Remote-work in JEJU

※ 본 콘텐츠의 저작권은 저작자 또는 제공처에 있으며, 이를 무단으로 이용하는 저작권법 등에 따라 법적 책임을 질 수 있습니다.

 On last Monday, August 28th, we opened a <Digital Nomad Meet Up> at J-Space, the collaborative space of Jeju Center for Creative Economy and Innovation. We have discussed about ‘Why remote working?’ at the <Digital Nomad Meet Up ‘Hello Seogwipo!’> last July.

 The <Digital Nomad Meet Up> this August started from a notion why we feel so distant from ‘working freely at places where we would like to work’ when there is a boom on ‘co-working spaces’ and an increase in people wanting to live as a ‘digital nomad’. We have decided to look for the answers in companies and public areas that are willing to implement ‘Remote Working’ rather than individual ‘Digital Nomads’. If a company and public institution chooses to ‘Remote Work’ than it is because the ‘Remote Work’ is a ‘Smart Work’!

The Balance of Space - People - Technology; Smart Work

 On November 2013, Microsoft Korea moved to its new building in Gwanghwamun, opening the era of “Free Style Workspace”. Various divisions harmonized under the motto ‘the balance of People, Space, and Technology’ and continued the innovation of a smart office. Many organizations are experiencing a lot of trial and errors when they adapted the Smart Office. They say that it is difficult to face the actual results of a Smart Office if you approach it just as a tool and technology when in fact it is a sum of environment, system, and culture.

 The prototype of Microsoft Smart Office in Korea is from the innovative activity called 'New Word of Work' which was promoted in 2005. A new work environment based on 'people, space, and technology' and the expansions of working methods were set at this time. Then the human resource department and asset management participated in innovation activities through collaboration. The 'people, space, and technology' is not a slogan but it symbolizes their role. A new work environment and tools must be aligned with the performance evaluations and rewards because it is not easy for the employees to adapt to a new working environment and method without motivation, evaluation, and rewards. The trends in workplace, work, and organizational management have changed a lot but the principles of Microsoft Korea’s ‘People, Space, and Technology’ are still practiced.

 There was an increased interest on Work & Life Balance in the mid/late 2000s. In recent years, many companies are trying to have a ‘good workspace to work’ by creating an environment where they can immerse themselves to work better rather than increasing the working hours. As the millennial generation (born in the early 1980s~2000s) involves more in the organization, more time is spent on how to smoothly implement the ‘Work-Life Integration’ rather than spending time more on leisure. This change in values of work and career brings the development of technology and the era of ‘new normal’ in advance.

 Microsoft Korea had a mission to provide a new system on compensations and work performance measurements as well as flexible work environment due to the changed values of work. They classified the work styles and attributes to provide a flexible work environment that can bring out the ‘balance of a personal style and a work style’. In addition, the members can select to have a designated seat, undesignated seat, remote working system, or teleworking system according to the business attributes and their roles and responsibility at work. You can also receive IT tools and services based on your working style if you could understand your style and attributes!

 But the most important thing is the performance measurement and compensation of the members. In order to practice a smart office run by a member, not an organization, it is necessary to accurately measure the performance of those who concentrated and worked their best regardless of the time and place. And that the compensation for this should be done properly. Only then a voluntary participating culture will be created! Microsoft Korea is trying to specifically look into who they communicated and collaborated to achieve a certain goal rather than seeing how many hours they work at a certain environment for the performance evaluation.

Method on leading your life, Start ‘UP’

 Alleys Wonder Lab is a startup that provides a video map service with a crowdsourcing method wherein the public participates and display the contents. It has a relationship with Jeju through the Stay Support Program of Jeju Center for Creative Economy and Innovation and experiment the ‘Remote Working’ system in Jeju. I wonder why they were experimenting ‘Remote Working’ and what kinds of trial and errors they have experienced.

 Many of the members of the company are from big corporations. They said they have created a pleasant balanced Life & Work environment with flexible working hours and horizontal company culture. Thinking that as a startup company, they need at least one game machine inside the office and barbeque party as well as telecommuting is obviously possible if the members wanted it. However, they said they soon realized that it was a common mistake of a startup representative with a realization that the horizontal culture and flexible working hours should be a ‘tool for increasing work efficiency’ and not a ‘tool for motivation’!

>>> Common mistakes of a startup company representatives

      (partial document from Alleys Wonder Lab CEO Kim Ji Hwan’s presentation)

①Silicon Valley said startups have liberal and horizontal culture.

②Isn’t it thankful enough for them to come and work at a startup company? We should reward them with these welfares.

③A liberal ambience and flexible working hours will motivate the employees to work harder.

④Rocketpunch ask us to write down the advantages of the company. Shouldn’t we at least mention these?

⑤Google, Facebook, Baemin provides these office as a welfare.

 After that, they said they implemented a ‘limited flexible working hours’. Employees can come to work at any time they want to but they must participate in the 11AM meeting and should constantly update and share each other's goals and work mainly around the meeting hours. The members may freely schedule themselves to achieve their goals but the company executed a ‘permission system for holidays and notification system for working at home’. If you wish to work from home today, it must be done with a condition that you will ‘complete the work by saving the commuting time’ not because ‘you do not want to go to work’. And they do not regularly do a meeting or a workshop, but do it in a sense as a reward after seeing them achieving the goal.

 In the end, you’ll find out that these attempts are consistently executable when the ‘tools’ are useful to increase the efficiency of work. As part of such effort, they participated in the Jeju Daum, a Stay Support Program of Jeju Center for Creative Economy and Innovation last April. The CEO of Alleys Wonder Lab, Kim Ji Hwan told another member of the company to experience the digital nomad at Jeju and said to ‘meet 100% of the work while enjoying the stay’. If the work performance of the month is 80%, then it is a failure but if it reaches 120%, it is a successful experiment and when it is reached, he promised for an expansion. As a result, the experiment failed because he said that it was a business environment not suitable for a developer. But because this experiment was a failure, it does not stop their attempt to experience. They analyzed the results and are planning for another experiment. They are going to ‘Nepal’ after ‘Jeju’ for a global project. We look forward to Alleys Wonder Lab’s Remote Working experiments as well as their projects.

▶ For those who are interested to know more about the company, check the interview of ‘The story of Alleys Wonder Lab’

[Lee Him Chan X J-Space Emotional Interview] Alleys Wonder Lab CEO Kim Jin Hwan’s ‘In that case, there is nothing I can’t do.’

Adding ‘Smart’ to public services

 The Jeju Smart Welfare Center is a test operating organization opened on August 2016 after being selected as the ‘top 300 government’s 3.0 highlighted promotion projects’ in 2016. It is the first ‘welfare center without a building’ based on deinstitutionalization of social welfare. It is a system wherein the social welfare center goes to the people who need the services and not making them visit the center.

 The main business of Jeju Smart Welfare Center is not much different from those of general welfare centers but there is a big difference on the operation and maintenance expenses. It is said that a huge investment is made on designing and having additional facilities for the disabled people and seniors. Although more than 100 won costs to build a building, the disabled and elderly people who are uncomfortable in moving are experiencing a great inconvenience to visit the welfare centers.

 The Jeju Smart Welfare Center utilizes the empty spaces in town with a minimal space for an office. It is much easier for the people to receive services, such as running a lifelong education business in an empty space within an apartment of low-income families. In addition, unlike the general welfare centers, they utilize the ‘groupware’ and various cloud services and tabs as a consultation papers to minimize the use of a paper. Also, it is said that it is increasing the mobility by utilizing the small Segway rather than the conventional vehicles. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is a 'smart' welfare center as it is providing more suitable services to the people who need the welfare services in the blind spots by drastically reducing the time and the budget.

 There is no 'building' but there is a 'person' in the Jeju Smart Welfare Center. The meaning of smart work for them is towards the ‘people’. Many public institutions can refer to them as it provides the public services in the right place while saving taxes!

To work smartly, Smart Work

 We had a time to share the opinions of the participants before ending the meet up. Some people said the 'Remote Work’ or 'Smart Work' is not something that felt distant from and it was something that they could fully agree to. There was this one participant who left a wise saying(!) that ‘a smart work is finishing up your work fast and doing a creative work by utilizing what is near you’.

 There are not many organizations that implement the 'Remote Work' locally or internationally. Although 'Remote Work' is not the right method for every organization, it' is a meaningful way for a 'Smart Work' and some companies have already implemented it successfully!

 Jeju Center for Creative Economy and Innovation will collect and share the trial and errors and the know-hows of the remote working companies domestically and internationally in the future. Please watch out the efforts of Jeju Center for Creative Economy and Innovation in finding for remote working companies and in creating Jeju for those remote workers!

※ 본 콘텐츠의 저작권은 저작자 또는 제공처에 있으며, 이를 무단으로 이용하는 저작권법 등에 따라 법적 책임을 질 수 있습니다.

※ 본 콘텐츠의 저작권은 저작자 또는 제공처에 있으며, 이를 무단으로 이용하는 저작권법 등에 따라 법적 책임을 질 수 있습니다.

※ 본 콘텐츠의 저작권은 저작자 또는 제공처에 있으며, 이를 무단으로 이용하는 저작권법 등에 따라 법적 책임을 질 수 있습니다.

 We meet Oh Sun Mi, the CEO of ‘Share Korea’ last September 11^th at J-Space in the Jeju Center for Creative Economy and Innovation. I have also met her in the ‘Jeju Daum’ program last July. I heard that she was in Jeju with an opportunity to be here again. I wanted to hear in details about how it is on her second month at Jeju and how she is doing with her work. Today and also on last July, ‘Share Korea’, films the different places of Jeju to promote it to the Chinese. We decided to listen to the story on how the company started.

# Sharing Korea

 ‘Share Korea’ filming a video content – Chuncheon / 2016

Sun-Mi Oh  After graduating college, I spent my 4 years in China. Then I came back to Korea and worked for an online shopping related work and unknowingly, I became a 10 year experienced professional at this field. I’ve seen a lot of people who have been struggling with the domestic market downturn in the past 10 years by meeting with small and medium-sized merchants. But the struggle was not due to lack of their talents. I’ve naturally faced the reality of the downturn which was caused by either they lost the market to the big corporations or lack of funds. As I’ve been thinking on how to help them, I came across with the ‘Chinese tourists’. Then I decided to create my own company to provide an ‘opportunity to show the real side of Korea’ to them and find a link between a Korean small merchants and the growing individual travelers and improve the quality of Korean tourist products.

 With the meaning of “Sharing Korea”, the ‘Share Korea’ was created to inform the real side of Korea to the Chinese tourists. I’m promoting various places (business) and products of Korea on Korean/Chinese online sites and posting videos related to travelling on 3 Chinese online sites and blogs.

Present projects of ‘Share Korea’; briefly summarized by the CEO, Oh Sun Mi

 Before she came to Jeju where there are many Chinese tourists, she has been working for the Chinese. Also, when I personally asked questions about the language, she was so proficient in explaining without any hindrance.

# Long relationship with China

Sun-Mi Oh Where should I start? Ever since I was young, I had a business mindset so I went to a commercial high school without even thinking about going to college. After I graduated high school, I entered into a company that was not so bad after all but I faced the reality of the society at that time which was about the difference between those who graduated college and those who did not. So I worked for about a year in that company and went back to study and entered the college.

 With the personality I have, a lot of experience and challenge was the goal for my twenties. After graduating college, I was working hard for about a year and a half in a mid-sized company but as I have been working for the same tasks repetitively with no new works, I got a little bored with the job. I wasn’t good in English so I want to take this opportunity to learn English and wanted to go to the Philippines. But my friend said ‘Do you think you can learn English which you couldn’t do it for the past 10 years by going to the Philippines?’ and suggested me to go to China to learn Chinese. So I went straight to China and studied for a year and planned to return to Seoul right away. But once again, with my friend’s suggestion, I got a job in China.

 The style of CEO Oh Sun Mi was clearly showed in the way she makes a decision or on her way making a direction with just one offer by her friend. She was practicing her goals, which is to experience and challenge, without any hesitation.

Sun-Mi Oh Shortly thereafter, I received an offer from my friend once again. She was working for Dell computer and asked me to have an interview saying that the neighborhood of the office is clean and the environment was good for working. So I did a phone interview with the manager of the team that I’ll be working for. He suddenly asked me to sell something through the phone. At first I confidently said “I don’t have anything to sell.” But he told me to sell anything so I explained the DVD player which was in front of me. I got the job with the recommendation of my friend and the manager, who seemed to have liked my answer.

When I first started work, the manager asked me “It is a 100m speed marathon here, can you do that?” and I remember answering so confidently, “It would be fun! I like it.” Luckily, I was able to settle in quickly and worked for a year and a half. I met Myung Ok at this work too. However, after 3 years and 7 months in China, I returned to Korea to recover as my bronchial was not feeling good so good.

CEO Oh Sun Mi interviewing at J-SPACE –Jeju Center for Creative Economy and Innovation / 2017

 Now I decided to do something that I want to do. So I jumped into an online startup business where I could start without any capital. Things worked out well than I have expected. I went to give a lecture as a successful startup entrepreneur and received a feedback that I was good at lecturing. So for a while, I’ve been doing lectures on online startup business. As I was only having lectures, I got to stop at one point due to my health issues. I couldn’t live without any work so I entered into a graduate school (online shopping MBA program). I think that’s how I constantly worked on an online related work for years. When I was ready at some point, my sister who was working in a Chinese related industry said ‘there is no proper expert on Chinese marketing’ and gave me the opinion that I would do well. So that’s how I started doing the work I am doing today. The story’s quite long, right?

 Certainly she has a deep relationship with China. Thanks to the background experience at China, she knew better than anyone else on what the Chinese tourists who come to Jeju needs and on what direction should we interact with them. That’s why ‘Share Korea’, as it is named, was possible. What was the reason for her to participate in the Jeju Daum program when she was already working with her staffs in Seoul?

※ 본 콘텐츠의 저작권은 저작자 또는 제공처에 있으며, 이를 무단으로 이용하는 저작권법 등에 따라 법적 책임을 질 수 있습니다.

 제주는 급속도로 변하고 있다. 어떤 의미에서든, 매년마다 제주의 여러 모습들이 달라지고 있는 것은 사실이다. 여행으로든 일로든 제주도에 ‘찾아오는 사람들’이 점점 많아지고 점점 다양해지고 있다. 그들 중에는 이런 과정을 그저 여행지의 발전으로 보는 사람들도 있고, 더 민감하게 내 집의 변화처럼 반응하는 사람들도 있다. 지난 9월 18일, 제주창조경제혁신센터 J-SPACE에서 만난 메타플랜의 전용포 대표는 그 후자에 속했다.

 5월에 이어 9월에도 ‘제주다움’ 프로그램에 참여중인 그는 인터뷰를 시작하기 전부터, “저는 다른 얘기보다도 제주다움, 이 제주라는 땅과 제주에서 만난 사람들에 대해서 이야기하고 싶어요”라고 말할 만큼 그의 머릿속은 이미 제주로 가득 차 있었다. 제주라는 공간에 새겨진 추억들, 그리고 따뜻한 만남들 때문에 제주를 좋아하게 되고 제주를 계속 찾게 되었던 나이기에, 전용포 대표와 이야기 나누는 내내 ‘맞아요’라는 말을 가장 많이 했던 것 같다.

# 제주와의 고리

중국, 대만 회사와의 교류와 관련해서 인터뷰 중인 전용포 대표 – 중국 항주 / 2017년 3월

전용포 안녕하세요. 메타플랜 대표 전용포입니다. 일단 저희 회사 소개를 간단히 하자면, 상업공간이나 주거공간을 중심으로 다양한 경험을 제공하는 건축, 환경, 공간 브랜딩 전문 스튜디오입니다. ‘메타플랜’의 메타-는 접두사로, 무엇인가를 뛰어넘은, 초월함을 의미해요. 뛰어넘는 기획, 그리고 영역을 규정짓지 않는 넓은 영역을 다룬다는 뜻이죠. 실질적으로 저희가 하는 일도 가장 큰 부분이 공간이기는 하지만, 제품도 다루고 그래픽 작업이나 컨설팅을 하는 등 다양하게 하고 있어요. 지금은 제주의 특별한 지역문화를 살리고, 무분별한 개발로 인해 잊혀져가는 제주의 정체성을 되찾고자 하는 지역 커뮤니티를 활성화하는 방안을 구체화하는 작업을 구상중이에요. 다양한 분야의 관점에서 생각하는 의견을 수렴하고자 합니다. 궁극적인 그림은 공유경제를 기반으로 한 공유공간을 구현하는 것입니다.

 지난 5월에 제주다움에 오게 된 것은 정말 우연이었어요. 당시에 얘기가 진행 중인 제주 프로젝트가 있었어요. 중국 클라이언트의 리조트 개발 건이었는데, 물론 돈을 벌 생각만 한다면 고민 없이 해야겠지만, 컨셉이나 방향이 제주와 너무 맞지 않았어요. 한국인은 전혀 고려하지 않은, 중국 내국인들만을 위한 공간이었어요. 이걸 과연 내가 해야 될까? 그런 고민들을 많이 하던 차에 지인의 페이스북을 통해 제주다움을 알게 되었어요.

 제주에는 원래 관심이 많았었고, 이번 기회에 일단 제주에 대해 좀 더 이해를 해보자, 그리고 제주는 제주만의 독특한 특성이 있잖아요? 그런 것들을 더 배워야겠다 싶었어요. 그래서 ‘5월 제주다움’ 신청 공고를 보자마자 지원서를 써서 바로 제출했죠.

5월 제주다움 참여자들과 함께 – 제주 다랑쉬 오름 / 5월

 그렇게 그는 제주에 왔다. 하지만 결국 그 프로젝트를 하지 않았다고 했다. 현장에 가보고 얘기도 들어보고, 협의를 진행하다가 메타플랜이 갖고 있는 취지 그리고 ‘제주라는 공간’과 맞지 않아서 거부했다는 말에, 제주에 대한 그의 생각이 이전부터 남달랐음을 느낄 수 있었다. 그렇다면 제주에 있는 동안 또 다른 만남, 프로젝트는 없었을까.

전용포 그때 바로 직접적으로 생긴 것은 아니었고. 제가 이런 일을 한다, 발표도 하고 소개도 하고 하다보니까, 네트워킹이 자연스럽게 이루어졌어요. 외주민이 와서 사업을 차리신 분도, 제주 출신이신분도 있었어요. 그분들을 만나서 네트워킹을 하고, 서로 하는 일에 대해서 교류도 하고. 그렇게 몇몇 업체와는 같이 일을 진행하게 되었어요. 이곳 센터 입주업체 ‘제주달리’에서 진행하는 도시재생 사업이 있었는데, 수산물 외판장을 문화공간으로 다시 개발하는 사업이었어요. 그 프로젝트가 문화콘텐츠 개발 사업에 선정이 되어서, 그때 저희와 기획이 얘기 되었고, 지금 진행 중에 있습니다.

 그는 분명 어떠한 프로젝트가 있어 제주를 오게 되었지만, 일을 위해서-라기 보다는 제주와 가까워지고자 하는 마음이 더 컸던 것 같다. 9월에 머무르는 동안, 김만덕 기념관에서 주최하는 ‘나눔 큰잔치’에 공간 구성으로 참여하게 된 것도 같은 맥락이 아닐까.

J-SPACE에서 인터뷰중인 매타플랜 전용포 대표 – 제주창조경제혁신센터 / 9월

전용포 ‘나눔 큰잔치’는 제주다움을 통해 만난 이민정 작가님과 교류를 하다가, 작가님의 제안으로 함께하게 되었어요. 사실 이런 행사는 일회성이기 때문에 공간에 대한 고민이 많이 필요하지 않을 수 있어요. 하지만 사람들이 조금 더 관심을 갖고 참여하는, 더 즐겁고 더 의미 있는 행사가 되었으면 좋겠다고 저희를 불러주셨고, 작가님의 포부나 뜻하는 바가 저희와 잘 맞아서 흔쾌히 하겠다고 했습니다.

 그는 처음 9월 계획에 이 행사가 있었던 것은 아니라고 했다. 이미 다른 계획들이 잡혀있는 상황에서 합류하기란 분명 쉽지만은 않았을 것이다. 그럼에도 그는 일로서가 아닌 이 행사의 ‘방향’에 큰 긍정을 표했다.

# 제주를 제주답게

 5월 체류자였던 그는 제주에 4개월 만에 재방문한 셈이다. 이번에는 어떤 계획을 안고 왔는지를 묻자, 그는 인터뷰를 시작 할 때 꺼냈던 ‘제주다움’에 대한 이야기를 자세히 들려주었다.

전용포 아까 얘기 드렸듯이 제주다움 출신들이 모여서 무엇인가를 표현하고, 그것을 영상이든 그래픽이든 공간이든 제품이든, 어떠한 형상으로 표출해낼 수 있는 방법이 무엇이 있을까-라는 생각을 안고 왔어요. 당연히 주제에는 제주가 묻어 있어야 되겠죠. 그리고 나아가서는 제주다움을 위한 공간을 조성한다던지, 앞으로 더 넓게 펼쳐질 제주다움의 이야기들을 위해서, 좀 더 구체적으로 제주를 둘러보고 대화도 나누고 싶었어요.

벽면에 아이디어를 정리하고 있는 전용포 대표 – 제주창조경제혁신센터 체류존 / 5월

 저는 2017년도에 이곳에서 함께 한 사람들 모두가 내년에도 계속 교류를 하면서 함께 했으면 좋겠어요. 거쳐 간 사람들이 이 프로그램 안에 녹아들어서, 자신만의 것들을 나누고 함께 할 수 있는, 그러면서 같이 행복해지는 그런 프로젝트를 하고 싶어요. 이 프로그램 안에서 만난 분들을 보면 진짜 엄청난 인력들이에요. 서울에만 있었으면 옷깃조차 스치지 않을 사람들인데, 이곳에서 인연이 생기고 연결고리가 되었으니 이걸 충분히 잘 살려보고 싶어요. 어떤 실리를 추구하는 그런 차원이 아니라, 그냥 기쁘게 자신의 무엇인가를 선뜻 나눌 수 있는, 그런 형태로요.

 그의 이야기를 듣다가 신기하다는 생각이 들었다. 다른 분들과의 대화에서도 항상 나왔던 이야기, ‘내가 이곳을 위해 무엇을 할 수 있을까’라는 생각. 전용포 대표를 포함해서 그들 모두가 이미 제주의 영향을 받았던 것이 아닐까. 제주의 색채가 담긴 것이 아닐까. 혹시 서울이었다면, 이러한 프로그램에, 만남에, 공간에, 내가 가진 무엇인가를 선뜻 나누고 싶다는 생각은 쉽게 하지 못했을 것이다. 부른다고, 찾는다고 바로 만나지는 경우도 거의 없다. 그런데 이들은 ‘제주’라는 이름 하나로 자연스레 연결 된 것이다.

전용포 환경이 사람들을 많이 바꿔놓죠. 제주라는 곳이 더 마음을 쓰게 만들어주는 것 같아요. 저는 그래서 더더욱, 제주는 무분별하게 개발하면 안 되는 곳인 것 같아요. 지금 공공디자인이나 도시재생이 화두잖아요. 제주에도 이미 그런 분위기가 확장 되고 있어요. 제주를 더 제주답게 만들어야 하는데... 여기 제주시만 하더라도, 칠성로나 산지천 쪽을 보면 그냥 서울처럼 비슷하게 만들어졌어요. 더 많은 곳이 계속해서 바뀌고 있고, 그래서 또 어떤 곳은 텅텅 비게 되고. 월정리만 해도, 예전에는 카페 하나만 있고 정말 아무것도 없었잖아요. 이제는 풍경이 가려질 정도로 건물들이 가득 들어섰고, 또 어딘가에서는 먹거리타운을 만들고 있고. 이제는 정부 차원에서라도 규제를 해야 할 것 같다는 생각이 들어요.

 ‘관광도시라는 이유로 너무 발전에만 치중하는 것 같아요, 준비되지 않은 변화랄까’라는 나의 말에, 이번에는 그가 강한 긍정을 표했다.

전용포 맞아요. ‘준비되지 않은’ 변화. 아직 받아들일 준비가 안 되어있는데, 갑작스런 도시재생의 파동으로, 너무 급하게 적용되고 있는 것은 아닐까 싶어요. 그런 것들을 제가 바꿀 수는 없지만, 이랬으면 좋겠다는 대안을 제시해주던가, 그런 부분에 있어 모두가 생각해볼 수 있게 무엇인가를 표현해야 하지 않을까. 그게 제주다움 참여자들이 할 일이 아닐까 하는 생각을 했어요. 제주를, 제주답게.

# 제주다운 제주

 사실 도시재생도 공공디자인도, 내게는 그다지 친숙한 단어는 아니었다. 그래서 사전적인 의미를 찾아보기도 했었다. 조금 더 직접적인 이야기를 듣고 싶어 그에게도 그 질문을 던졌다.

전용포 ‘공공디자인’은 말 그대로 공공으로 쓰는 공원이나 도서관, 신호등, 교통표지판 등을 구성하는 디자인이에요. ‘도시재생’이라는 것은 최근에 많이 쓰이는 말인데, 공공디자인과 같은 말이기도 해요. 요즘 화두가 옛것을 다시 재탄생시키는 그런 과정이기 때문에 그래서 도시재생이라는 용어를 쓰는 거예요. 선진국에서는 이미 몇 십 년 전부터 도시재생을 해왔는데, 그걸 경험했던 분들이 한국으로 귀국하면서 논문을 쓰고, 전파하고, 그렇게 되면서 슬슬 이런 운동이 생겨난 거죠. 서울 역사라던가, 최근에는 ‘서울로’, 그런 것들이 다 도시재생이에요. 이제 제주에서도 많이 진행되고 있고요.

 유휴 공간, 버려진 공간. 쓸데없는 공간 또는 관심 없던 공간을 다시 사람들을 끌어들일 수 있게 만드는 거죠. 그게 근데 공간만 살리는 게 아니라 거기 안에서 일어나는 문화, 커뮤니티에 대한 부분도 포함하는 거죠. 그래서 이 지역 자체가 윤택해지고, 미래지향적으로 나아갈 수 있게 해주는 거예요. 요즘 사회 문제들 많잖아요. 노령인구가 많아지고, 출산율이 저하되고, 제주 같은 경우 육지에서 오는 사람들이 많아지면서 현지에 있는 사람들이 서울로 다 올라가려고 하고, 그런 지역 문제를 해결해 줄 수 있는 것도 도시재생의 중점이죠. 그런데 문제는 그런 것까지 포괄적으로 고민하고 그것에 대한 대안을 제시를 하고 해야 되는데, 자칫 잘못하면 보여주기 식 도시재생이 될 수 있어 염려가 많이 되요.

‘공공디자인’과 ‘도시재생’의 사전적 의미

 제주를 제주답게 유지하면서 발전하기 위해서는, 또 제주만의 문화 제주다운 색깔을 그대로 유지하기 위해서는 어떤 노력들이 필요할지, 그런 그의 고민들만 보더라도 그는 한 발자국이 아닌 몸 전체가 이미 제주에 들어와 있는 것 같았다. 나는 그에게 남은 2주 동안 개인적으로 하고 싶은 것은 없는지 물었다. 어디에 가서 어떤 풍경을 보는 등 쉬는 것에 대한 답변을 예상했지만, 그의 대답은 여전히 ‘제주다움’이었다.

전용포 요즘에는 정말 제주다운 게 무엇일까? 생각하며 제주만의 패턴을 찾고 있어요. 자연 현상이나, 어떤 풍경들을 봤을 때 분명히 패턴화 시킬 수 있는 게 있거든요. 그 패턴을 봤을 때 제주를 바로 떠올릴 수 있는. 이런 것들을 기본으로 해서 제품을 만들면 좋겠다, 아니면 제주에서 나오는 재질을 가지고 무엇인가 만들어본다던가. 그런 생각들을 많이 하고 있어요.

 나는 매일 차고 다니는 현무암 팔찌를 보여주며, 이걸 발견했을 때 너무도 반가웠었던 이야기를 했다. 제주는 매력적인 것들이 너무도 많은데, 그걸 표현해 낸 무엇인가가 많지 않다는 생각을 자주 했었다.

전용포 그래서 이런 걸 하려면 제주 도민의 도움이 절실히 필요해요. 진짜 제주도에 대해서 정말 잘 알고 있는 사람, 우리 취지와 잘 맞는 사람. 그런 사람과의 교류도 필요하고. 그리고 제주에서 생산하고 계시는 분들과의 교류도 많이 필요해요 그런 게 가능해지면 판매할 수 있는 공간을 만들어도 되고, 지역 주민들과 협업을 해서 조합을 이루어도 좋지 않을까 생각도 했어요. 이곳 제주와, 제주다움으로 제주를 찾아온 저희가 함께 그려나갈 수 있을 것 같아요.

 그동안 많은 사람들이 제주에 머물면서 한 번쯤 했던 생각들이고, 고민이었다. 그런데 그는 오로지 그 부분만을 위해 제주를 찾아왔다는 것이 너무도 인상적이었다.

전용포 예전에 페이스북에 썼던 글이 있는데, 처음(5월)에는 진짜 안 믿었거든요. 한 달인데 그냥 놀다가야지. 그런데 와봤는데 생각보다 너무 좋은거에요. 그리고 같이 온 멤버들도 너무 좋으시고. 다들 워낙 열정적으로 하셨고. 이건 허투루 넘어갈게 아니라는 것을 그때 이미 확신했습니다.

제주다움 4월, 5월 참여자들의 연합 네트워킹

 아래는 전용포 대표의 페이스북 타임라인 글 일부 (2017년 6월)

 처음엔 반신반의였다. "한 달 동안 제주에서 살게 해 주겠다고?" 페북을 보다 우연히 한 페친의 타임라인을 통해 알게 되었다. (생략) 다양한 분야의 친구들과 다양한 사고를 공유할 수 있었고, 내가 품었던 모호한 방향성을 어느 정도 잡을 수 있었다. 심지어. 제주에서의 사업을 진지하게 고민하게 되었다. 그도 그럴 것이, 디지털 노마드, 리모트 워킹을 통해 모든 것을 자유에 맡기고, 그 자유 속에서 만들어지는 연결점을 찾고, 그것을 연결하는 것이 센터의 실험적인 취지였기 때문이다. 도외 지역의 기업, 또는 창업자. 스타트업들이 제주지역문화와 환경을 체험하고, 제주도의 여러 업체들과 업무제휴를 할 수 있는 기회를 제공해 준다. 이것이 핵심이다. 단지 디지털 노마드를 경험으로만 끝나는 것이 아니라, 연결을 통해 또 다른 연결을 만들고, 궁극적으로 이러한 연결점들이(제주에서 만난 사람들끼리 지속적인 교류와 네트워킹을 통해) 새로운 시너지를 창출하기를 기대한다는 것이다. 체류를 하면서 처음과는 다른 태도로 점점 변해가는 것을 느꼈다. 사명감마저 들었다.

# 환기, 동기부여, 변화의 제주

 이번 달에는 전용포 대표 혼자가 아니었다. 함께 온 실무자의 입장에서는 제주가 어떠한지 들어보고 싶었다. J-SPACE에서 바쁘게 일하고 있던 메타플랜 팀장 황윤기 님을 붙잡아, 짧게나마 이야기를 나눌 수 있었다.

메타플랜의 황윤기 팀장(좌)과 전용포 대표(우) – 제주창조경제혁신센터 J-SPACE

황윤기 사실 지금 저희 회사가 새로운 정의를 해야 할 때에요. 저희 쪽 일이 좀 복잡한데, 항상 여러 회사 여러 사람들과의 협업을 해야만 하거든요. 이제 시대의 흐름도 많이 변했고, 그만큼 저희가 방향을 좀 더 명확하게 하려면 환기가 필요하다는 생각이 들었어요. 그리고 환기할 수 있는 최적의 장소가, 대표님한테 들었던 이곳이었어요.

 1인 기업이든 2인 기업이든 잘나가든 기업이든, 다른 사람들이 일하고 있는 환경을 많이 보고 싶었어요. 그리고 지금 이곳에 와서 여러 사람들이 어떻게 작업하는지 보며 많이 느끼고, 많이 배우고 있어요. 건축일은 같이 일하시는 분들과 소통이 쉽지 않을 때가 많아요. 모두가 다들 어려워하는데, 저희는 그걸 깨뜨리고 싶어요. 그러려면 당연히 저희가 변화 돼야만 하겠죠. 저는 이곳에서의 시간이 그런 장치가 되어주지 않을까 생각했어요.

 그렇게 이제 2주가 조금 넘게 흘렀다. 어려움은 없었을까?

J-SPACE에서 인터뷰중인 메타플랜 황윤기 팀장 – 제주창조경제혁신센터 / 9월

황윤기 하던 일을 그대로 가져와 하는 것으로만 본다면 효율성은 조금 떨어졌을 수도 있어요. 그런데 과정으로 본다면, 다음 행로를 위해 데이터를 수집하는 과정으로서 성공적인 것 같아요. 저희가 하는 일이 시간이 굉장히 오래 걸려요. 몇 년을 하는 일도 있고 그래서 과정이 항상 중요해요. 지금 디자인한 게 3년 뒤에 결과물이 나올 수도 있거든요. 그래서 동기부여를 많이 받을 수 있는 환경이 중요한 것 같아요. 분명 지금 그 환경 속에 있고요.

 막혀 있던 생각들이 자연스레 환기되는 곳, 다음 과정에 대한 동기가 부여되는 곳, 긍정적인 변화가 일어나는 곳. 결국 제주는 모든 사람들에게 기회를 주는 곳이 아닐까.

 늘 그랬듯이, 마지막에는 두 사람 모두에게 개인적인 질문을 했다. 제주에 와서 무엇이 가장 좋았는지. 가족과 함께 제주에서 머물고 있는 황윤기 님은, ‘함께 바라보는 아름다운 풍경’에 대해서 얘기했고. 사람들과 많은 대화를 나누고 있는 전용포 님은, ‘만남을 통해 자신이 변화되는 느낌이 참 좋다’고 답했다. 아름답고 소중한 풍경과, 특별하고 따뜻한 만남, 제주하면 떠오르는 소중한 순간들이다. 그만큼 모두에게 의미 있게 자리 잡은 이 제주가, 앞으로도 계속 제주다운 제주로, 제주스러운 제주로 이어졌으면 좋겠다.

 On August 28, there was a lecture titled “Digital Nomad Meetup” at J-Space in the Jeju Creative Economy Innovation Center. Three lecturers shared the expertise they gained so far or their current direction of work under the theme of “Smart Work, Working Smart”. Presentations were given in the order of Section Chief Ji Yoon Hwang from Microsoft Korea, President Ji Hwan Kim from Alleys Wonderlab, and Team Leader Hyeon Ah Moon from Jeju Smart Welfare Center. The interviewee I had scheduled in advance was with President Ji Hwan Kim.

President Ji Hwan Kim giving a lecture at the “Digital Nomad Meetup” - Jeju Creative Economy Innovation Center / 2017

 Other than the fact that he participated in the “Jeju Daum” program in April, I listened to President Kim’s lecture without knowing any other information. I actually laughed out loud as I listened to his stories. It wasn’t because the stories were particularly enjoyable or funny, but because his attitude in handling any situation was so interesting and shocking. I think most people probably thought the same. President Ji Hwan Kim explained the past image of difficult companies and their future direction sharp-witted and refreshing manner. His stories may have been more interesting because I could never be in his shoes. I met him right after his lecture and decided to listen to what kind person he is.

# My life is an experiment regarding work

Ji Hwan Kim I studied design in engineering school, but I always struggled with my identity. “What kind of work am I doing now, and what must I do?” was a lifelong project for me. That’s how I cam to create my very own life and work style. My way of life is the result of my experience with delivering newspapers, working as a 3D animation intern, Naver UXDP, entering graduate school, working at a conglomerate, and a startup. To the people around me, I was always someone who was doing something new, a person who is always experimenting. When I decided to create a startup, my family and friends weren’t even surprised, probably because they saw through all these years that this was my way of life and attitude.

“You have to try it to know. Let’s try it!”

 I didn’t know that I would end up becoming the president of a startup. I just wanted to do what I wanted to do, and that’s how I ended up here today. I entered graduate school and graduated with a degree in UX and interaction design, then I worked as a researcher at LG Electronics for about 3 years. I wasn’t very creative, but I loved new ideas and trying new things, and I started doing work that involved discovering UX ideas using future technology. For 3 years, we applied for patents for over 400 ideas. LG Electronics complemented me, gave me an award for being the king of inventions, my patents went in the hall of fame, and even got sold to Microsoft. Seeing all of this, I began to realize that people actually need my ideas. I started wanting to launch my services, products, and ideas to people and the world, and that’s how I created a startup.

# A completely different way of life, Start “up”

 With company employees, President Ji Hwan Kim, Co-founder Samuel Lee, Co-founder Rae Yeong Chang, Co-founder Wung Jun

Ji Hwan Kim Creating a new business was not easy. Everything from gathering team members, creating an organization for that company that we would be operating together, collecting the required funds were all unfamiliar and difficult tasks. I first started to gather team members as I was discovering new ideas in the Future Play Incubator, and I started looking for investors and was able to establish a corporation after 1 year. 4 outstanding co-founders had my back as they worked with me, and a total of 6 people are working together to create this business today. Even after 2 years, everything is still new and we’re still doing things that we’ve never done before. We experienced things that we only read about in books. Executing a business idea and turning it into a reality was much more difficult than I expected.

 We are turning street view videos posted by users spatial terrain information, and using this data to create video maps that can be used to explore regions. Since we’re a startup, instead of saying that we’re doing something specific, I think it’s more appropriate to say that we’re working hard to do what we love in our very own style. We’re creating our own culture and finding the business in a free environment where nothing is set in stone. Carrying out our very own business in our very own style. That’s my way of life. It’s also the reason why I created a startup.

# Then, there’s nothing I can’t do.

 There are lots of people who created startups, and I’m well aware of their characteristics. They try to find a more efficient and fun method that is different from traditional methods, they create their own colors that stand out from others, and focus on giving shape to ideas and items that they make together instead of working for money. But I was shocked while listening to President Ji Hwan Kim’s lecture because he actually turned ALL his ideas into actions. What he said at the beginning of his lecture still rings in my mind. If you increase efficiency, there’s nothing you can’t do.

Ji Hwan Kim My first thought when I created the startup was, “I’m the president, I can make the system however I want! What should I do first?”  First, I established a basic system then I unfolded my ideas just as they are. So what I tried was the free clock-in system. When I was working at a conglomerate, it was so hard because it was so far away. That’s why I decided to get rid of designated work hours! That’s how I started the company. I created a freestyle culture where we can turned on gaming broadcasts or Netflix on secondary monitors of company computers and even created a space where we can play games together. We played games after eating meals together, and even had company barbecues that I only ever dreamed about. And isn’t working from home essential for a startup? I tried allowing people to join tasks through video chat. About 3 months later, I started to regret that decision.

 None of the employees were coming to the office very much. It wasn’t work the smart life that I had intended, but it was because of laziness. The purpose of the main monitor and secondary monitory became switched, and things were crazy when it was baseball playoff season. The games we played after meals were not just break times because they started lasting for 3 hours, and once company dinners ended, everyone just scattered. I allowed employees to work from home as much as they like, but they often just wanted to rest instead of working hard. I decided that this could not continue and started reflecting on what I’ve been misunderstanding.

 Since I kept referencing the culture of Silicon Valley, I felt like I should be something doing. All the co-founders are from conglomerates and I felt bad that I was giving them the salary of a fresh employee, so I kept giving them things because I felt like I should be compensating them. I thought that doing that would motivate them. But as I kept up the “motivation” experiment, I realized that motivation does not come from any benefit but from the feedback we received from users of our program. When a developer achieved something, everyone applauded, we uploaded the results. When users gave feedback requesting that we fix a problem they encountered by using the program, we naturally started to work harder.

From the left Development Team Leader Rae Yeong Change, CTO Wung Jun, CXO Samuel Lee, President Ji Hwan Kim,

Web Developer Jae Kwon Han, Android Developer Seok Weon Chung

 In the end, I thought about efficiency. I started revising methods I tried in order to improve efficiency. I kept the free clock-in system, but I made 11:00 meetings mandatory. During these meetings, we started communicating on things that happened the day before and the present. We continuously communicated on why we have to do certain things for all tasks, and we kept updating our individual objectives. When we had company dinners, we didn’t do it without a purpose anymore. We designated an “Everything Day” where we looked through and reviewed something we developed and released, then went to eat pork belly or something as a sense of a reward. I allowed working from home for reasons related to efficiency. Even if they worked from home, they had to join meetings through video, their screen in the office would have to be on the video chat screen, and they should always be in their seat. I kept experimenting with efficiency in this way and I don’t plan on stopping.

# Working remotely, Digital Nomad and Jeju Daum

 I initially wanted to talk about “Digital Nomad” and “Smart Working”, but President Kim’s lecture came as a surprise. During his lecture, he said, “There were no digital nomads there.” I wanted to know more about this, so I asked him about the “Jeju Daum” program that he took part in.

Ji Hwan Kim While I was experimenting with efficient work, I started taking an interest in people who “work remotely”. So while I was researching digital nomads, I found out about “Jeju Daum” and participated in April. I said this to the team leader before he went. “I’m going to try the digital nomad experiment for one month. I’ll give the same amount of work, but do whatever you want to do while doing 100% of the work that is given. If results are at 80% for one month, it’s a failure. If it’s at 120%, then we’ve expanded.” The team leader took part in the Jeju Daum program and worked very hard. His conclusion was that our experiment was a failure. When I said there were no digital nomads there, I was referring to developers, of course. It wasn’t the right work environment for developers. That’s why we’re still analyzing results in order to try the next digital nomad experiment.

 Apart from the interview, I talked to President Ji Hwan Kim about the definition of “digital nomad” for a long time. As the term started getting popularized, didn’t it start to have a static image? I wholeheartedly shared his concern that this lifestyle had an image of “extravagance” as if you can only be called a digital nomad if you’re working at a cafe, a place where you can see the ocean, or ALWAYS moving around.

Ji Hwan Kim I think if you call yourself a digital nomad, then you’re a digital nomad.

  President Kim said you can still be a digital nomad even if you work in an office and I agree with him. What we have to focus on is not the “image of a digital nomad”, but finding and establishing the work environment that is right for each person,

# Digital Nomad in Nepal

 President Kim said he went to Nepal in order to experiment with digital nomad again. He thought that since efficiency suffered when one person tried it last time, he wanted to try it with everyone. I laughed again at his efforts in turning ideas into reality.

Ji Hwan Kim We planned on going to Nepal as a global project because we wondered what it would be like to get a video map of the Himalayas, thinking it may be commercially viable. In Nepal, there are guides and porters. We thought it would be fun to take videos with them and create video maps. That’s how we started this project and got funding. At the end of the year, we’ll all be going to Nepal to implement our project in line with the environment and really work together. I’m going to see what it’s like to go overseas with all my employees and experiment with them. If the Nepal project is successful, I’d like to apply the project to landmarks across the world such as Angkor Wat and the pyramids in Egypt. But first, I’d like to have employees do testing through this first experiment.

 Introducing and explaining AlleysMap to a Google local guide - Kathmandu, Nepal / August 2017

# Failure is an advantage

 After getting completely immersed in his story, I had forgotten why I was there about halfway through. I had to get an interview I could contain in writing, but I kept asking things I was curious about instead. I wanted to hear more about his time in Jeju. I asked him what advantages he gained from spending one month in Jeju through “Jeju Daum”.

Ji Hwan Kim I think the fact that we failed in our experiment is a benefit in itself. I don’t think of failure as a bad thing. If you end in failure, that’s certainly a problem. That’s because failure doesn’t mean I’m going to quit, but rather that I’ll keep going. To be honest, experimenting with something is not always easy. How much money could a company with 6 people have? I wanted to spend time in Jeju, but the cost of accommodations was considerably high. The fact that I was able to experiment through this program was reason enough for me to take part in the program. If this program can be marketed, they should say, “Come as you are. Experiment and experience failure!” I didn’t think that we absolutely have to succeed after coming here. Startups have the greatest advantage of being a place of experiment.

I was just so happy that I even had the opportunity to try. I think it would be great to experiment with various other things in the future. For example, if I can try something at Jeju Daum, I will create a digital nomad persona or character. I would create different types of digital nomad characters based on statistics, such as a person who works at a seaside cafe or a person who works quietly in a corner, and ask what type of character I would be if I supported Jeju Daum? It would also be fun to participate for one month, then find out what kind of character I am. I love these different methods. I hope the Jeju Daum program is fun and successful. I think it would also be nice to rent out a cafe instead of having it here in the future!

Group photo from the first day of Jeju Daum - Gandrock Guest House / April 2017

 President Kim said his attendance at this lecture is related to the Jeju Daum Program. As he was recollecting his memories from the program, I asked him what I also asked many other people in July. What is Jeju Daum to you? He smiled bashfully as he asked, “Am I supposed to answer these questions without any preparation?” but he answered without much hesitation.

Ji Hwan Kim: I think Jeju Daum is like a laboratory and I’d like it to stay that way.

# Jeju once again

 Near the end of the interview, I asked him another question. If you could stay in Jeju for another month, what would you want to do? How would you spend your time? His answer was short but clear.

Ji Hwan Kim I just want to come and rest. I just want to experience Jeju’s peaceful natural scenery, fresh air, and tranquil starlight without having to think about anything. Before I began my startup, I was busy exploring these vacation spots. Now, when I travel, it’s often for work. I’ve been to all the famous vacation spots at least once, and I’m familiar with Jeju now, so I would just like to experience rest in Jeju. I’m just not sure when that day will come (laughter).

 I nodded and laughed in agreement at his last words. That’s Jeju, simply put.

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