[One Thousand Characters a Day] Chairman Kim Ung-gi's 'The World Is My Treasure Island' <5>

Editor's NotePeople in the textile and fashion industry call Kim Ung-gi, Chairman of the Global SeAH Group, a 'fashion giant.' Overseas business partners refer to him as the 'Flying Man.' Founded in 1986, SeAH Sangyeok was a latecomer in the industry but has managed to change major currents wherever it operates. It has transformed industries and revitalized declining sectors not only in Saipan, Indonesia, and Vietnam but also in several Central American countries. Chairman Kim has faced direct hits during every crisis?from the IMF crisis, the global foreign exchange crisis, to the COVID-19 pandemic?but each time, he boldly moved forward. The driving force behind this resilience was his 'adventurous spirit' and the 'DNA of challenge' that beats 24/7, 365 days a year. Word count: 938.

Stagnant water inevitably rots. This is an undeniable law of nature. Rotten water pollutes its surroundings, destroys life, and threatens ecosystems. Therefore, water must keep flowing. The same applies to people. One must set a direction and keep moving forward relentlessly. The moment that effort stops is the moment one begins to regress. To avoid falling behind, one must stay alert at every moment. And to achieve goals, one must pour all their capabilities into the effort. That is what challenge means. Challenge is the starting point for development and growth, and it is the energy that gives life meaning and vitality.

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Maintaining the status quo means regression. When this year's sales or operating profit are the same as last year's, do you think, "At least it didn't fall, so it's fortunate"? That moment marks the beginning of a fall. I desire creative change. That is why I challenged ODM beyond the limits of OEM.

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A pinwheel without wind is a hopeless situation. But a person determined to spin the pinwheel does not sit still waiting for the wind to blow. They run holding the pinwheel to make it spin. Human will creates new things and rewards us with astonishing results. In that sense, I often say that one should not manage a business like a 천수답 (Cheonsudap). Managing a company solely relying on rain from the sky to farm is unsustainable. A sustainable company is one that manages like 수리답 (Suridap), utilizing all available water resources around.

The time passed has been a continuous series of challenges and decisions. I have always thirsted for victory. Business is no different from war. Victory belongs to the living, and defeat to the dead. I sometimes ask myself, Am I truly alive? A rich and sweet life is not the life I dream of. Such a life is that of a loser. The life I want to live is one of challenge and achievement. Only those who challenge can change fate, and so I challenge.

- Kim Ung-gi, The World is My Treasure Island, Sam & Parkers, 19,800 KRW

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