Former Kolon Vice President Shared Export Know-How with SMEs...

Veteran Retiree from Large Corporation to Support Exports for SMEs and Startups
Seok Yong-chan, Mainbiz Association President, "Will Actively Create Jobs for Middle-aged and Older Adults"

Kim Jong-kook, CEO of Sure Waterproofing (right), is receiving export-related consultation from Lee Seong-jo, who serves as an advisory committee member at the Main Biz Association's Middle-aged and Senior Job Hope Center.

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] Youngmoo Choi (former Vice President of Kolon Industries) is a veteran who oversaw trade operations at Kolon Group for 32 years. After retiring in 2020, he applied this year to the "Export Company Overseas Expansion Supporting" project recruited by the Korea Management Innovation Small and Medium Business Association (MainBiz Association) Middle-aged and Senior Job Hope Center through an introduction from an acquaintance and was selected as a professional advisor. This project, launched for the first time this year, aims to support exports of small and medium-sized enterprises by selecting 11 overseas experts retired from large corporations, and has helped the exports of 21 companies over the past two months.

Through this project, Mr. Choi greatly helped aluminum manufacturer Company A open export routes. Company A had only indirect export experience for some items and no direct export experience at all. Most of its employees were unfamiliar with export operations themselves. Leveraging his experience overseeing intermediary trade of steel and chemical products, Mr. Choi transferred know-how on export processes and network building to Company A. Thanks to this, Company A recently secured sales channels in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Americas. Mr. Choi said, "Even though I had professional experience, after retiring I had nothing suitable to do, but being selected as a professional advisor allowed me to assist export-import operations of two companies," adding, "It was meaningful to not let my know-how go to waste and to live a second life while contributing to society."

Established in 2018 as a project entrusted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Middle-aged and Senior Job Hope Center plays a role in transferring management know-how from veterans retired from large corporations like Mr. Choi to small and medium enterprises, ventures, and startups, while also providing reemployment opportunities. The center targets middle-aged and senior individuals aged 40 and above, and so far over 3,700 people have found employment through the center. When small and medium enterprises lacking professional personnel request recruitment, the center also connects them with job seekers. The center is located within the Seoul Employment Welfare Plus Center and has been designated as an excellent institution for two consecutive years.

Through the export company overseas expansion supporting project, which was attempted for the first time this year, two of the 11 advisory committee members have succeeded in reemployment so far. For five companies that received assistance, post-management is also being conducted under agency, advisory, and commission conditions.

Hwasilhan Waterproofing is a waterproofing material manufacturer established in 2014. It has supplied materials and performed construction at over 200 sites, including the roof of Busan Station operated by Korea Railroad Corporation. CEO Jongguk Kim of Hwasilhan Waterproofing tried to open export routes to Southeast Asia for business expansion but faced difficulties due to unfamiliarity with local conditions. At that time, he was introduced to Seongjo Lee, who has 30 years of overseas trade experience, through the center. Mr. Lee has overseen overseas sales and management at Jeonbuk Trade and JB Global and currently works as a trade pro expert at the Korea International Trade Association. Mr. Lee said, "Hwasilhan Waterproofing was a company that underwent local testing of product performance in Cambodia and was recognized for its effectiveness," adding, "Consulting on initial export volume procedures was needed at that point, so we proceeded with it, and exports were completed this month."

Park Han-woong, CEO and founder of the startup Playmaker (left), is taking a commemorative photo after receiving consultation on establishing overseas subsidiaries at the MainBiz Association Middle-aged and Senior Job Hope Center.

There is also a case where the center played a strong supporting role for startups or young companies with relatively little leadership experience. Hanwoong Park, a 30-something entrepreneur, founded Placemaker, a company producing special exterior materials related to construction, in 2019. Having achieved tens of billions of won in domestic sales, CEO Park applied to the consulting program run by the center while preparing to establish an overseas corporation this year. He received advice on all necessary matters for conducting overseas business from an advisory committee member who had overseen overseas business teams at a major domestic corporation. CEO Park said, "The program run by the center was so good that I definitely want to recommend it to acquaintances," adding, "Although the consulting ended, I keep in touch with the person who helped me and seek advice regularly."

The center plans to continue actively connecting retirees with professional experience and small and medium enterprises to support exports and create jobs. Yongchan Seok, president of the MainBiz Association, said, "Although the population aged 50 and above is continuously increasing, the reality is that jobs are lacking," adding, "Considering that more small and medium enterprises with excellent items are interested in exports and that most middle-aged and senior people are reemployed in small and medium enterprises, we will actively work on creating related jobs in the future."

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