Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, New Year Interview
The Emphasized Keyword Throughout the Interview: "Youth"
Introducing the Example of HP, Founded in a Garage
The key word emphasized by Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, in his interview with The Asia Business Daily was "youth." Responding to concerns that the voices of young people are not sufficiently reflected in discussions about extending the retirement age, he said, "We must take this seriously," but also stressed the importance of the spirit of challenge among the youth.
Chairman Sohn expressed his regret at seeing young people focus on stable and relatively comfortable fields, such as the rush to medical schools or preparing for civil service exams. He said, "Nothing comes easily. As we enter the AI era, research and development (R&D) has become extremely important, and this is an area that requires a great deal of effort."
Chairman Sohn also shared what led him to a career in business management. "While studying law at Seoul National University in the 1950s, I shifted my thinking from wanting to become a legal professional working within institutional frameworks to aspiring to pursue business on a global stage," he said. "Young people should also have the determination to create their own successful lives."
Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at CJ Headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 24th. Photo by Jo Yongjun
He also mentioned the case of the global IT company Hewlett-Packard (HP). In 1937, William Hewlett, together with co-founder David Packard, whom he met at Stanford University, started the company in Packard's garage, growing it by producing an audio oscillator as their first product. Chairman Sohn explained, "Young people need the same tenacity and effort as those who founded HP."
He added, "Although there may be great fear about an uncertain future, history shows that those who take risks and challenge themselves are the ones who seize opportunities. Young people must also take on challenges with passion. A young person who does their best and truly works hard will never fail."
He emphasized that companies also have a significant responsibility when it comes to youth employment. This is because it is up to companies to create new industries and jobs. Chairman Sohn said, "It does not make sense to tell young people what to do without first providing them with jobs," and added, "Going forward, companies must strive to enter new industries and create more jobs."
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