Press

Faced with Restructuring in Their 30s, Korean Workers Seek New Paths Beyond Corporate Life Lifetime employment is no longer a reality in 2016 Korea. According to a survey of 1,097 workers by job portal Saramin on the 19th, 38.7% of respondents answered that they 'fear being expelled from their company,' showing that anxiety about job loss transcends generational boundaries. However, without even mentioning the saying 'if the company is a battlefield, the outside world is hell,' the reality is that many workers cannot even imagine themselves outside their organizations. Just as the saying goes 'whether humanities or science majors, everything leads back to running a chicken restaurant,' do those who have left their jobs—whether by choice or circumstance—really have no other options? There are two lectures that can serve as guides for those contemplating resignation or already working independently outside organizations: 'Resignation School,' Korea's first career exploration and internship platform for office workers, and '10 Different Stories—Solo Entrepreneur Survival Stories,' which shares success strategies of solo entrepreneurs. "Shhh, Don't Tell the Company" - 'Resignation School,' a School for Adults Finding Their Dreams On the 15th, Resignation School held its first lecture with Principal Jang Su-han. 'Resignation School' allows students to choose lectures from actual people with resignation experience who have entered various fields. It's a new program started by social venture incubator Underdogs, with Jang Su-han, author of 'An Elite Samsung Employee Leaves Samsung,' serving as principal. Jang quit Samsung Electronics in April 2015 and devoted himself to his lifelong dream of writing, debuting as a writer through Kakao Brunch serialization. Beginning with its first lecture on the 15th, Resignation School brings together actual resignation mentors who walk their own paths in entrepreneurship, travel, writing, studying, job changing, and freelancing. Through a curriculum composed of basic exploration and major internship courses, as well as networking encompassing students and teachers, it provides practical know-how and systematic preparation methods for resignation. The curriculum is diverse, from basic courses like 'Starting a Business Doing What You Love After Resignation' by Kim Tae-kyung, CEO of Amazing Brewing Company (who left a global consulting firm and started a craft brewery pub in Sangsu-dong, Seoul in April), and 'World Travel After Resignation' by the couple Bae Jun-ho and Jo Yu-jin (who took simultaneous resignation and became famous creators after a year-long world tour), to advanced courses including 'Side-Gig Startup While Working,' 'Becoming a Freelancer After Resignation,' and 'Startup Entrepreneurship After Resignation,' culminating in a 6-week practical workshop. 'You Don't Develop a Career Just by Working at a Company' - Stories of 10 Solo Entrepreneurs The '10 Different Stories—Solo Entrepreneur Survival Stories' lecture, where you can hear vivid stories from solo entrepreneurs who have already left the corporate umbrella or found their own vocations, is also helpful for office workers seeking their second or third career. The lecture, being held on the 25th at Le Robot G Campus in Sinchon, is the first offline lecture by Hong Soon-sung, director of Hong's Lab, who has been running the podcast 'I am a Solo Entrepreneur.' Based on the premise that in a 100-year lifespan, one person should have two or three or more different occupations, it shares the experiences of 10 successful solo entrepreneurs in each field, providing necessary preparation and strategies for those starting a solo business. Speakers include Choi Yun-seop (Director of Digital Healthcare Research Institute), Yoon Sun-hyun (CEO of Very Good Organizing Consulting), Eun Jong-sung (CEO of Bizweb Korea), Choi In-ho (Director of DFactory), Lee Do-won (CEO of Imagination Playground), Moon Eun-ji (CEO of The Simple Books), Kim Jong-wook (CEO of Bomok Workshop), Cho Eun-jin (CEO of Jin A English Consulting), Kim Yong-hyun (Knowledge Marketer), and Sa Il-hwan (CEO of SII Company). Hong Soon-sung, director of Hong's Lab, stated: 'Many office workers who functioned merely as a part of large organizations don't know what competitiveness or strengths they actually have after resignation. With rapid technological development, in an era where even our jobs five years from now are not guaranteed, everyone needs to prepare in advance to survive as solo entrepreneurs.'