[Retirement Extension, Time to Choose] 66-Year-Old K-Defense Veteran Says "Retirement Extension Increased My Opportunities"

Leading the Field Even After Retirement
Over Five Years of On-site Work Thanks to the Contract Reemployment System at LIG Nex1 Gumi House

Senior Manager Nam Dongwan (left in the photo) and Senior Manager Cho Kanghyun have contributed to K-defense export on site for more than five years after retirement through the LIG Nex1 contract reemployment system review. (Photo by LIG Nex1)

On May 12, at the LIG Nex1 Gumi House in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, Senior Manager Cho Kanghyun had the sharp gaze of a military commander. He watched each of the approximately 200 employees working on the second floor of Building L3's TMMR production plant with eagle eyes, offering concise and targeted advice. He said, "Having worked only in communications equipment development, I can spot mistakes in each production line at a glance," and added, "I am constantly thinking of ways to improve the level of perfection."

Leading the Production Site with Know-how Like a Military Commander

Senior Manager Cho is considered a living legend in the military communications industry. He has been involved in all areas of communications system development, from the development of the first portable military communications equipment (PRC-999K) used by the Korean military to today's satellite communication terminals. He has worked in the military communications field for 46 years and 2 months. He joined Geumseong Jeonki, which later merged with LIG Nex1's predecessor, Geumseong Precision Industry, in March 1979. After graduating from the electronics department of Kwangwoon Electronic Technical High School in Seoul, he applied for the job on a friend's recommendation. At that time, the development of domestically produced military communications equipment was underway. He worked on site as a technician for a year and six months. While working as a research assistant after passing an in-house exam, he attended Suwon University’s Department of Electronic Engineering at night. His work locations changed frequently. He focused solely on research, following regional research centers in Yongin, Pangyo, Anyang, Osan, and Gumi. By the time 70,000 PRC-999K communication devices had been supplied to military units, the next-generation communications equipment was developed: the portable "next-generation military radio (TMMR)."

Working On-site One Day Out of Every Three Even After Retirement

He still personally visits military units and frequently goes on business trips to replace communications equipment. One out of every three days, he travels to remote front-line units. He said, "If you compare the replacement of communications equipment to mobile phones, it is like replacing all 2G phones with 5G phones," and added, "I am happy every day because I can do what I want and what I am good at, even at this age."

He is 65 years old this year and officially retired in December 2020. He was able to continue working after retirement thanks to the contract reemployment system introduced at the company in 2008. This system allows the company to rehire retired employees who have accumulated expertise or are responsible for core tasks. From the company's perspective, which was reluctant to lose talent considering K-defense exports, this system was a welcome development. LIG Nex1 first entered the export market in 2006 by exporting PRC-999K radios to Indonesia. Since then, the company has been reemploying talented retirees on a one-year contract basis. Currently, 34 people have been rehired after retirement, with 9 of them working at the LIG Nex1 Gumi House. Of course, LIG Nex1 also has a wage peak system. It applies from age 56, and employees retire at 60. Rehired employees receive the same salary as they did when they retired at 60.

The Contract Reemployment System Creates the Longest-serving Employee

The contract reemployment system has produced the company’s longest-serving employee: Senior Manager Nam Dongwan. He has worked at LIG Nex1 for 46 years and 5 months, essentially sharing the company’s 50-year history. He joined Geumseong Precision Industry in January 1979 and completed five years of mandatory service as an alternative to military service before transitioning to an office position. He has been responsible for managing schedules across the entire production process. His notebook is filled with the production schedule for Cheongung. He recalled, "As my retirement age was extended, the number of tasks I had to do and could do at the company increased," and added, "Even during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, when it was difficult to supply materials, I was able to reduce the entire production schedule and save 4 billion won in production costs." During meetings, he demonstrated his problem-solving skills. Although employees described difficulties in each production process, a single phone call from him would rearrange the schedule like a puzzle. After meetings, he would move throughout the Gumi House. From purchasing materials to delivery, there is no department he does not interact with. He is known as a connector within the company.

No One Can Match His Know-how in Managing the Entire Production Process

When he turned 53 in 2012, the labor-management council increased the retirement age from 55 to 58. In 2016, when he was 57, the retirement age was extended again to 60. As he was preparing for retirement, the retirement age kept being extended. One year before his retirement, in 2018, his accumulated efforts bore fruit. LIG Nex1 signed a supply contract with the military for the Cheolmae-II performance improvement mass production project, and praise for Senior Manager Nam was unending within the company. His production management skills ultimately contributed to increasing negotiation power. From his second year of contract reemployment, defense exports continued. In 2022, the company exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE); in the fourth year of contract reemployment, to Saudi Arabia; and in the fifth year, to Iraq, successively exporting Cheongung-II (M-SAM). The number of people seeking Senior Manager Nam increased, as he became recognized both by partner companies and within the company as an employee with the know-how to coordinate the entire production schedule for Cheongung-II.

Recently, he has spent most of his time studying, something he was unable to do before. He said, "As weapon systems have advanced, they have become larger and more systematized, unlike in the past, so I am deeply considering how to manage production in an evolved way," and added, "The more senior you are, the more know-how and knowledge you need to show when coordinating differing opinions among departments, so I am constantly striving."