There are over 10,000 students who are going to study in SSU this year. Considering the fact that there are nine colleges each with tens of departments, a wide variety of people are gathered together solely in SSU. It would be a pleasurable experience for all of these students to know one another, but unfortunately, that is not possible. In fact, majority of the students do not have any opportunity to get to know the people from the other departments easily. Some readers of The Soongsil Times even ask for articles that introduce the various departments of SSU. A lot of students are curious about the kinds of departments that SSU has, and what kinds of people go there. Therefore, using this chance, ST would like to introduce three people who are among the most famous students of SSU.
ST : Please introduce yourself.
Choi : Hello. My name is Choi Ye-chan. I am in my sixth semester, and I am majoring in Christian Studies and Entrepreneurship & Small Business. I am also a co-representative of GYEDAN Company.
ST : Please introduce your company for the readers.
Choi : GYEDAN Company was established in January 2013. The literal meaning of its name is “going up the steps one by one, like going up the stairs.” Our company is a social enterprise that’s working hard to create a new culture of philanthropic donations, through the slogan “Enjoy Donations!” We provide a wide variety of opportunities to enjoy donations, such as through a music business, a no-margins show, and a café franchise. With regard to the music business, our company has four singers, and we are planning to release a digital single album in the second half of this year. Our company is somewhat similar to a anagement company, which a lot of people usually know, but it is slightly different. We do not exactly launch singers; instead, we transfer them to bigger entertainment companies, like an agency. At this point, we are concentrating on the third no-margins show, which donates its entire profit, and on the release of a digital single album.
ST : Entertainment seems quite remote as far as ordinary people are concerned. What made you start the business?
Choi : I first worked at a marketing company, promoting cafés through SNS, or making posters. Then I met GYEDAN Company’s co-representative, Han Ji-woong. We put a show together, thinking, “What would it be like to perform for donations?” That motivated me to work with him in the company.
ST : Considering that you’re young, you’re holding an important post. Has anything let you down? What do you think does it take to be a true leader?
Choi : I go through a lot of difficulties. Above all, I am too young and have little experience in this area, which makes it hard for me to seek help from anyone. In addition, there was a case where I was evaluated as unreliable just because I was too young. It made me quite frustrated. Personally, I believe that sympathy and communication are key to being a leader. It is really important to sympathize and communicate with the people you’re working with.
ST : Did your major, Christian Studies, help you in any way?
Choi : Yes. Through my major, I learned modesty, understanding, and sympathy. Realizing how humble I was, I became modest and tried to understand and sympathize with others’ situations. This really helped me a lot while working in the company. When there were a lot of problems, like financial difficulties, everything turned out fine when I tried to communicate and sympathize with the others in the workplace.
ST : What would you say to the young people who get lost while seeking their dreams?
Choi : A matter is beyond the imagination of those who have not experienced it. You never know if this is what you really favor, or if this is what you really desire, and it will entail preparations, with thorough plans. Nonetheless, failing in your 20s is completely different from failing in your 30s or 40s, so go for it and experience what you have to, with a satisfactory plan.
Lee : Hello! I am Lee Hui-duk from Global School of Media. In school, I am well known as HuiHui-dukduk, a developer of apps, Useun. I’m in my senior year, so I’m going to graduate soon. I want to say thank you to every Soongsilian who recognizes me. My hobby, other than developing apps, is observing people. While doing people watching, I can notice people’s inconveniences, and I become eager to address these. This eventually prods me to develop apps. Developing apps is really awesome because it enables me to help hundreds or thousands of people live in a much better way.
ST : How long have you been developing apps?
Lee : The first app that I developed was a simple game flash, which I developed when I was in elementary school. I used to learn computers in my after-school class. My teacher in that class was so pretty; I made the app because I wanted to look cool to her. Unfortunately, she got married after two years. It’s really a bad memory for me. I developed Useun, which is well loved by the Soongsilians, when I entered SSU because my sister told me that making a timetable in the university is truly hard work.
ST : Do you have any special episode related to Useun?
Lee : There are two special episodes. One is I put Nongshim’s office number in my business card instead of Office of Academic Affairs number because only one number is different. Due to typo errors, many Soongsilians had to call Nongshim to ask about their return to school. This episode ended well, however, with my issuance of an apology to both Nongshim and the Soongsilians. Another one is I got a call from a comedian, Useun. I got a prize from a national contest, and the emcee of that contest told Useun about the existence of this app so Useun, a comedian, actually called me and cheered me up.
ST : Where did the name “Useun” come from?
Lee : In 2009, U-Saint opened, but no one among the Soongsilians liked U-Saint, so they coined a term for it. That was Useun. I made this app and thought of a name for it. The app eventually got the name “Useun.”
ST : What do you plan to do after graduation?
Lee : I like to develop apps, but I’d rather come up with an app that focuses on the changes among people. I hope to develop an app that will make the world better. I am currently working on some simple apps to lessen the inconveniences in our daily lives. They will be available in Galaxy Gear.
ST : To the Soongsilians:
Lee : Thank you for your continuing interest in me and my work. I especially appreciate your comments on the application review page. All the comments are helpful and cheerful. As a developer, those comments make me feel that what I’m doing is worthwhile. After graduating, it may be hard to manage Useun. So far, no one has come forward to manage Useun in my place, but as long as I am in school, I will pour all my efforts into managing it.
Kim : I love poetry more than women. Of course, my heart keeps wavering like a rocking stone in Seoraksan Mountain when I see women walking in the campus or women who look good in a black rider jacket, black manicure, high-waist skinny jeans, and smoky make-up. Literature, however, is my life. I’ve been a student of creative writing since 2004. Some people ask me why I go to school until now, and I usually answer, “I’m not interested in graduation.” As for me, my goal is to start my literary career in the field of poetry even before graduation, by writing novels and plays. So far, I have achieved something only in poetry, but before I reach the age of 33 I want to achieve something in terms of novels and plays. That means that I would have to stay in school for a few more years. These days, I go to SSU as if I am going to medical school. Well, if you think deeply about it, you will realize that creative writing is similar to medical school in some ways. Literature is the art of curing people’s mental afflictions. In that sense, comedians and writers can be treated as doctors. I am actually taking some years off from school, and while I’m doing that, I’m auditing a class of Prof. Choi Seung-ho, whom I regard highly. I’ve taken this class eight times, butevery semester I feel I still have miles to go. A few years ago, I did readmission. That’s because I’ve already dropped out of school. You might ask why I quit school. At that time, I used to live on the vertex of an isosceles triangle, and I needed something. I had no dream, and I didn’t know what to do, like any other person in his twenties. To find myself, I decided to go on a journey to Argentina, far away from South Korea. My journey was successful. After 10 years, if your soul is sick, just find us, the poets, and I will be there.
ST : Your hairstyle is unique.
Kim : It’s been 16 years since I last had a haircut by myself. I use a clipper for making my hairstyle. I can do whatever hairstyle with a clipper. My 16 years weren’t in vain. I don’t grow my hair long because I feel that I’m like a worthless man in the world with long hair. I can see many good-looking guys in the campus. I hope they become bald-headed soon. I will be there, waiting for you to come.
ST : What is your fashion philosophy? Why do you usually wear a flower cap?
Kim : I pursue simplicity. I used to be so into AA for a time, but after that, I no longer had much money, so I bought my pants from Alvo in Hongdae and my shirts from UNIQLO. Nowadays, I wear only gray slacks, which is like school uniform pants. I actually like black slacks the most, but I stopped wearing black clothes after raising a cat. Last year, I wore Pyrex fashion shorts with long socks, a black mask, and shaved-off eyebrows, but I threw all of them away because I scared a little girl in my apartment. I was especially so addicted to wearing a mask. I couldn’t go out without a mask, so I threw it into a trashcan last spring. I like flower caps. I want to make it my trademark. In the club, I put flower caps on girls’ heads, and most girls like it.
ST : What are your likes?
Kim : I like Esom, a model. I like Asian eyes, like hers. I want to meet a girl in the College of Engineering, donning NB shoes, blue jeans, a T-shirt, and a backpack, a girl who does not wear make-up and whose backpack is full of books and who even has books in her hands. In other words, I want to meet a real student-like girl. Recently, I saw a girl who looks innocent, but when I turned 30, it was no longer easy for me to express my feelings. I can meet her only in the company of other friends. Now, summer is approaching, and I want to have Choco-bingsu with her, only the two of us. I also like Hemingway, Agota Kristof, Prevert, Choi Seung-ja, Real Madrid, and Vel'Koz.
ST : To the Soongsilians:
Kim : There are so many useful programs in the library. I strongly recommend Reading Discussion Seminar the most. We all know that SSU isn’t a perfect university especially in terms of its name, but it can redeem itself in your eyes when you read the books in the library. Reading is like magic that can make our life better. Voluntary and effective reading and self-education can make us greater. Keep in mind that the heart of a university is its library.
Through the interviews with the celebs of SSU, as mentioned above, ST learned that as there are more than 10,000 students in school, there are also diverse types of people in the campus. Even for ST, it was a great opportunity to find each one’s individuality. ST hopes to meet more students of SSU if there will be another chance to do so.
