Kim Yu-jin: Hello! I’m Kim Yu-jin from Value Creation Center of SK Innovation. I’m the host of “Into the World of SK”, a series through which we’ll be meeting and introducing various global members of SK Innovation online.

Choi Ye-chan: Hello. I’m Choi Ye-chan from Distillates Business Division of SK Trading International (SKTI).

Kim Yu-jin: Thank you for joining me as the first panel of this series. Now, Ye-chan, can you guess which global business site we are going to visit today?

Choi Ye-chan: I bet there’d be a good reason I was picked as the first panel. As far as I know, SKTI has a total of 4 global business sites. Houston, London, Singapore, and Dubai. It must be one of them, right?

Kim Yu-jin: Yes, it’s one of them. Let me give you some hints. Clean country, strict laws, and the lion city.

Choi Ye-chan: Oh, I got it! Is it Singapore?

Kim Yu-jin: Right. The first business premise we’re introducing today on is SK Energy International (SKEI), the Singapore subsidiary of SKTI.

Choi Ye-chan: Oh, right! I knew it had to be SKEI! That is the place every SKTI member wants to work at, either on a business trip or as an expatriate.

Kim Yu-jin: Why do SKTI members want to work at SKEI?

Choi Ye-chan: Because Singapore is one of the three major global oil markets including London and Houston. It’s the hub for Asia’s oil trading where the major players of the global oil market are gathered!

Kim Yu-jin: Sure, that makes SKEI a key business site for the global oil trading of SK Innovation. To work at SKEI, you must have excellent communication skills. Our first guest is someone who totally fit for this! Let’s welcome Jane Goh, who is in charge of SKEI’s global communication.

Jane Goh: Hello everyone! I am Jane Goh, the global communication coordinator from SKEI Singapore! Thank you for inviting me as the first guest of this series.

Kim Yu-jin: First of all, Jane, please give us a brief introduction about SKEI.

Jane Goh: Singapore can be viewed as the center of Asian oil trading. In this significant market, SKEI is sourcing feed necessary for SK Innovation subsidiaries and responsible for conducting marketing activities for our oil related products. Also, we manage not just oil product supply in Myanmar but the third-party trading and marine fuel bunkering as well.

Kim Yu-jin: From what I’ve heard, SKEI is the oldest overseas subsidiary among SK Innovation affiliates, isn’t it?

Choi Ye-chan: That’s right. SKEI was established in 1990, so it celebrated its 30th anniversary last year and has continuously been growing stronger over the years.

Jane Goh: So this is our SKEI Singapore office. Just like SK Seorin building in Korea, it has been operating as shared office since 2018.

Choi Ye-chan: When I visited SKEI’s new shared office on a business trip, I had a really good impression of the place. Jane, are you also satisfied with the work environment at SKEI’s office?

Jane Goh: Of course! Our office design comes with open concept with flexible and fixed desks, meeting rooms with glass wall, open pantry and open space lounge for casual discussions. There is space for everyone’s working need. So the moment when you step into our office, you feel the atmosphere of relaxing and welcoming.

Choi Ye-chan: As trading is a job that requires you to be nimble and agile in response to changes in the market environment, I gather the office environment is perfect for creating a flexible work atmosphere.

Kim Yu-jin: I agree, and another important factor is the corporate culture. Could you share with us more details about SKEI’s case?

Jane Goh: SKEI’s corporate culture emphasizes very much on open communications and employees’ happiness. The company management is constantly looking for ways to engage every SKEI member. That’s how we have SKEI iCONs, made up by members from different divisions to plan bonding programs such as cultural night, beer party, care package initiatives and more for each and every one in SKEI. If anyone ask me how would I describe our company corporate culture, I would say warm, caring and inclusive.

Kim Yu-jin: Having a corporate culture to boast of is ubiquitous in any global business site of SK Innovation. As a SK Innovation member myself, I’m really proud!

Choi Ye-chan: Based on my experience during business trips to SKEI, as Singapore is a country of diverse ethnicity, the people seem to be intrinsically considerate and understanding.

Kim Yu-jin: When I think of Singapore, I’m reminded of a clean country, and strict laws and regulations, but it also brings about the image of the hub of global finance and logistics trading.

Choi Ye-chan: You’re right. Just like Korea, Singapore is relatively lacking in resources. So, at the time of its independence, it aspired to make the most out of the ports built by the UK and turn itself into the hub for finance or the service industry. It attracted foreign capital to its ports and made it a good place to do business. That’s why there are so many foreign companies in Singapore. About 40 years back, Singapore was already replete with around 4,000 foreign companies, and SKEI is also one of them.

Kim Yu-jin: Singapore is among the countries I’ve always wanted to visit. So, I did some research and found that Singapore is really famous for its stringent and harsh regulations. You can even be fined for not flushing the toilet in public washrooms. Is this true?

Jane Goh: Yes. Singapore is very strict when it comes to rules and regulations. Chewing gum is a no no and if you are smoker, you better check out where the no smoking zones are.

Choi Ye-chan: I’m wondering why Singapore has made such strict laws.

Jane Goh: I guess it’s because Singapore is a country where people with different ethnicity and cultural backgrounds live together in one place. It’s challenging to share a common legal awareness, therefore it requires strong rules and regulations in Singapore.

Choi Ye-chan: Right, as their ethnicity and religions are such diverse, English is used as the official language. And the religious anniversaries for Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism are all designated as public holidays.

Kim Yu-jin: You live in such a wonderful country, Jane. We are also curious about your own story, Jane. When we just met, you said you are a global communication coordinator. I’d love to hear more about it!

Jane Goh: In my scope of duties, I constantly communicate with our colleagues internally and with external visitors and guests on a daily basis. I need to know the people and get the updated happenings in the company so that I can provide accurate information to connect the people. Communications and connecting people are the main part of my job, which I took pride in my work.

Choi Ye-chan: You seem to really enjoy your work while maintaining a sense of responsibility!

Kim Yu-jin: Oh, I cannot agree with you more. I can feel how satisfied you are with your work from what you say. But there is a plethora of foreign companies in Singapore, what made you choose SKEI among all those companies?

Jane Goh: Singapore plays a crucial role as Asian hub for global oil trading companies. I have always wanted to work for one of the oil trading companies that is fast pace with great corporate value and culture. So I took the chance to join SKEI in 2018.

Choi Ye-chan: So did I. It was so appealing to do oil business in a country that does not produce a drop of oil. And the trading occupation itself is also fascinating as it requires me to partner with the world.

Kim Yu-jin: What is your goal at SKEI, Jane?

Jane Goh: My goal is to be able to share more insight stories of SKEI Singapore with other global offices. Singapore office has a vibrant environment with a lot of talented and interesting people to be shared.

Kim Yu-jin: Thanks to Jane we are able to learn a lot of interesting things about Singapore. Now, for our last corner, Global Hashtag, could you please express what you would like to say to our members in some hashtags?

Jane Goh: I would like to sum them up as #global #network #people! As I take the role of connecting Korea and Singapore, I am happy to be able to connect with other global members. I believe the true communication is not only to link the firms and the countries but also to connect the people.
I’ll do my best to keep this “connections” and can’t wait to contribute more ☺ Thank you!

Kim Yu-jin, Choi Ye-chan: Thank you, Jane. We really appreciate your participation today!

Please check the video below for the full talk with more details.