Returning to the Shipyard: Where My Past, Present, and Future Converge
🌊 Standing Once Again at Hanwha Ocean, Reflecting on Myself and Committing to the Future
— A Record of Reflection and Vision —
Today, I visited Hanwha Ocean with several members of my team to attend a safety training session.
The purpose was practical—to reduce repetitive entry applications and waiting time when accessing the yard in the future.
I expected it to be a brief visit.
Yet the moment I set foot on site, emotions I had long buried deep inside resurfaced.
The scent of the sea, the sound of steel, the glow of welding sparks,
and the hands of workers moving briskly through their tasks—
everything vividly brought me back to the very first day I arrived here.
Back then, under the name Daewoo Shipbuilding,
I was just one employee learning day by day
what the shipbuilding industry truly was,
what human skill and sweat could create amid steel and fire,
and how many lives are intertwined in that process.
Looking back now, I realize how inexperienced I was.
But the more lacking I was, the more earnest I became.
The more earnest I was, the more I longed to grow.
And through that journey of growth, I came to deeply respect this industry.
Reflection
“Shipbuilding was a fateful beginning that changed the direction of my life.”
My experience at Daewoo Shipbuilding (now Hanwha Ocean)
was never something that could be reduced to a single line on a résumé.
It was a place that made me question the direction of my life,
gave me opportunities to grow,
and taught me the value of people and the weight of responsibility.
Small failures and countless trials,
the anguish of bearing heavy responsibility,
and the achievements built together with my teammates—
all of these became the most vital nourishment shaping who I am today.
Sitting in the training room today, all those memories came flooding back.
“I truly received so much from this industry.”
“That is why, even in my current position, I must once again give it my very best.”
Those thoughts resonated quietly, yet firmly, deep within me.
The Meaning of Safety
“One life is, in fact, an entire family’s life.”
The most powerful message from today’s training was simple and clear:
Safety is not an individual matter—it is a shared responsibility.
At the same time, I realized that safety does not stop at preventing accidents on site.
Safety in the workplace extends to social safety for those who work alongside us.
At a basic level, it means stable livelihoods and wages,
an environment where employment is sustained.
Beyond that, it protects people’s positions, their dreams,
and the future they should never be forced to abandon.
It became a moment to ask myself
what we must protect,
and what choices we must make
to sustain that safety over time.
Behind every team member working with us,
there is a family waiting.
A spouse, children, parents, and a life that must be protected.
A single moment of carelessness on site,
a decision to take rules lightly,
or the omission of procedures
can shake someone’s entire life to its core.
And so, as a leader, I make this promise again:
“I am responsible not only for my team members,
but also for the lives of their families.”
Safety is not a manual—it is a commitment.
For anyone in a position of leadership,
it is the very first duty and calling to uphold.
Today’s training etched that truth deeply into my heart once more.
Where I Stand Today
Between the Past and the Future
Whenever I stand on site, I see three moments in time all at once.
The past me, hungry for growth.
The present me, leading people.
And the future me, striving to create change.
If my past self was a learner,
my present self is a person who bears responsibility.
And my future self—
I want to become a leader who creates paths.
The reason I was able to grow lies in the past—
in Chairman Kim Woo-choong’s grand vision of Global Management.
That bold challenge and expansion placed Daewoo Shipbuilding on the global stage.
Upon that foundation, I experienced the field, learned about people,
and began my own growth within this industry.
Because that era existed, Daewoo Shipbuilding existed.
And because Daewoo Shipbuilding existed,
I believe the person I am today became possible.
Shipbuilding now stands at yet another turning point.
Eco-friendly technologies, digital transformation, AI-based management, global restructuring—
once again, the industry is searching for a new route.
If the past was an era of global expansion,
today is an era of transformation, centered on sustainability, technology, and people.
Within this change,
I do not want to be someone who follows behind,
but someone who stands at the front and sets direction.
If past visions laid the foundation of the industry,
then I believe our role now
is to design a future that is safer and more sustainable upon it.
🔥 Vision and Aspiration
“I want to give back to this industry more than I ever received.”
This visit to Hanwha Ocean helped me reaffirm my vision.
1) A leader who protects the safety of team members and their families
Safety comes before any performance metric.
I want to build an organization where safety is not just a rule,
but a culture and a habit.
2) From a manager who knows the field to a leader who sees the industry
Building upon hands-on experience,
I want to develop a perspective that encompasses the entire industry.
3) Someone who gives back to shipbuilding what shipbuilding gave me
This industry gave me
opportunity, growth, responsibility, and passion.
Now, it is my turn to give back.
More efficient systems,
people-centered safety culture,
forward-looking organizational practices—
I want to pour my experience and energy into all of it.
🌟 Final Resolution
“Today’s me exists to create a better tomorrow.”
My day at Hanwha Ocean was not just another schedule.
It was a meaningful moment where
the past and present met,
and a renewed commitment toward the future was made.
I reaffirm my promises:
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I will not let the path I have walked be wasted.
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I will become a leader unashamed before those who trust and follow me.
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I will build a safety-centered organization that protects team members and their families.
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I will chart my own course in the vast ocean of shipbuilding.
May this record become the clearest proof for my future self.
I will continue to walk this path—
dedicating all my passion
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