1. What is your main role?

My main responsibility is to provide jet-A1 (which is gasoilne for Aircraft) to foreign airlines coming to Korea. And aviation refueling can be explained in two main ways.

In terms of product delivery, we provide Jet A to airlines. In Korea, firstly we purchase aviation fuel from refineries. Then, we arrange to move it to fuel tanks near the airports and use a pipeline or truck to move it to the airport, and then deliver the fuel to airlines at the airports through into-plane companies.

And in terms of service, we provide financial services. We estimate and evaluate the productivity of flight routes that airlines commence their flights, the airlines’ financial status, and the number of flights that would commence the flight. These are to provide reasonable financial services to help airlines’ financial flow structure.

In addition, these days when airlines plan their new routes, we are checking the feasibility and connecting airlines’ routes by purchasing and selling aviation fuel at foreign airports for them. Also, when airline engineers visit airports to check flight stability and refueling quality, we help our into-plane company for quality checks to go smoothly.

 

2. . If there are necessary conditions and competencies to perform the job, what would it be?

I think the basic condition for performing as an aviation fuel trader is to be able to communicate in foreign languages. Basically, since our company mainly deals with foreign airlines, smooth communication with customers is essential. However, I think the level of foreign language that clearly conveys one’s thoughts to the other person is enough.

Next, I believe curiosity about the international situation is an important factor. In the case of the aviation industry, the international situation and the relationship between countries play a major role.

For example, when air demand collapses due to the COVID-19 in March 2020, or when airspace is closed due to international disputes, the airline industry and airlines react sensitively to a series of events. If it is possible to anticipate and preemptively respond to it, our company and customers both can make stable profits.

3. What are you proud of about Hyundai Corporation?

Currently, Hyundai Corporation has entered a time of active development with a clear direction and future vision.

I am working with satisfaction at the company because it makes employees try to grow themselves.

For example, the company recently established “Prologue Ventures”, a corporate venture capital (CVC), to make aggressive investments to enhance its permanence in addition to its original trading business. I believe it is an opportunity for employees to experience various industries.

4. What advice would you give to juniors who want to join the company?

For companies that operate businesses in all industries around the world, such as us Hyundai Corporation, the “open mind” of looking at people and events without boundaries and prejudice seems to be the most important. While working until now after joining the company, I think, “The world I saw was smaller than the real world.” Seeing the diversity of 6 billion human civilizations without prejudice is the most important virtue for creating new businesses as a trader.

Also, I think it is important to broaden the tolerance of the mind. It is quite difficult to accurately predict what and why an unexpected situation will occur in a country. It is difficult but important to remain calm even when something different from a plan or unexpected happens.