LG Chem CEO sets sights on searching for talent
LG Chem Vice Chairman and CEO Park Jin-soo gives a lecture to the firm’s new employees at the LG Training Center in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. / Courtesy of LG Chem
By Kang Seung-woo
LG Chem’s chief said Wednesday that he is committed to discovering and nurturing talented workers.
Vice Chairman and CEO Park Jin-soo gave a lecture to 500 new employees who are undergoing job training at the LG Training Center, or “Inhwawon,” in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province.
This was the first time that Park began a New Year on-site visit to meet new recruits -- a move showing his philosophy that human resources are responsible for the company’s sustainable growth. Previously, plants in Ochang, North Chungcheong Province, or Yeosu, South Jeolla Province were the CEO’s first destination in the New Year.
“An excellent horse became well known because it was discovered and trained by the greatest equine appraiser of the age,” Park said, citing an anecdote from the renowned ancient Chinese historical work Zhan Guo Ce, or Strategies of the Warring States in English.
“Like the appraiser, I plan to go all-out to find excellent personnel and train them.”
While unveiling the company’s future direction toward sustainable growth, Park lectured new employees about his vision and management philosophy as well as the attitude prerequisites for talented employees.
“Success comes from strict discipline and steady efforts,” Park said, citing former Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson.
“I entreat you to observe rules that will help the company gain trust from customers and last permanently.”
Park also called for newcomers to think long term.
“Rather than being obsessed with short-term goals, employees need to set their long-term visions,” he said.
“How people do their work far outweighs what kind of job they do.”
Finally, the CEO, who took office in 2014, encouraged an attitude that balances optimism and realism, citing the Stockdale Paradox.
This is named after James Stockdale, a retired U.S. Navy admiral who was a prisoner of war (POW) for eight years during the Vietnam War.
“While Stockdale was held captive in Vietnam, he never lost faith that he would get out, but at the same time, he was ready to accept the most brutal facts of his current reality,” Park said.
“Everybody needs to have a strong faith in the future, but what is more important is that they should look dispassionately at the realities and thoroughly prepare for them, as well.”
The nation’s leading chemical company, has spent more than 1 trillion won ($940 million) on research and development, while expanding its presence in energy, water and bio businesses through facility investment and merger and acquisitions.
As a result, the company has hired more than 1,000 new employees every year, with a plan to hire more this year.
“Thanks to business expansions, the number of young employees is on the increase. For the sake of a unified organizational culture, the vice chairman will communicate with employees more often,” said an LG Chem official.