Alumni Stories 게시판목록 | Sungkyunkwan University ( SKKU ) SKK GSB

[PMBA] Wooseok Jun(PMBA 2020, Choeun Savings Bank)

Wooseok Jun, an alumnus of Sungkyunkwan University's SKK GSB Professional MBA program, is the CEO of Choeun Savings Bank. He built a relationship with SC Lowy, the major stockholder of Choeun Savings Bank, during the M&A process when he was working as a CFO at a brokerage firm. His professional connection with Choeun Savings Bank became a turning point in his career, and he has been working there since then. Since SC Lowy is a global firm based in Hong Kong that invests in various places around the world, he began working with people of diverse nationalities. He had difficulties while working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and with different values. In the meantime, he came to know about the Professional MBA program at Sungkyunkwan University's SKK GSB and started a PMBA program while working. "After graduating from the MBA program, I was promoted from Executive Director to CEO. The biggest takeaway from my MBA is that I developed a global mindset, which allows me to think broadly and flexibly, beyond the limited perspective I had before," he emphasized. "In addition, I earned a dual bachelor's degree in economics and management and also obtained the American Certified Public Accountant (AICPA) qualification. After graduating from university, I have been responsible for financial management across various industries, such as accounting firm, manufacturing, and distribution industry. However, I did not know how to combine field experience and theoretical knowledge, so I struggled with a lack of insight into business," Wooseok said. "When I was a university student, I "struggled to apply theoretical knowledge in practice." While working, I have been too busy to integrate practical experience and theoretical knowledge," he added. He stated that, after gaining field experience and restarting his studies through the PMBA program, he gained valuable business insights. Even now, five years after graduation, Wooseok said that the PMBA program at SKK GSB was such a valuable learning experience that he still refers to the materials he studied. Choeun Savings Bank, where he works, is a bank specialized in corporate finance. They do not provide credit loans to individuals or sole proprietors. This bank primarily handles project financing (PF), corporate loans, and other related services. It is a financial institution that evaluates factors, including the financial feasibility of real estate development projects, and analyzes a company's cash flow and collateral value, to make investment and lending decisions. The bank has been recording profits since Wooseok took office as CEO in 2021. "The savings bank industry has been facing difficulties, continuing to incur losses since the interest rate hike in the second half of 2022. Fortunately, our bank has not recorded a loss for the past five years. I believe company culture is key. I am leveraging all the resources and capabilities of the bank to generate profit. Additionally, we have established a company culture where employees with greater responsibility and authority work harder, and we provide performance-based compensation. I believe that, thanks to this company culture, we are overcoming challenging times," he explained. Wooseok advised prospective applicants who are contemplating whether to choose the PMBA program, as well as those who are currently studying at SKK GSB, to push beyond their limits. "The SKK GSB MBA programs are conducted entirely in English, with a distinguished faculty that is passionate and highly qualified, a well-structured curriculum and learning materials, and generous support provided to students," he stated. As a result, those who put in the effort will be able to achieve what they desire," he stated. He said, "I started the PMBA program after nearly 20 years of professional experience. It was a valuable time that gave me new perspectives and insights. To those contemplating the PMBA, I would dare to advise them to push beyond their limits. I am confident that, if they have the passion to gain knowledge, experience, and insights through this program, it will be a valuable and enriching experience."
- 작성일 2025-02-17
- 조회수 329
[PMBA] [Where are you now?] Minkyung Kim (Professional MBA Class 14th Graduate)

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Sungkyunkwan University SKK GSB organized a series of "Where are you now?" interviews with alumni to find out how they are doing in their careers and what life has been like since graduation. SKK GSB Professional MBA Class 14th Graduate: Minkyung Kim When starting her MBA at SKK GSB in 2022, Minkyung Kim was working in the project department planning cross-border e-commerce strategies at Shinsegae Group's SSG.com. She was assigned the task of analyzing the internal and external environment and closely reviewing the company's business structure to establish necessary business strategies. While working in this department, she developed an interest in strategic planning roles. She said, "In order to become an expert in the field of strategic planning, I thought I first needed to build a solid foundation in finance. While working at a major domestic enterprise, I realized I wanted to experience a global environment, which led me to choose SKK GSB, where 60% of the faculty come from diverse backgrounds and all classes are taught in English." Minkyung, who studied intensely with her peers over the past two years, said that the "Financial Risk Management" class by former Dean Jae Ha Lee was the most memorable. She said, "Among all the finance courses, it was one of the most challenging, and it wasn't easy until the very end. However, after completing the course, I was able to discover a stronger version of myself." Minkyung stated that interacting with professors of various nationalities and peers working at international companies allowed her to acquire global communication skills, which is one of the assets she gained at SKK GSB. She added, "Since last year, as a side project, I have created an international platform to connect senior and junior leaderships from Europe and Korea. The global communication skills and mindset I gained at SKK GSB have been a great help." Minkyung also mentioned that by witnessing the passion of her peers who balance work, family, and studies in the MBA program, she realized that 'there is no such thing as too late to start what I want.' In her 30s, she gained the courage to live the future in her 40s and even 50s with more leadership and confidence. It was a time when the job market was in a frozen state, but by the time she reached her second year of the MBA program, she began receiving interview offers from global companies and major domestic enterprises. Minkyung chose CJ ENM, which she felt was the best fit for her, and is currently a member of the strategy planning team in the commerce division, based on TV home shopping and mobile e-commerce, just as she had hoped. She explained her current role by saying, "I publish reports by analyzing the trends and data in the retail market. I need to accurately and quickly extract the information my team members need and combine it with internal data indicators to assess the competitiveness of the business." She is also supporting the development of global expansion strategies by leveraging her past experience working on projects with global e-commerce companies such as Amazon and Rakuten. Minkyung, who says that being a business leader seems to imply that one can become someone who has a bigger and wider social impact than a doctor, or even a politician, at times, dreams of growing into a leader with both global competence and expertise.
- 작성일 2024-11-13
- 조회수 862
[PMBA] [Where are you now?] Yoon Mou Lee (Professional MBA Class 11th Graduate)

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Sungkyunkwan University SKK GSB organized a series of "Where are you now?" interviews with alumni to find out how they are doing in their careers and what life has been like since graduation. SKK GSB Professional MBA Class 11th Graduate: Yoon Mou Lee Yoon Mou Lee, who graduated from Sungkyunkwan University's SKK GSB in 2023, is currently working at Krafton, the company famous for the global game 'PUBG: Battlegrounds,' as the Creative Project Management Part Lead in the Creative Strategy & Operation Department of the Global Creative Division. He majored in Film in college and began his career as a producer. While producing independent films, he developed an interest in branding, strategy, and planning, which led him to venture into the advertising industry. His growing passion for marketing and business eventually inspired him to join the Professional MBA program at SKK GSB. Yoon Mou said, "I moved to a global marketing and PR agency, where I took on two roles: Account Executive (AE) and Project Manager (PM). With a background in video production, taking on the roles of AE and PM at an agency was a new experience for me, which brought some pressure. However, I was able to adapt quickly, drawing on the knowledge I gained from my MBA." As he was nearing his MBA graduation, Yoon Mou received a job offer from his current company, and after several rounds of interviews over a few months, he changed jobs. Yoon Mou, who worked in video production before starting his MBA, became a team lead responsible for advertising and promotional materials, online and offline content, and more at a global game company with renowned intellectual properties (IPs) after completing his MBA. He reflected on his MBA experience, saying, "Since I had only taken film-related classes in college, I needed to put in several times more effort than others when I first started my MBA. Basic knowledge that was familiar to my peers felt unfamiliar to me. Fortunately, my fellow students kindly helped me, and thanks to their, I was able to adapt quickly to MBA life. Yoon Mou said that he was able to grow through the SKK GSB's Professional MBA program, where he learned not only the theory but also how to apply it in practice, and through the experience of collaborating with peers working in various industries." He emphasized, "In particular, the network I built during the MBA program has become a crucial asset for my career and personal growth. By continuously communicating with peers who possess expertise, I have improved my ability to solve problems from various perspectives, which has been a great help in practice." He advised the SKK GSB students, "SKK GSB has two major strengths: the opportunity to take classes from outstanding faculty and the ability to expand your network with peers who possess expertise. The network formed with professors, peers, and alumni is an important resource that will provide future opportunities. I hope you actively engage in networking during your MBA and make the most of it."
- 작성일 2024-11-11
- 조회수 742
[PMBA] [Where are you now?] Wontai Choi (Professional MBA 5th Graduate)

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Sungkyunkwan University SKK GSB organized a series of "Where are you now?" interviews with alumni to find out how they are doing in their careers and what life has been like since graduation. SKK GSB Professional MBA Class 5th Graduate: Wontai Choi Wontai Choi, who graduated from Sungkyunkwan University's SKK GSB in 2020, was responsible for finance at AB InBev, the world's largest beer company. After accumulating over three years of experience in the finance field, he made a serious decision to pursue an MBA program as he contemplated his career. Wontai said, "Since I completed my undergraduate studies at Indiana University in the United States, I considered starting my MBA program abroad as well. However, I chose the SKK GSB Professional MBA program because I could earn a dual degree from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and, most importantly, complete my MBA without any gaps in my career." He developed an interest in investment consulting while taking various classes at SKK GSB. After graduating from SKK GSB, he gained experience in investment at Cheil Worldwide, a firm under Samsung Group, and he is currently providing financial advisory services to companies across various industries at KPMG Korea's Financial Advisory Division (Deal Advisory). Wontai explained, "I provide comprehensive advisory services during mergers and acquisitions (M&A), including the valuation of target companies, acquisition strategies, and the negotiation process when companies seek to enter new markets or strengthen their competitiveness. Additionally, I conduct feasibility studies to analyze the likelihood of success for new projects or business ideas in the market, as well as provide advisory services for attracting investment by connecting high-potential companies with investors." He stated, "Having completed my undergraduate studies at a university abroad, I had a very limited personal network in Korea. However, through SKK GSB, I was able to significantly expand my network. I gain valuable information and insights about market trends through fellow students working in major companies, which I apply in my work. The community at SKK GSB has become a great asset to me."
- 작성일 2024-11-06
- 조회수 489
[PMBA] [Where are you now?] Eunpil Choi (Professional MBA 14th Graduate)

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Sungkyunkwan University SKK GSB organized a series of "Where are you now?" interviews with alumni to find out how they are doing in their careers and what life has been like since graduation. SKK GSB Professional MBA Class 4th Graduate: Eunpil Choi Eunpil Choi, a graduate of SKK GSB at Sungkyunkwan University in 2019, is currently working at 42dot, the global software center of Hyundai Motor Group, where she analyzes key technologies and market trends and develops strategies and plans accordingly. Eunpil graduated with a degree in Information and Communication Engineering. She started her career as an engineer at Samsung Electronics. During this time, she had the opportunity to transition to the planning department, and since then, she has been working under the broad umbrella of planning and strategy. The reason why Eunpil pursued an MBA program at SKK GSB was that, after transitioning from an engineer to a planning and strategy role, she felt the need for both academic and practical growth. She said, "Those with an academic and career background like mine have likely faced similar concerns. I encourage juniors, peers, and acquaintances who share these concerns to pursue an MBA without hesitation." Eunpil said, "The MBA program strengthened my thought process and taught me how to achieve the best results within a limited time. In the MBA program, you can learn to solve problems more effectively and examine the core from various approaches, so anyone with determination can achieve valuable outcomes. The highly motivated Eunpil completed the MS program at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University through the dual degree program at SKK GSB. She added, "The outstanding peers and professors I met during the program helped broaden my perspective and allowed me to see further. During this time, I also gained the insight and courage to venture into new industries." She said that Professor Yoo Pilhwa's "Pricing Strategy" class left a strong impression on her. Eunpil said, "I was assigned a project to analyze a company, and the subject company was Netflix. Back in 2018, Netflix's stock price was not as high as it is today. While it had succeeded in the U.S. market, it struggled to expand into the Korean and Asian markets. As I analyzed Netflix, I found its business model, history, and management team fascinating, which enabled me to see its growth potential. A few years later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, and Netflix experienced explosive growth. The ability to identify businesses and markets with growth potential was also something I gained through the MBA program." She said, "SKK GSB is still an ongoing life project for me, both in my career and in my life. By the time I finished my MBA, I could confidently say that I had grown significantly compared to who I was before starting the program. I believe that the knowledge I gained at SKK GSB will continue to help me grow in the future." She added, "The remarkable colleagues I met at that time are still with me, positively influencing each other. It seems that those countless dots are creating new ones and going through a process of evolution where they are connected."
- 작성일 2024-11-01
- 조회수 492
[PMBA] Hyunseok Ji (PMBA 2022, LG Energy Solution)

- How what you learned during your MBA program has contributed towards my work In an assignment in the Product Service Design course, we selected a company, and drew a product life cycle and roadmap to propose a new business model. In that assignment, I analyzed the initial model, and successful and unsuccessful projects by investigating personal mobility companies that have various products. After that, I suggested future business strategies such as localization and subscription. Another notable course was the Project Workshop. In that course, we had regular meetings with actual tech startup managers to discuss product strategies and mid-to-long-term operation plans, and we devised improvement roadmaps. I’m certain that this experience of analyzing and discussing business models, and formulating differentiation strategies with actual CEOs and CTOs was a great help in expanding my business perspectives. These classes have assisted me a lot in the process of strategic decision-making, and have helped me to create the innovative outcomes required in my job. - Advice to prospective applicants who are considering an MBA In a rapidly-changing world, I believe that it is crucial to differentiate our strengths, and to develop excellent problem-solving skills. Now I am sure that I’m sure that an MBA is not only a platform for acquiring the knowledge of business and economics, but also a place to redefine our careers and directions in life by reflecting on ourselves.
- 작성일 2023-08-03
- 조회수 1119
[PMBA] Wooree Lee (PMBA 2022, McKinsey & Company)

- How what you learned during your MBA program has contributed towards my work I’d say the most helpful things that I learned on the course fall into two groups: theory and practice. Theoretically, there were many things that I could apply directly to business situations, so I experienced their effectiveness straight away. In particular, the Digital Marketing course helped me understand the digital marketing ecosystem. This course included a lot of useful simulations, and these helped me to understand the practical impact of optimizing the customer journey, to appreciate various perspectives of performance analysis, and to learn channel strategy. Thanks to the Marketing Analysis course, I could increase my access to marketing data with R-Programming. On this course, we analyzed data from various; we used vast amounts of data, and then we found optimal clustering criteria during the customer clustering process. I found this especially interesting, and later, when I was analyzing customer data in a real business situation, I could determine the criteria for applicability and confidence of data more quantitatively. Regarding practice, the most striking phrase that springs to mind is “speak out effectively”. My classmates had a range of experiences, jobs, and backgrounds, so by discussing and presenting with them, I developed creative problem-solving skills. These skills were helpful in real business situations as I could convey my opinions more concisely and efficiently. Since all of SKK GSB’s classes are in English, it closely modeled a real international business environment, and by using my classmates’ strengths as benchmarks, I found the global nature of the experience valuable. - The biggest challenge you encountered on the MBA course It takes a lot of energy and effort physically and mentally to take the classes, to work on assignments, and to get through the exams, all at the same time as working. Taking this course involves a lot of case reading materials and assignments every week, so it was far from easy to balance all those tasks while working, but with motivation from my classmates, I could manage the classes and assignments without major issues. The MBA course has a lot of group assignments, and we grew together by learning from other members' strengths, by helping them with their shortcomings, and by maximizing and building on each other's abilities. This helped us to overcome our challenges. - Advice to prospective applicants who are considering an MBA I think prospective students should clarify their needs and expectations after graduating with an MBA. Even if students enroll with a strong will, some may lose sight of their original goal or withdraw because there are a lot of challenges. Yet if students clearly know what they want to achieve, then they are more able to overcome these challenges with their classmates. Remember you aren’t alone: the other students on the course are invariably keen to develop themselves even in difficult situations, and you’re all in the same boat, so everyone tends to help each other very well. I’d say that applicants who take an MBA after considering these points carefully will find the content, process, and methodology that they learn a great benefit as they grow into thriving business professionals.
- 작성일 2023-08-03
- 조회수 1369
[PMBA] Suryun Yoon (PMBA 2021, eBay Korea)

- Why SKK GSB I decided to do an MBA early in my career because if I were to become a CEO, then it would be important for me to understand my business comprehensively, and to ground my expertise. I also wanted to expand my knowledge of finance, marketing, and strategy. I chose SKK GSB because it has a world-class faculty and opportunities to study in other world-class business schools. Moreover, all classes in SKK GSB are taught in English, ensuring global competence. - How did the MBA contribute to your work? If you do one job for a long time, your perspective can narrow, though of course you become an expert in certain fields. With my MBA, I supplemented my one-sidedness. I learned how to see the whole picture while honing my skills in one area. I also learned how my job contributes to the whole process of my company’s business. Then, I naturally applied my understanding to my job. Thanks to my studies at SKK GSB, I improved my communication skills with other teams because I had broadened my point of view in business. - What challenges did you experience while doing the MBA? The MBA lifestyle—working during the day, and studying at night—demands a lot of energy. I had to be good at keeping my body healthy and managing my time well. Luckily, I managed this, and I enjoyed my MBA life thanks to my cohort peers' positive energy and passion.
- 작성일 2023-08-03
- 조회수 1102
[PMBA] [Financial Times] South Korean Business Schools Gain Popularity with Overseas Students

SKK GSB alumnus, Warren Mitty (PMBA Class of 2020) was featured in the Financial Times on October 28th. Warren shared his experience with SKK GSB, stating "Upon graduation I found the reputation of the SKK GSB MBA program extremely valuable in seeking out new job opportunities in Korea and abroad. My MBA is a fantastic asset that allows me to stand out in a very competitive job market, and because of this I was able to secure new employment abroad." Original full article: White, Edward. “South Korean business schools gain popularity with overseas students.” Financial Times, October 28, 2020. Accessed November 11, 2020. https://www.ft.com/content/3a594f1e-d3b1-47eb-a0e3-479e43f0a0dc
- 작성일 2023-08-01
- 조회수 750
[PMBA] Advice from predecessors-PMBA 2017

Deputy Director Kim Sung-Hyun (Alumnus of SKK GSB Professional MBA 2017) Q1: A brief introduction of yourself? A: Hello. I am Sunghyun Kim who graduated from SKK GSB Professional MBA course at Sungkyunkwan University in 2017. Prior to entering MBA School, I was responsible for personnel management for Amore Pacific and LS Nico Bronze Smelting for approximately 12 years. After graduating from SKK GSB Professional MBA, I have served as a human resources manager at a local global clothing export company that handles global clothing brands such as Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, American Eagle, and Levi's. Q2: What made you decide to pursue MBA Degree? A: I have worked in the field of personnel management for about 12 years prior to acquisition of my MBA degree. Having had a long career in a particular field, he became a professional senior manager in that area, but he often felt he lacked the knowledge to fully understand the business as a whole. I decided to go to college because my MBA is the most suitable course for getting professional knowledge of the overall business. Q3: Why did you choose SKK GSB Professional MBA amongst various MBA programs at home and abroad? A: Firstly, I was introduced SKK GSB Professional MBA course at Sungkyunkwan University by my Chief of Personnel (CHO) at that time that it is an international MBA program. I felt confident that it was a program that CHO recommended. It was also attractive that it was the only night MBA program offered in 100% English of all the courses in the ROK. Having advanced-level English skills was very important for my future career management since I was working at a foreign company. Lastly, I liked the fact that it is an MBA course that comprises a number of foreign business executives and employees. It is not that difficult for employees of large/ midsize domestic enterprises to get involved in various educational and industrial events. However, opportunities to interact with employees at multinational and foreign companies are more of a rarity. SKK GSB Professional MBA was a perfect course that had English classes and dual degree tracks overseas, enabling myself to mingle with a variety of multinational corporate executives including Coca-Cola, Boeing, ING Life, Standard Chartered Bank and Citibank. Q4: What is the most significant change after SKK GSB Professional MBA program? A: First of all, the way I view business management has been greatly widened. While I considered mainly human resources related issues before the MBA program, I now closely scrutinize the company performances, corporate brand growth details, accounting issues, and market conditions collectively in addition to personnel management situations. This is indeed very helpful to me, especially since it enables me to see the big picture during business discussions with the management leadership. My department employees often tell me that I have changed. In consultation with other departments, such as accounting, sales, and strategy, they were impressed by the way I use the terminology and macroeconomic approaches learnt from MBA program to anticipate future developments. I gained a profound knowledge in various business fields thanks to SKK GSB's practice-oriented, well-segmented MBA curriculum. I had been trained by MBA education provided by my company before I joined SKK GSB, yet I felt what I wanted to learn was insatiable, even though it comprised lectures given by prominent Korean professors. I was in doubt of the effectiveness of MBA program even after the decision to join SKK GSB. However, the SKK GSB Professional MBA program has wiped out the concerns of mine with professional contents with rich business practices. With specialized MBA courses in accordance to categories, I was able to gain a wide range of professional knowledge. For instance, in the human resources field alone, a variety of courses are provided – from organizational and personnel management to leadership and corporate ethics. The Finance classes were also in-depth courses on swaps, options, gifts, derivatives, and so on. Q5: What was the most helpful curriculum from the SKK GSB Professional MBA? A: Firstly, the finance subjects were the main catalysts for the most noticeable changes. Since the company where I was in charge was dealing with a global metal mining, smelting, and trading business, call options, foot options, gifts, and hedge related issues were often mentioned. Even for employees of a human resources department it is paramount to understand the whole company issues, but since the finance field is difficult to comprehend, it often resulted in leaving an uncomfortable feeling with Finance. Yet, I haven't had to face such difficulties ever since I took Finance classes at MBA program. I was especially satisfied with the Financial Risk Management class given by the Dean Lee at SKK GSB. The lecture was very impressive in that it helped us to gain a thorough understanding from the financial perspective of the causes and developments in the real world of financial events, such as Lehman Brothers and the Kiko crisis. HR related classes are not always the most useful for its managers. For instance, after completing courses in marketing communications and branding management, and used the knowledge I gained to promote recruitment for talented individuals. I have over a decade of experience in human resources management, but I have learnt to organize and verify my scattered knowledge via HR modules. I used to write notes at work and in class to write down what I wanted to remind myself of. Q6: What do you think can be gained other than the regular curriculum through MBA programs? A: First of all, the English ability. SKK GSB Professional MBA program is offered in 100 % English classes and therefore has many opportunities to give out English presentations. I also attended English conversation classes and got professional English composition correction services from my school, which resulted in developing the habit of speaking, writing and even thinking in English as a result. By the time I graduated, my English was a lot improved, and I could easily speak in English with less hesitation. The company I work for now has many overseas manufacturing bases and a high share of communication with foreign business partners. Passing the English interview for my re-employment of this company, the English skills I learnt in my MBA program played a major role. I also got a big assistance in getting the human networks I needed. The SKK GSB Professional MBA program is rather small in a size of around 60 people, and this resulted in having people within each cohort familiarized with each other, creating a strong bond. Particularly, it was more than nice to have a multinational corporate network, which is difficult to obtain prior to joining into this program. Q7: Lastly, could you give me some advice for those who are considering going to MBA schools? A: I would like to tell you to start first, and then give a thought about it. Alike any other choices in life, it's much better to use obtained experiences to fit the reasons you chose after a challenge, rather than trying to think about them too much before starting. Similar to the case of mine, there are three main reasons for considering joining Professional MBA. Q8: Did it help you regarding employment, re-employment, starting a business, and raising your salary after graduation? A: In my case, after I graduated from MBA program, I have successfully had myself employed to the current company, and my salary has been increased significantly over the years. I am very satisfied that I got to see quantum progress not only in my personal capability but also in my career.
- 작성일 2023-08-01
- 조회수 550

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