Profile: Han Sang Kim
LINC Dublin Blog
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| Han Sang Kim, Business Administration |
Blog 4
March 22, 2009
I can't believe how quickly one week went. As we were heading back to Dublin airport to leave for Los Angeles, I realized that it was worth traveling during spring break with Marshall. Not only did I have a lot of fun and meet new people throughout the break, but I have also embraced a new love for other cultures. What was really good about this trip was that I was able to have fun and at the same time, learn practical business theories that are applied in the real world. The majority of us know Google, Microsoft, Covidien, Sun Microsystems and Guinness as multinational corporations and that's it. However, this trip has given us the opportunity to learn the functions deep inside the organizations - what their corporate cultures are, what kind of attitude they work with and how they execute business decisions that affect the world.
From the cultural perspective, I realized how important it is to be able to interact with others easily. I have seen two types of people: introverts and extroverts. Especially if one is abroad and staying in a different country, I believe it is crucial to learn how to socialize and understand their etiquettes. In the end, I found that Irish people are generally extroverts - an excellent trait that one should have. Their message was simple: carpe diem!
Now that we are safely back in LA, I would like to thank everyone who made this trip possible. Also, I would like to extend my gratitude to Professor Arif Ansari, Mick Swartz, and Marshall staff Brittany Valdez and Shannon Faris for all their kindness and assistance throughout the trip.
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Blog 3
March 18, 2009
I must say today was the most hectic day of the entire trip. We had three consecutive company visits (eBay, Microsoft and Sun Microsystems) that began in the morning and lasted until late afternoon. One particular thing that got my attention was the environment these companies were in. Companies were located in their own complexes with other related companies. For example, Sun Microsystems, a software and hardware producer, was located near companies such as Yahoo and Oracle. It seemed like having companies located around the same area provided some advantages; it made communication easy among the companies.
Although it was a challenge for some of us to stay in one setting for a lengthy period of time, the visits definitely helped me and the entire group understand more about the business culture in Ireland. Dublin, apparently, was considered a third world country back in the seventies and eighties. However, when the government lowered the corporate tax rate and took initiatives to bring in foreign direct investment, Ireland suddenly became one of the best cities in which to do businesses. Now that Ireland has developed such a great environment for business, the country is flourishing with multinational corporations that are actually helping Ireland’s economy grow.
In addition to the company visits, we took a short break at the hotel and went to watch the traditional Irish greyhound race. Races were held every 15 minutes, and there were 6 greyhounds racing for a lap. Students bet 2-5 Euros for fun, and those who won actually earned some money that evening. It was a fun experience, except photography was forbidden.
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Blog 2
Welcome to Dublin, Ireland, one of the most vibrant cities in the world. And yes, I must say that is true. Today was St. Patrick's Day, the biggest national holiday in Ireland. When I asked the taxi driver how people celebrated St. Patrick's Day, he gave me a short and simple answer: "Get drunk, brother!" While people from other countries may have a negative perception of drinking, it seems like Irish people enjoy drinking - it is part of their culture to drink and enjoy themselves.
I decided to become Irish for a day to experience the culture. One thing I noticed immediately was that everything was green, green, and green! People had green hair, pants, shirts, and socks. In fact, those who did not wear green were considered “minorities” during St. Patrick's Day. Wearing green allows you to be part of the Irish "family"; everyone becomes friends with each other.
The day was packed with all sorts of festivals prepared by the Irish Government. I went with a group of friends to O'Connell's Street, located in the northern part of Dublin, to watch the main festivities. The parade proceeded throughout the streets with traditional Irish bands and folk dances. It lasted about three hours; once it ended, people split up and made their ways to the pubs. One of the most popular places for pubs is the Temple Bar, and it was PACKED! I was able to spot all sorts of people from different places, including Americans, Indians, Arabians, and Asians. The pubs welcomed everyone and it was important to get a legitimate Guinness pint.
After a short period of time, we realized the place was way too packed. We decided to explore different areas and gradually head back to the hotel, since we knew we have a long day tomorrow. According to the schedule, we are going to visit eBay, Microsoft, and Sun Microsystems. So far, I'm in love with Ireland and I can't wait to see what Ireland will offer me in the coming days!
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Blog 1
March 6, 2009, Los Angeles
One week from now, our group is bound for an exciting trip to Dublin. Actually, we were originally going to leave for Mumbai, India, the economic tiger of central Asia, but recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai have brought concerns for students, parents, and Marshall Administrators. Now what? I thought. After several weeks of serious discussion, the Marshall School of Business decided to take us to Dublin, the capital city of Ireland.
For the past eight weeks, a series of guest lecturers and professors taught us about the business environment, culture and history of Ireland. What really caught my attention was Ireland's low corporate tax rate, which is far below the rest of Europe. Not only has the low tax rate attracted a lot of foreign investment, but it has also allowed Ireland to stimulate vast economic growth. With this in mind, this trip to Dublin will open my eyes to the business environment of Ireland and to a larger extent, Europe.
Furthermore, in preparation for the trip, we have researched a company called Covidien for a company briefing paper. Now that I have a better understanding of the obstacles and opportunities facing various corporations around the world, it is my goal to ask the executives about potential steps they may take in order to compete in such a tough economy. Overall, my intent is to learn as much as possible and at the same time, enjoy many aspects of Irish life.
In short, I come from a diverse background. Although I am Korean, I didn’t live in the country for very long. Due to my father's business, my parents moved to Indonesia a long time ago. I lived in Indonesia for about 19 years, and thanks to my parents, I had a lot of opportunities to travel around the world, especially in Asia. However, Ireland is an unanticipated destination for me and I realized that I need to take this opportunity now. Although I must say that my knowledge about Ireland is limited, I am very excited to travel with a group of scholars and experience the culture at first hand. I am hoping to cultivate a love for the culture, people, and the environment.
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