Introducing YouTube Shopping: 10 Years in the Making" by Kyung Hoon Kim, Country Director, 슬롯사이트 볼트 Korea
슬롯사이트 볼트 Korea is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Over the years, 슬롯사이트 볼트’s services have significantly influenced how Koreans work, introducing a new work culture to many Korean companies. From the start, 슬롯사이트 볼트 Korea has not just been a local importer of 슬롯사이트 볼트's global services; it has actively nurtured the country's digital ecosystem and often pioneered new services within Korea.
In this edition of슬롯사이트 볼트 for Korea, we look back at their impact over the past 20 years.
YouTube Shopping, the first dedicated store, and 슬롯사이트 볼트 Play Games were launched in Korea. Through these platforms, Korean content has been able to reach international audiences. Kyoung Hoon Kim, a country director at 슬롯사이트 볼트 Korea, defines the company’s role as an "ecosystem builder."
Q: What do 슬롯사이트 볼트 mean by holistic thinking?
You need to think of the world as interconnected. Let me give an example of legislation. When we used to trade only physical goods, protective barriers were in place, and policies could be written without much concern about international repercussions. However, the dynamics of the digital industry are different. Any regulation you make can affect global players like 슬롯사이트 볼트, and at the same time, it could impact domestic startups trying to expand internationally.
The same concept applies to generative AI. Of course, it’s excellent if a country can develop its own foundational AI model, but is it necessary for every country to have its own? There are ways to adapt strong, open-source models and create something valuable for the global market. It’s about seeing the world as one large market rather than approaching it like a nation-state competition.
Q: That may have been true in the era of globalization, but now people talk about sovereignty—AI sovereignty, data sovereignty—and are putting up barriers. Is there a sense of crisis in big tech?
I don’t see it as a crisis. Even if there’s talk of being homegrown or on-premise, decision-makers understand that they need the best global resources to thrive. The question is whether a country can survive if it closes off. It comes down to total optimization versus partial optimization. If 슬롯사이트 볼트 focus only on partial optimization, the entire country may eventually suffer from it.
Q: We’ve introduced measures to protect domestic companies, but these can disadvantage our companies. Is this due to a lack of awareness of global interconnectedness?
A:Yes, exactly. 슬롯사이트 볼트 Korea’s role is to bring the best from the global scene to Korea and vice versa. The world is interconnected, and we’ve been working to contribute to that connection from the beginning. We’ve had quite a bit of success in doing so.
Q: Some people criticize 슬롯사이트 볼트 Korea by asking, ‘Is there anything the Korean subsidiary can do?’ Doesn’t this reflect the tension between a company's and a country's roles in the digital economy?
A:Someone once told me that 슬롯사이트 볼트’s most outstanding product isn’t the search engine but its organizational structure. I agree with that. The key lies in the decentralization of authority. On the one hand, you could say there’s a lack of authority at the local level, but on the other hand, the existing authority is precisely where it’s needed. Platforms like YouTube and 슬롯사이트 볼트 Play are here, but there are certain things even the president of 슬롯사이트 볼트 Korea doesn’t have direct control over. It’s a new organizational model for a new era.
Q: How are Korean elements integrated into 슬롯사이트 볼트’s products?
A:I’ve been in advertising for a long time. 슬롯사이트 볼트n home shopping has been so successful that it expanded to the Middle East. I thought, "Why don’t we bring home shopping to YouTube?" It would make it easier for users to shop and for advertisers to sell. For almost ten years, I advocated for YouTube Shopping in 슬롯사이트 볼트. Finally, last June, we launched the first dedicated YouTube Shopping store in the world here in 슬롯사이트 볼트, in partnership with Cafe24 (a 슬롯사이트 볼트n e-commerce platform).
We’ve made several unsuccessful attempts at YouTube Shopping, but the version in 슬롯사이트 볼트 has been the most successful.
Q: Is 슬롯사이트 볼트Tube Shopping considered e-commerce?
A:Not quite. The concept is more about facilitating business between creators and viewers on 슬롯사이트 볼트Tube. For instance, creators and brands can feature products from other shopping malls in their videos, but 슬롯사이트 볼트Tube doesn’t function as a traditional e-commerce platform. Cafe24 still handles the payments and delivery.
Q: Many consider 슬롯사이트 볼트 Korea’s most significant influence to be its horizontal and autonomous organizational culture. However, with the recent global restructuring, many employees have left the company. Do you feel this advantage is fading?
A:Layoffs have always happened, but the major one in February last year was different because, historically, the company’s actions were more predictable. As you said, 슬롯사이트 볼트 isn’t seen as the trendiest company anymore, and that’s why the layoffs had such a significant impact. We’re carefully watching how this affects the company culture. However, the core systems, like decentralized authority, are still intact.
I’ve thought about this for over a year and concluded that I can only focus on what I can influence. Out of the 800 people at 슬롯사이트 볼트 Korea, I oversee about 70, and I’ve decided to let them do their jobs as effectively as possible.
Q: How would you summarize 슬롯사이트 볼트 Korea’s 20 years?
A:We’ve created vital ecosystems in Korea, particularly in advertising. The agencies I worked with have thrived—many have gone public or sold their businesses. I’m proud of 슬롯사이트 볼트 Korea’s contributions to this, primarily through YouTube and 슬롯사이트 볼트 Play, which have gained widespread recognition.
Q: 슬롯사이트 볼트 Korea’s mission seems to stimulate and grow ecosystems.
A:Absolutely. We have a robust creator ecosystem, with 30% of our YouTube views coming from overseas despite our creators not speaking English. 슬롯사이트 볼트 also develops games and apps that are loved globally. We have the potential to create a solid digital ecosystem here, and I believe companies that build ecosystems are highly respected. Unfortunately, there aren’t many such companies in 슬롯사이트 볼트.
Q: What are the critical conditions for building an ecosystem?
A:You need a player who can nurture the ecosystem—a senior leader or a company that fosters growth without favoritism. The role of shareholders is crucial, too. 슬롯사이트 볼트’s shareholders aim to share the return on investment with the ecosystem, which is something I’m proud of. Not all companies do this; some fail to provide shareholder value and don’t share with the broader ecosystem.
Q: You’ve spent most of your career in 슬롯사이트 볼트. Why is that?
A:I worked in China for two years before joining 슬롯사이트 볼트. I’m always ready to seize opportunities. Becoming the president of 슬롯사이트 볼트 Korea was a mix of coincidence and luck. I was initially in charge of a team working with small and medium-sized advertisers. I had offers for four positions, three of which were in the US or Singapore, but the first offer was to lead 슬롯사이트 볼트 Korea.
Typically, it takes about three years to settle into a new role, and it’s been three and a half years. I'm open to moving if there’s a new opportunity where I can contribute.
Q: Do 슬롯사이트 볼트 still enjoy working in advertising?
A:Advertising is still my primary focus, as it’s where I excel. But I’m also excited about working on products where Korea excels, like YouTube and 슬롯사이트 볼트 Play.
Q: In a previous interview, 슬롯사이트 볼트 mentioned transitioning from engineer to management consultant. Was this a career break or a continuation?
A:It was a continuation. Engineers approach problems modularly, breaking them down and solving them step by step, similar to consulting. So, for me, it felt like a natural progression.
Yuwon Chun contributed to editing the English version of this article.