“I want to create contents that people thirst for,” Alumni So-min Jung from Naver Line Games
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- Writer 커뮤니케이션팀
- 보도일자 2022-07-15
It is often considered a dream to do something you love as a job. An alumnus of Sookmyung Women’s University So-min Jung (Division of Korean Language & Literature, ‘14) is a person who fulfilled this dream. Alumni Jung, who usually enjoyed subculture contents such as movies, games, and cosplay, works as a content PD for Naver Line Games. With the change from content consumer to producer, she is enjoying a joyful work life as her boundaries between work and hobbies seem to have all but disappeared. Let's listen to the story of Alumni Jung who learned the power to tackle any challenge at Sookmyung.
1. Hello. Please tell us about yourself!
Hello. I＇m So-min Jung, Division of Korean Language & Literature class of ‘14, and I＇m currently working as a video content PD at Naver Line Games.
2. What exactly does a content PD do?
Overall, I produce promotional videos for the games that the company provides. I plan, shoot, and edit contents such as live e-sports broadcasts and recruitment videos.
3. I heard the process leading up to employment was a bit special. Can you tell me about it?
Originally, the place I applied for was a new team, so they were looking for candidates with more than 5 years of experience. When I was being interviewed, the interviewers were mostly concerned and asked me about my experience. Apparently, I was a novice. In fact, I received a notice of failure at first, but I couldn’t let go of it. So I sent an email to the HR team thinking I’ve got nothing to lose. I said, “If my experience is really the only the problem, could
you contact me again when you are hiring a new employee or for another department?” To my surprise, they really contacted me to ask if I could come to the final interview two weeks later.
I used to be afraid of taking on challenges. I was worried that I would not live up to the eyes of others. But if I hadn＇t applied because they were only looking for experienced recruits, or if I hadn＇t sent that email, I wouldn＇t be where I am now. For me, the process of joining the company was a series of challenges, and I made it through in the end. Don＇t be afraid and just give it a try like I did. Just do it and leave the judgment to them!
4. The job of a content PD doesn＇t seem to have anything to do with your major in Korean Language and Literature. I’m curious about why you chose this job.
I get this question a lot. I think we can create good content when we raise the limits of our ability to express ourselves in language. Knowing how to write 200 percent or 300 percent more Korean than others is advantageous to express what you want. For example, there are so many words between sadness and joy, and you need to know the words in between to explain and express them to others. That＇s the biggest reason I chose the Division of Korean Language & Literature.
And this actually helped me a lot. There are many words I can express when planning or writing a synopsis, so I can be more creatively delicate than others. In that sense, I don＇t think that creating content and what I learned at the Division of Korean Language & Literature are so different.
5. I heard that you have many activities and hobbies you enjoy. Specifically, I am curious about what kind of work you are most interested in.
My diverse hobbies began with watching movies. After watching Disney, Marvel, and Japanese anime, I summarize my impressions and upload them to my blog, and cosplay movie characters to take snapshots. I even went to red carpet events to meet my favorite actors and gave them homemade dolls.
6. I wonder how these hobbies served as a driving force for you.
People around me didn＇t think much of my hobbies and favorite activities. In the eyes of others, things I liked seemed to label me as a “dork.” (Laughter) But when I went to see my favorite actors, I didn＇t just follow them because I liked them. They say a film is a comprehensive art that includes everything the director wants to say. I was moved when I watched movies, and I wanted to be a part of that moving experience. With that in mind, I decided that I wanted to make dolls and give them to the actors, and I saw how the crew liked the dolls I made. I felt like I had repaid the emotion and appreciation I received from this experience and it was very rewarding for me.
In this way, I created YouTube contents for the process of meeting movie stars and production teams. Through my videos, many people seemed to enjoy watching the process together. When I saw other people getting information after watching my videos and showing courage to take on challenges, I realized that “This is the power of content.” Material itself is a key element in contents, and I think it's my mission to create content that others can look back on. Also, realistically, there are still recorded contents of my hobbies on the Internet, which helped me a lot in joining the company.
7. Is there anything difficult about doing something you love as a job?
Of course there is. Once anything becomes a job, you can＇t just do it for fun. Sometimes reality sets in and I get wiped-out. (Laughter) Still, I think it＇s better than doing something I don＇t like.
8. You didn＇t learn the filming or editing skills required as a PD through your major. Did you study on your own or did you learn it after joining the company?
I learned video editing on my own. Since I liked taking pictures, I took a lot of pictures. So naturally, I also became interested in shooting videos. Then, I was able to do it to a certain extent by learning about editing, developing what I learned, and doing related external activities. Of course, after joining the company, I sometimes ask for help from my superiors on things that I don’t know.
9. What advice would you give to Sookmyung people who dream of becoming content producers?
I think you just have to watch a lot. But you can＇t just watch as a form of consumption. You have to try to catch the critical thinking of the content while watching it. “This is how the directing was done, couldn＇t it be done differently?” I think you need to keep coming up with your own ideation. It is important not to be picky, but view as much contents as possible.
10. Were there any activities you did at Sookmyung that helped you before joining Naver?
Essential liberal arts such as reading and discussion (currently critical thinking and discussion) helped me a lot. At that time, presenting in front of others and discussing with classmates was a huge burden in itself. But now that I think about it, it helped me a lot with who I am today. In the past, I would not have been able to imagine myself giving a lecture in front of students and doing a face-to-face interview like this.
And in fact, there are many cases in which my university students were the ones I felt like, “Oh, that person is really hard working” while I was doing outside activities. I think that the self-directed teaching method that Sookmyung is aiming for plays a big role in nurturing the students＇ latent self-reliance.
11. What does Sookmyung mean to you?
When I first said that I was going to a women＇s university, everyone around me was surprised. They must have thought that I was going to go to a co-educational college. However, I have never regretted a single moment after entering a women＇s university, and I actually liked it so much that I used to recommend women＇s universities to people around me. Sookmyung gave me the strength to do things on my own. During my school life, I challenged in various fields, and I was no longer afraid to talk in front of others. Sookmyung is such a big part of me that it is impossible to talk about my life without Sookmyung.