[W Forum] 'Namu' and Self-Management Within Organizations

Park Ran, CEO of DongA TV

The drama "The World of the Married," which aired on a certain broadcasting station, recently concluded with an unusually high viewership rating. An additional two episodes were produced in an interview format with the cast, featuring a review corner where the actors personally shared their thoughts on the drama and interpreted the meanings of their roles through various questions. One memorable interview stood out. When asked, "How did you interpret and approach the role you played?" actor Lee Mu-saeng said, "The character Kim Yoon-ki is like a tree that protects Ji Sun-woo," adding, "A tree does not move from its place, and it never yields that spot to anyone."

For a while, I gazed at the tree outside the window. A tree is born, grows, and matures in one place, dispersing its seeds far away through the wind, and ends its life in that same spot. Usually, our parents tell their children, "Don't be like me. Go live in a big city far away and do what you want," sending them off to the big city. Could it be that the tree, too, felt the same way as it lets its seeds be carried away by the wind?

Observing the tree, its branches extend in all directions from a single trunk, sending leaves like flags at the ends, as if to declare, "This is my territory." The tips of the branches never touch each other. Each branch tip occupies its own space and even creates a sense of empty beauty. The tree remains still, yet it is not idle. The ends do not meet, but they are connected. Even in a patch of land less than one pyeong (approximately 3.3 square meters), instead of feeling confined, it stretches toward infinite space, showing with its whole being how vast the world is.

It does not complain about being immobile. It enjoys freedom as the passing wind shakes its branches and rustles its leaves, naturally forming a bond with the wind. When it rains, it responds with a "tududuk tududuk" sound and reciprocates with fresh air while remaining moist. When the sun is hot, it spreads its leaves wide like they have been ironed, accepting the sunlight rather than complaining about the heat, reflecting it with a sparkle and gaining energy.

Firmly holding its place, quietly fulfilling its duties, and organically responding and empathizing with all the grass, light, wind, rain, snow, and all the energy nature provides, the tree emits a sweet grassy scent and keeps its place together with others. Where trees that perform their roles well grow, similar trees gather and form a good forest. This creates opportunities to form new relationships. The air there is filled with a rich scent unique to the trees, attracting others.

Within a company, there are people who, like trees, quietly hold their place, empathize with those around them, share what they have, listen to others' difficulties, and strive to become one with those who come to them. Such people make the company strong. They never boast about their work. They quietly come as staff for other tasks but handle their own work like meticulous directors without any gaps.

One should not blame the narrowness of their position, low status, or poor environment within the company. Instead, one should reflect on how each person reacts to things, assigns meaning, creates something new, and whether they have the heart and readiness to empathize. We must observe whether they will create a unique scent that breathes organically by sharing diverse stories with new people in an open, creative space rather than a closed one.

This is a story about the kind of role we want to share. On a day when warm sunlight and gentle breeze come through the window, let us look back at the places where we stand, how many branches we are extending into infinite space, and make the space between the branches a place where we can share stories with anyone and breathe together.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.