Q1. First of all, please briefly introduce yourself.

Hello, my name is Kim Ji-woo, a member of Social Value Unit of the Value Creation Center, SK Innovation. I am in charge of various CSR programs, including GMF (Great Music Festival, an annual event for the Developmental Disabilities) and volunteer projects for SK Innovation members in and outside Korea.

Q2. Could you share with us a bit more about your career background and how you came to SK Innovation?

I majored in social welfare and started my first career at a non-profit organization. Since then, I have been in charge of social contributions at various organizations for about 17 years. In 2016, I heard that SK Innovation is expanding not only business activities but also CSR programs all over the world. I believed this is a good chance for me to grow together with the company so I decided to come here.

Q3. We heard that you have experiences of participating in some volunteer abroad programs? What motivated you to take those programs?

Yes. In 2004, I took my first global-volunteer trip to Bangladesh for a project that provided job training program for local single mothers. In Korea, people often say, “Early training means more than late learning”, or “The hardship of youth is good experience for future development,” so I did not hesitate to take on that challenge.

I must have had itchy feet. My second overseas volunteer experience was in 2012, when I was 34. It was less than a year since I joined the Social Contribution Team of a financial company. Everyone said that I was crazy for leaving a stable job, especially when my age was not “so young.” But I missed the time when I had been in Bangladesh, living a humble but meaningful life. I wanted to be back to ZERO and find myself once again so I still chose to leave for Dominican Republic. It could be too late if I had not taken that trip then, so I resigned and applied to KOICA. Fortunately, I got accepted. Then I spent a month of training before leaving. I even had got no attention of returning to Korea, but then I came back to my hometown because I still love my country. I’m patriotic, you know…

Q4. So Dominican Republic must be very special to you?

Yes. It is the country that allowed me to experience survival, to recharge my energy, and where I was really happy with people.

Q5. Could you share some experiences you had at Dominican Republic?

When I went to Dominican Republic, I was sent to stay in a rural village called “Jima Abajo,” which is about 3 hours away from the capital of the Dominican Republic. However, all the projects I was supposed to work on there had already been finished, so there was no need for me to be there anymore. But I just couldn’t go back to Korea right away. I had already rented a house, and even bought a refrigerator and a washing machine. So I walked around the area for about 6 months, looking for things I could do (while other people don’t walk much because of the hot weather).

The agency I was dispatched to was called “Ministerio de la mujer.” The office really had nothing, no toilet, and no book available for women or teenagers to come and see. So, first of all I wanted to create a proper place to work. I started building the toilet, and then a kitchen. I also painted murals on the walls in and outside the office. I worked together with the local youth to complete everything, so we all developed our love for that space. Later, we even had a bazaar there.

Another story about the place I lived when I was in Dominican Republic is about the electricity. Electricity was turned on for only 3 to 4 hours a day, and nobody knew when the electricity would come. I stayed up several nights to write a proposal to KOICA to solve the problem of electricity, and then luckily it was approved and put into actions. We were also able to install sports equipment made in Korea, such as cabin, slide, trampoline, seesaw, etc., for local children. Later, the local residents even awarded me a certificate of recognition as “The daughter of the community.”

It was bustling but happy time. Everything wouldn’t be possible without the help of the locals and other Korean volunteer colleagues. While I was there, I truly felt how precious and how grateful people could be to each other.

Those are some among many precious memories that I can’t forget.

Q6. What have you gained from this experience?

You’ve never experienced a life without electricity, right? Most of us, living in 21^st century, couldn’t even imagine that. However, countless people living in the same era with us still have to spend every day in places with no electricity and no food. It is my little wish we could remember this fact and treasure every little thing in our life.

Also, in my opinion, humans cannot live alone as we are “social animals”. I strongly believe the reason for my existence is because we are all connected. That’s why I have a motto for my life: “People come first. No human is above a human, and no human is below a human.”

Q7. So how are you applying this experience to your current work at SK Innovation?

SK Innovation has been expanding our business locations worldwide to grow into a global company. As the company’s mission is to create social values together with economic values, I think my overseas volunteer experiences can be applied. I had chances to go and support the global members with CSR activities, such as the donation in Houston, USA in 2018 and Freeport, USA in 2019. This year, due to COVID-19, we couldn’t travel abroad but we’ve still found other ways to boost social contribution activities at global business sites. Wherever you stay, China, Hungary, Poland, Vietnam, Spain or USA, the most important thing is whether you’re willing to take part in social contribution activities. If you need any support or have question to ask, I will try to help as much as possible.

Q8. Do you have a message to members around the world, if any?

“Don’t hesitate, keep challenging”, and “When you think you’re already late, it’s also when you can move the fastest.”

Besides, nowadays a company cannot survive just by pursuing only economic values. SK Innovation has already been aware of that and making continuous efforts to practice ESG management. Our company has been giving all member opportunities to create social values through various volunteer donation activities. It is no longer optional, but essential to develop social values to build a society where both individuals and companies live well together.

Will you join us to make it together?

☞ Versión en español