KT&G is widely known as a cigarette company and for Sangsang Univ., outreach activities, and internships. However, some students lack information about KT&G. Even if they aren't interested in this company, it is helpful to have information about many companies to apply to a company. Therefore, I interviewed Choo Yoon-kyung, an assistant manager at the Daegu branch of KT&G.

1. Please introduce yourself.
I am Choo Yoon-kyung. I am working for the Imagine team of KT&G. I entered KT&G in August 2010 and worked in the sales branch for 2 years. I moved to the Imagine team in November last year. Now I am responsible for work in Sangsang Univ. I am responsible for employment-related programs, for example, classes, outreach activities, employment camps, and the Employment Strategies and Social Participation course in Daegu University.

2. What is KT&G?
KT&G has KT&G, KGC Ginseng Corporation, Somang Cosmetics, and Yungjin Pharm. All employees have the same working conditions as KT&G even if they work in other affiliates. Moreover, KT&G does lots of social work. Sangsang Univ. is a kind of social contribution project. It is part of Sangsang Madang, which is a culture and art project. Sangsang Madang was created to foster new artists, and Sangsang Univ. was made to support a community of culture and art for students.

3. What are the required qualifications for entering KT&G?
I think personality is more important than qualifications. KT&G asks for high school records, not including grade, when recruiting new employees because they can’t know new employees’ personality through their self-introduction. Through these records, they can perceive their personality. The team leader of the Imagine team, who has worked in the department of human resources, would say that nowadays personality and experiences are really important. It is better if applicants’ personality and experiences are consistent with the image of the right people for KT&G. The image of the right people for KT&G is “I’m CEO” (Challenge, Execute, Optimize). We need employees who are trying to constantly challenge themselves, improve performance, and cooperate with people.

4. What was difficult while you were preparing to apply to KT&G, and what are the good things since you entered the company?
In preparing to apply to the company, writing a self-introduction was the most challenging and difficult part. When I didn't know what to say in the self-introduction, I went to the library and read a lot of books like autobiographies and essays. I also conducted research on the company. Most students research the company’s financial statements or the company’s Website. However, that’s not enough because others think like that. I heard that when our company recruits new employees, they recruit people who have a strong desire to enter our company. If you want to appeal to the interviewer, you have to have a more in-depth knowledge and understanding of the company. In my case, I went to the electronic disclosure system and looked at the report of the company. I also went to the Library of Congress Website and searched for the name of the company CEO and the general manager and read all kinds of articles about KT&G.
Since I entered KT&G, the good points are that I meet university students and communicate with them while working in the Imagine team. As I said, I’m in charge of organizing the curriculum of the Employment Strategies and Social Participation course in Daegu University. I have to contact instructors for that class, and sometimes I have my own classes. Students call me “professor” even though I am not. It is really special.

5. What would you recommend to university students?
I hope that university students try everything, for example, going to a club, traveling, and dating. I highly recommend you do what you really want to do and say what you want to say, not for employment or an exam but for yourselves. Then you can figure out who you really are and what you really like. If I were able to go back to university, I would travel a lot. After getting a job, you don’t have time to rest except for vacation.