Soobyeong recently joined the MBO from the National Cooperative Federation (NACF), Korea. Follow our short interview to get to know him better!

Q1. Hi Chae! Welcome on board! Before we start, can you tell us about your background?

I majored in Business Administration and Literature at Yonsei University. When I was a high school student, I thought I would become a literature teacher; however, as chance would it, I decided to study business administration at the university. After several attempts to become a radio programme producer, I eventually joined the NACF. I don't know if there are any similarities between business administration, literature, radio programs, and agriculture, but I do hope they will cooperate with each other to help with cooperative matters (Of course I said in a job interview that they were relevant!).

I have been working with the NACF for about 10 years, and spent the first two years working on deposits and loans at a bank branch. Since then, I’ve worked in departments responsible for employee education and international cooperation until I came to the MBO. Before working for the NACF, I managed the sales of women’s clothing and shoes for six months at the Lotte Department Store branch in Seoul.

Q2. So what inspired you to work with the NACF and in agriculture?  

In Korea, the NACF and its member co-operatives are known together as NongHyup, which means ‘agricultural co-operative’ in Korean. Most Koreans know NongHyup because it has stores and bank branches across the country, more than any other competitor.  Ordinary people vaguely think that NongHyup works for farmers, but they don't know exactly what it does. My understanding of NongHyup was at the same level. I had a romantic fantasy about agriculture, the first industry in the world, as I grew up in cities and never had an education in agriculture.

Nevertheless, I knew that NongHyup was an organization that helped socially disadvantaged farmers. One of the biggest goals of getting a job would be making money for a living, but it would be better if what I do could be of service to society. I would say that I ended up working for the NACF because working for agriculture and cooperatives satisfies both.

Q3. What is your role going to be at the MBO and how does working with ICA align with what you have done and want to do? 

My primary role is to ensure that the ongoing dairy and sustainable tourism projects that the NACF has undertaken in Malaysia will be carried out in the next phase. If the two projects are successful, I could expand the scope of these projects to other countries in Asia.

I want to strengthen the role of the MBO in the financial sector as well. Currently, the NACF's financial group is very interested in Asian cooperatives. It established a joint venture with China Co-op Group a few years ago, and recently invested in a financial affiliate of the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative. Asian cooperatives can leverage Korea's experience in agricultural finance and capital, and the NACF can pave the way for entry into the Asian region, which will help both sides. In order to achieve the above goals, understanding of the cooperatives in the Asian region should be a priority. While at the MBO, I would like to meet as many Asian co-operators as possible.