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Why did you decide to do an MBA?
I worked in the corporate banking department of Kookmin Bank (KB) in Seoul for three years. But as an English literature major (from Korea University) with no academic background in finance or business, I sometimes felt my limitations while working at the bank.
Then why did you choose to study in Japan, and at Hitotsubashi?
I spent 3 years of my childhood in Japan (from fifth grade), and it has always been a very good memory. And I knew the reputation of Hitotsubashi, and the uniqueness of a Japanese MBA taught in English attracted me. The lower tuition was another factor.
It is more like I chose to do an MBA because I wanted to study at Hitotsubashi, not vice versa.
How affordable is the tuition?
It’s really inexpensive. For each half-year term, the tuition was 260,000 yen ($3,200). And most students in our class got scholarships that pay half the amount. There are many other scholarship programs offered by the school and from the Japanese government.
Living expenses are an issue because Tokyo is an expensive city to live in, but some scholarships even cover this cost as well.
Is the ability to speak Japanese essential?
Not in the school. All the classes are taught in English and the portion of Japanese students is only about 30 percent. But if you want to get a job in Japan after the MBA, you will definitely need it.
What are the best features of your school?
A: We have partnerships with many top MBA schools around the world. Last year, four others and I from Hitotsubashi spent 3 months at the London Business School. We also have a faculty that has a very good mix of academics and practitioners.
What do you plan to do after completing the MBA?
I am planning to go back to my previous employer and hope I can join its marketing or corporate strategy team.
How was your experience interacting with your classmates?
We are like a family. We only have 53 people in our class, so we are very close with each other. I think people are the best asset I have discovered here. Our Japanese classmates really helped us make the most of our life in Tokyo. I can say that 2010 was the best year of my life.
What’s the demography of the class? Do you need to take the GMAT to apply?
About 30 percent are Japanese, and most students are from other Asian countries. You need GMAT and TOEFL scores to apply. The semester starts in September.
Interview by Cho Jin-seo
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