challenge over stability. With goodwill to connect the world with better language, he left new footprints in the margins of his life.

"If you stop for fear of regret, you can do nothing. You have to take risks to move toward better values. I learned that courage from interviewees."

Having embarked on a new journey of challenge, he says again, "When Sawada Tomohiro’s son was born with a disability, he said, ‘I stopped fighting with strengths.’ The phrase ‘If you change the river, not the fish, everyone can be a fish in water’ resonated deeply with me. I live with that thought too. The world is changing. Creative change is everywhere. I am not afraid of weaknesses or risks..."

Kim Jisoo, Minds Connecter

She has been continuing her career as a journalist for 28 years. The interview series ‘Interstellar,’ which she started in 2015, received great attention for its character spotlight based on goodwill. It achieved an unprecedented cumulative view count of 25 million by capturing insights from domestic and international scholars. After working as a culture specialist reporter for the fashion magazine ‘Vogue’ and digital media ‘ChosunBiz,’ she recently declared independence. Now, she has embarked on a new path as a ‘Minds Connecter,’ advancing toward the goal of ‘connecting the world with better language.’ She plans to challenge herself with writing fairy tales and poetry in the future. She also cautiously dreams of becoming a singer. For her, the world is not a competition of strengths. She emphasizes that she is not afraid to reveal her weaknesses.