When you visit a trendy restaurant almost anywhere in the world, words like gochujang and bibimbap are common. On any music streaming service, there are plenty of catchy K-pop songs on top-10 lists. And on my latest visit to Seoul, I found this to be a nation of voracious readers and by that I mean, reading physical copies of books while newspapers and magazines are in every corner.
At the same time, South Korea is the Land of the Morning Calm because of its temple-dotted mountains and serene forests. And then there is another side to the country: no matter the age group, everyone appears to be challenging the idea that social media is a young person’s game.
It’s a land of contrast and acceptance. And it’s a feeling one gets while interacting with J.B. Park, President and CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia. Whether he is at work in his office in Gurugram, ensuring positivity and optimism are keywords among staff members in India, or breaking bread over chicken butter masala and getting his fingers dirty with kebabs at Lucky India, one of the coolest restaurants in Seoul, Park is always parking himself where conversations are free-flowing. He is open to opinions and is always a good listener, which appears to be a trait among most Koreans.
“Chandigarh is such a well-planned city; it’s a city with character,” he said a day before the big Unpacked event his company hosted on Wednesday. It was where the shiniest and most productive of phones, tablets and smartwatches were launched.
Despite being in the midst of Gurugram concrete most of the time, he is always looking for ways to travel across India and appreciate the fact that every state is different. Of course, it always helps if he is pointed towards a helping of dosa, sambar and coconut chutney. “I can have it every day. In fact, I did have it for many days in a row. There is something comforting about the dosa, especially during breakfast,” he said.
There is a lot on Park’s mind: After the global launch of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5, Galaxy Z Flip5, Galaxy Watch6 series and Galaxy Tab S9 series, he has to ensure the same gets discussed in the many markets across India. He has immense faith in the power of the foldable phones his company has to offer. He briefly touched upon the degree of productivity Fold devices have to offer. “You can get so much done even when on the move.” He is not exaggerating. You can indeed go on a long work trip without a laptop and still feel comfortable while getting work done. Plus, you get access to some of the finest cameras on the phone. It’s the future of smartphones and it can only get better. Samsung has created a category of devices that nobody once thought was possible and now rival companies are only trying to catch up with a huff and a puff.
J.B. Park, president and CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia
Park, of course, wanted to talk about how the simple joys of life — like food, music and films — can connect people. He is a keen believer in the Korean ritual of uniting with loved ones around a table of shared, highly-flavourful dishes. He believes in the meaningful customs that are behind many Korean dishes. The idea of Korean music, films and drama connecting generations appeals to him.
Samsung being the most valued South Korean company he feels he has a shared responsibility of ensuring his company maintains a feel of what young people are watching, listening and doing.
It is said that what works in South Korea works globally. That seems to be the case with both cultural elements as well as the cutting-edge technology Samsung continues to present. Soon the man was up and about, looking for another table packed with people to hold another conversation. It helps if the other table has more butter naan and kebabs. He is a reflection of a Korean institution like Samsung’s global outlook.
