[Interview] Goh Dongjin: "Guiding Youth Is My Political Drive... Plans for a 'Modern Seowon' Too"

In His Third Year as Lawmaker, the "Father of Galaxy"
"Youth Concerns Drove My Entry into Politics"
A Total of 45 Lectures Since Entering the National Assembly
Operating the "Saturday Campus"... Third Session Coming Soon

Assemblyman Goh Dongjin of the People Power Party is known as the "father of Galaxy." He earned this nickname after serving for several years in key executive positions, including CEO at Samsung Electronics, where he successfully led the company's smartphone (Galaxy) business to new heights. A prominent leader in the industry, he entered the National Assembly in 2024, championing the "future of youth" as his main agenda. After being elected as the National Assembly member for the Gangnam-gu Byeong district of Seoul in that year's general election, he is now in his third year of legislative activities.

Kok Dongjin, a member of the People Power Party, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building on the 21st.

In an interview with The Asia Business Daily on the 21st, Assemblyman Goh shared how he has been applying his corporate management experience to real-life politics. He has especially focused on preparing for the future. He visits schools across the country to mentor young people who need his experience and advice. Since joining the National Assembly, he has lectured at as many as 45 venues. Assemblyman Goh said, "When I was young, I had no one to turn to for advice, so I read books to find the right path," adding, "I hope young people do well without having to go through lonely times."

Assemblyman Goh continues to communicate with students and young professionals he meets during various lectures. For consultations that cannot be completed in person, he responds to emails and always tries to answer every question, even if it takes time. For important questions, he sometimes spends nearly an hour writing a long response. Goh remarked, "If even one out of a hundred people who hear my lectures can change the trajectory of their life, I consider that a success."

Recently, key indicators such as the youth employment rate and unemployment rate have worsened, and the number of young people classified as "resting" without seeking jobs has reached the 400,000 range, highlighting a growing social issue. Assemblyman Goh pointed out the hardships facing today's youth, noting, "In the past, there was hope that with effort, you could own a home in Seoul and succeed, but that's no longer the case." He also emphasized the need to address problems such as real estate overheating and the widening gap between the Seoul metropolitan area and regional areas.

Assemblyman Goh has also organized and runs the "Saturday Campus" lecture series. He charges only minimal fees to cover venue costs and continues to provide nationwide mentoring. His mid- to long-term plan is to launch a "modern seowon"—a contemporary version of the private Confucian academies of the Joseon Dynasty. Just as scholars in the Joseon era educated future generations and contributed to their communities after retirement, Goh intends to create a space where he and other distinguished figures can support young people. He stated, "It will be operated as a non-profit."

The following is a Q&A with Assemblyman Goh.

Kodongjin, a member of the People Power Party, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 21st.

―When you entered the National Assembly, you emphasized the future of youth as a key theme. Among the many issues facing society, why did you focus on young people?

▲When I was young, it was rare for anyone who had achieved social success to tell young people, "This is how you should live." So I mostly found my own direction in life through reading books. Because of this lack, during my time as CEO of Samsung Electronics, I published a book in 2023 based on the letters I wrote once or twice a month for a year to employees. The book provided guidance on work methods and attitudes for young people and new professionals.

Afterward, I received many requests to give lectures. Since I had become an advisor at the time, I was able to give various lectures and met many young people outside the company. When giving weekend lectures, I would expect them to last about an hour and a half, but the questions never stopped and sometimes the sessions exceeded two hours. Every time I heard their concerns, I felt deeply for them and wondered how long I could continue giving personal advice.

It was then that the People Power Party invited me to join. I thought there was work I could do for young people in the National Assembly. I believed that considering these issues within the institutional framework would be more persuasive than doing it alone. Thus, when I entered the National Assembly, I set four themes: the future of youth, strengthening software competitiveness, reinforcing small and medium-sized enterprises, and proactive support for marginalized groups. Sometimes it feels like pouring a single bucket of clean water into the Han River, but that's why I go to work every day.

―Specifically, what activities have you been engaged in?

▲Since joining the National Assembly, I have mainly visited universities such as Konkuk University, Korea University, Kookmin University, University of Seoul, Yonsei University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and Hanyang University, as well as Meister high schools (specialized vocational high schools), to provide youth mentoring. I have also met young entrepreneurs continuing family businesses and new professionals working in various industries such as shipbuilding, chemicals, gaming, and cosmetics. If there was any gathering of young people, I made sure to attend, hoping I could help even one person. So far, I've conducted mentoring sessions at 18 venues. Including 27 invited lectures, I have stood on stage a total of 45 times.

For about a month, I independently organized "Saturday Campus," where I lectured every weekend on topics such as advanced industries, history, leadership, and mentoring. The first and second sessions were held in the second half of last year and the first half of this year, respectively. The program was open not only to local residents but also to anyone nationwide who wanted to attend. I also ran a Saturday Campus e-Class website, where I answered all questions submitted online that could not be addressed during the lectures. Some questions took me 40 minutes to answer. After the 9th nationwide local elections in June, I plan to open the third session of the campus as well.

―Do you have any memorable episodes from operating youth mentoring programs or Saturday Campus?

▲Once, I gave a regional mentoring lecture attended by a sales employee from a chemical company. After the lecture, this employee even sent me a personal letter. In the letter, he shared that his life had changed after attending the mentoring session and that he had achieved positive results at work. That was exactly what I had hoped for. Hearing stories of people changing their thoughts and actions through mentoring makes me happiest. There was also a nurse who tended to go above and beyond in everything, whether it was her work or someone else's, and people around her would criticize her for being overly nosy or greedy. However, after reading my book, she realized that living that way was the right thing for her, which left a strong impression on me.

Sungjin Ko, member of the People Power Party, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at the National Assembly member's office building on the 21st.

―Recently, the number of young people classified as "resting" has reached the 400,000 range, and the youth employment and unemployment indicators have also worsened. The future for young people does not look bright. How do you think these issues should be resolved?

▲It is an extremely difficult problem. Frankly, it is not easy to propose a clear-cut answer. However, to put it into perspective, when I was in my twenties, there was a sense of trust and belief that if you worked for about 15 years after joining a company, you could afford a three-bedroom, 89-square-meter apartment somewhere in Seoul, even if it wasn't in Gangnam. But that's not the case anymore. The housing issue must be approached strictly from the logic of market supply and demand, but currently, policies focus only on restraining demand without increasing supply to curb real estate overheating, which only drives prices higher. There must be continuous efforts to increase housing supply.

The widening gap between the Seoul metropolitan area and regional areas has also led to a concentration of youth jobs in certain areas. It is important to create environments where not only public institutions but also companies can move to regional areas. Companies should be able to use electricity generated locally and hire local youth. To make this happen, bold incentives such as electricity fee reductions or land provision are needed. Business owners must be convinced that staying in Korea is more competitive than relocating factories to Southeast Asia.

―Are there any mid- to long-term initiatives you are planning for the future of youth?

▲In the Joseon Dynasty, retired scholars would typically return to their hometowns, establish seowon (private Confucian academies), and devote themselves to educating the next generation and serving their communities. I, too, want to spend my "second life" for the benefit of young people. Although I am currently in the National Assembly, I am preparing to open a seowon in a location in Seoul. I plan to designate certain days during the week to stay there, provide mentoring to visiting youth, and arrange for acquaintances of mine to contribute their talents as well. My goal is to provide regular communication so that every young person can find their own path in life. I am also considering support programs, such as selecting certain individuals to offer opportunities for overseas study.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.