is Coming to Korea - Korea IT Times

Column
Talking Business and Economics
With a Prominent Professor
Professor Chang Sea-Jin
As a teenager, we
are often asked what
we want to be when
we grow up. There is
the traditional response
of becoming
the President or a
politician, but nowadays,
a good majority
want to become a
businessman or businesswoman. This
winter, I was lucky enough to interview a
prominent person with intellectual knowledge
in business and economics -
Professor Chang Sea-jin. Today, Professor
Chang is the Provost's Chair Professor at
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Business School. Prior to joining NUS, he
was an endowed professor at Korea
University for fifteen years and held numerous
appointments in respected universities
around the world such as London
Business School and the University of
Pennsylvania's Wharton School.
One of his recent accomplishments was
publishing Sony vs. Samsung: Battle for
Global Supremacy - a book translated in
seven different languages and was voted
among the top three best business books in
2008. Through his research, he concluded
that Samsung benefits much from the
Korean government, but expects the
Chinese government to similarly build up
the world's most powerful company. This
will be an imminent threat to South
Korea, since the Korean industry is heavily
dependent on China. He also claims,
that within a generation, companies such
as Lenovo, TCL, and SAIC will dominate
the world market. Professor Chang also
believes that it is only a matter of time for
China to fully establish itself and economically
surpass the United States. The
Chinese GDP was extraordinary starting
from 500 B.C., and its population of 1.2
billion justifies the high possibility of the
country's economic rise. In fact, Professor
Chang plans to publish a book comparing
and contrasting ten Chinese firms and a
multinational firm within a few years.
As a dean's fellow of the University of
Pennsylvania's Wharton School, Professor
Chang could have chosen to become a
businessman. I asked him what inspired
him to become a professor and his answer
was quite simple. He loved the great joy
that comes with teaching bright students.
Also, he is able to manage his own time
and have a chance to pursue his own research
such as Sony vs. Samsung. He has
taught in several universities worldwide,
but he believes there is not much disparity
in education within the undergraduate level.
Nowadays, many Koreans are studying
abroad believing that their government is
not sufficiently supporting academics as
much as it can. Professor Chang believes
that Korea has changed a lot in terms of
education. He also suggests that Korea
should build more international schools in
Korea, saying, "It is a good investment."
Q & A
Q: People claim that China will economically
surpass the United States. What is
your opinion on this?
A: I agree, and time is the only issue. China
(and India) always had an amazing GDP
starting from 500 B.C.
Q: Who is a more imminent threat to the
Korean industry?
A: China is a much more imminent threat.
They want to build up powerful companies
such as Lenovo (like Sambo Computer),
TCL (like Samsung), and SAIC (like Ssang
Yong Motors). The fact that China is geographically
closer will also create some
problems.
Q: What does the United States think
about this?
A: Both countries rely on each other so I believe
it is a mutual relationship
Q: You have been a professor at
Singapore National University and
Korea National University. How would
you compare the students?
A: In the undergraduate level, there is not
much difference. It's really in the graduate
level that the difference becomes evident.
Q: What is your opinion of how studying
abroad became a fad in Korea?
A: I think it's good. Many people worry
about this, but it's actually a great plus to
Korea's future. Korea changed so much in
terms of education and the government
should allow more international schools in
Korea. It is a good investment.
Q: What inspired you to teach?
A: I love to teach bright students - it's a
great joy - and I can learn from my research
and can pass it onto others. Most
importantly, I have no boss and I can manage
my own time.
Q: What are your current plans?
A: I am writing a book comparing ten firms
in China and one multinational one. I am
still working on it, but it should come out
within a few years.
Kim Sun-hong / info@koreaittimes.com
58 KOREA IT TIMES | February 2010