These days, it is considered that sincere stories told in special lectures by orators using their experiences as youth are more popular than a theoretical story. Maybe it would be helpful for students who are afraid of the future, not to listen to stories of building castles in the air, but to a speaker’s honest life story. In that sense, I met Professor Suh, Jung-woo as the first guest for the [Back to the 20s] series of articles. Lets’ listen to the story when he was in his 20’s and the message he wants to give us.

Q. I was glad to hear that you were appointed as the member of International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) in succession to being the President of the Korea Accounting Institute for the last 4 years. How do you feel?
A. Above all, it means a lot that Korea gets recognized internationally in the accounting field. I’m happy for Korea to be able contribute to the international order and system which are needed in this society. It is meaningful that Korea is autonomous in international environments in that Korea contributes to the progress of the world economy through its hosting of the G20 summit and the example of Dr. Kim, Yong who was appointed as a world banker.

Q. From students who are majoring in business management, I heard that you are very cheerful. I can imagine that you spent your school days pleasantly. How was it actually?
A. I have the memory that I enjoyed every moment of my school days. I used to hang out with my friends rather than focusing on my studies because of the confusing social atmosphere at that time. In those days, education was unilateral, so I have been trying to change that part since I became a professor. I think interaction in class is important and everyone, including professors and students has to learn together. I taught students to prepare for the next class together because it is desired that learning about each other is important in order to study enthusiastically. I should have prepared and reviewed better when I went to school, and if I had, I would be a better person than I am now. (Laugh)

Q. There are many university students who suffer in paying tuition, finding a job, etc. I wonder what you worried about the most when you were in your 20’s and how you overcame those difficulties.
A. I think it was in the financial area because I wanted to do what I liked but there was no money. In retrospect, the time you most needed money and were also running behind in money was during the college years. When I became a university student, I wanted to travel around the world but there were many limitations. At first, I tried to earn money by part-time jobs and private lessons, but as time passed, I realized it was nothing but money for my greed. So, I usually used to live on campus and do various activities which were possible without money. I cannot say I tried to overcome problems because I naturally found a solution to my problems in order to change my life pattern.

Q. What was your dream when you were in your 20’s and what is your dream now?
A. I don’t know if you can anticipate the answer related to your great dream, and the process of how to achieve it, but I actually didn’t know what I had to do at that time. When I entered my senior year, I worried about finding a job so I started to prepare for the CPA certificate test and I found my way for preparing step by step. I didn’t start like this but I studied hard and with enthusiasm, and then I got a chance to be a state scholarship student as a business management faculty member. That allowed me to become a professor. Nowadays, I want to be a person who supports international volunteering. In the past, I thought the apartment I lived in Korea was only mine, but it changed that the earth belongs to us, not the British, the Americans or even the Chinese. It is the time that I put into effect my responsibility little by little. The duty I have to do as the member of IASB is also one of the parts. Actually, I wrote down ‘For world peace and welfare of all mankind’ in my syllabus when I first came to Kookmin University, and that possibility is translating into reality bit by bit.

Q. There are a lot of students who have tough times and don’t enjoy their lives. Tell me what you think the privilege of being in your 20’s is.
A. I hope students can do something they really want during their university years. There’s more to life than just getting a job. I think they need to spend time doing what they really like regardless of their major for just 1 or 2 years. It is the thing only 20 year olds can do with courage and I think if you do that, there will be no regret after that time.

Q. Lastly, what does Kookmin University mean to you?
A. I want to say that Kookmin University is a reliable supporter of students. I often see students who have graduated. It is really helpful mentally for me to be able to do outside activities. Even though I worry that I cannot give a lecture many times and cannot meet students because I’m busy, they support me in saying that I give them power when I am busy with prominent outside activities. In that sense, I think Kookmin University is my supporter.

After the interview, as I took the photo for the article, the professor showed interest in my camera saying he wanted to explore photography. He had to leave Seoul heading to the headquarters of the IASB in London so he was busy preparing to leave but he still wanted to study about photography by spending time to reading a book about cameras. It was at that moment that I realize how much the professor has dreams and enthusiasm like us. What about finding ‘something’ that you really want, before the moment of wearing your cap and graduation gown?