Lee Eui-sang and Gu Ji-won were struggling to find the answers to “which path to follow” and “what to do in life.”
By becoming the future industrial talents of the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation, Lee and Gu took heart to move forward and take on new challenges as part of what they want to achieve in life.
Lee Eui-sang and Gu Ji-won, two students growing in their own speed
and even creating a virtuous cycle to share what they have received with others, were interviewed.
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| Lee Eui-sang (Seoul National University Graduate School) | Gu Ji-won (Dept. of Software Science, Dankook University) |
Q_ Hello. Please introduce yourselves.
Lee Eui-sang I am a future industrial talent of the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation and a student at the Seoul National University Graduate School. I am studying deep learning technologies and massive natural language models like cryptocurrency and ChatGPT at the virtual machine optimization lab.
Gu Ji-won I am studying at the Dept. of Software Science of Dankook University. Recently, I started working as an intern at NAVER. My major is software development, and I study and research cloud at the cloud security lab. I was selected as a scholar in 2022.
Q_ On which areas of research are you focusing at the moment?
Lee Eui-sang I am working on a code-based Ethereum program. A bug in this program results in considerable financial loss. I am studying and writing a paper on how to find the bug faster using deep learning.
Gu Ji-won For an ordinary person, the entry barrier for using cloud is quite high because it involves a complicated process to generate a server and connect it to the network. To make this process a bit simpler, I have planned a cloud project, and I am developing the codes for direct network connection when the user types “Make a server” or “Connect to network” like a chat.
Q_ How did your relationship with the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation begin?
Lee Eui-sang My friends at school were receiving benefits as scholars of the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation. Everyone suggested I apply for the scholarship program, and I did it. I thought the interview was important. So, I tried to be myself during the interview. For some people, financial hardship is something to be ashamed of. But I don’t think such is an obstacle in my studies. Thus, I spoke my thoughts frankly; fortunately, it was taken favorably.
Gu Ji-won I found a notice about the scholarship program in the group chat room for the department. I applied for it right away because the benefits were great (laughs). I studied IT development in high school and entered university after working at a company for two years. I think it came across to the interviewers as my passion for studying.
Q_ How has your life changed after your selection as a future industrial talent?
Lee Eui-sang Actually, life as a graduate student is quite hard. Since becoming a scholar last year, I have met graduate students working in various fields and shared difficulties with and consoled them. It really helped me a lot. The research fund I receive from the lab hardly covers my tuition and living expenses. Since I became a scholar of the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation, the financial burden has been eased. Thus, I can focus on my studies more, and also engage in future-oriented activities. I signed up for an English class at a foreign language institute, and I am building physical strength by exercising to improve my health. Most of all, now that I have time to spare, I can participate in various community activities like club activities and running to exchange with other students in school. This is a huge change for me because, as an extremely introverted person, I have always found meeting people to be quite a challenge.
Gu Ji-won I was happy to meet people studying the same field, share difficulties with them, and even receive career advice from the senior students. Most of all, I found that everyone I met at the Foundation was living life to the full every minute. I am known to be an enthusiastic person myself. But I was very much impressed with them (laughs). I also started a business by making a delivery app. There are about 1,900 tenants in the school dormitory and 13% of them signed up for the app, which generated a bit of revenue for me. I also received the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation President's Award at the Software Talent Festival. I ended up closing the business, but personally, it was a big accomplishment.
Q_ How did you find the graduate scholar mentoring program?
Lee Eui-sang The mentoring program was very meaningful because undergraduate and graduate students rarely have opportunities to communicate with people in the field. I could narrow the gap between the graduate school and the industry—which I experience as a graduate school student—by communicating with the mentor. I also received advice on the requirements for employment as well as how to write my paper well. The mentor was working in the recommended system job group and talked a lot about the field. The talk was very interesting and educational because this was a field that's unfamiliar to the mentees. Most of all, after learning a lot from the mentoring program, I voluntarily organized a mentoring session with junior students by contacting the student body president of my school.
Gu Ji-won While participating in the mentoring program, I was agonizing over two options: starting my master’s course or getting a job. Park Seong-jun, the mentor, shared his thoughts about the benefits of getting a job after obtaining a master’s degree, and this helped me make my career decision.
Q_ What are your future goals?
Lee Eui-sang I started having a dream while writing my paper recently. I think I tend to focus on studying the great outcomes achieved by others so far. For my third paper, however, I would like to conduct a study that can lead others.
Gu Ji-won While working as an intern at NAVER, I set a goal of entering a large IT company like NAVER, Kakao, and Coupang. After learning and mastering the technologies for five to ten years, I would like to start my own business. For now, I will focus on my current project to study the cloud and web front technologies.
Q_ Do you have anything else you want to add?
Lee Eui-sang I experienced difficulty in networking while mentoring the junior students. The Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation helps scholars stay networked by providing various programs such as the mentoring program and homecoming day. I found that this is not an easy thing to do. So I want to say thank you. And for those who wish to become scholars of the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation, I would like to advise them to do a research internship or build extensive research experiences.
Gu Ji-won As an advice to prospective scholars, I would encourage them to participate actively in the programs offered by the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation. I particularly recommend the Summer Camp and OnDream Friends program. I learned and experienced a lot from these programs. I would also like to thank the people at the Foundation who are planning new programs that scholars can enjoy participating in each year. (laughs)
“Since I became a scholar of the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation,
the financial burden has been eased.
Thus, I can focus on my studies more,
and also engage in future-oriented activities.”
Lee Eui-sang
“As an advice to the junior scholars,
I would encourage them to
participate actively in the programs
offered by the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation.”
Gu Ji-won
Future Industrial Talent / Interview / Graduated Scholar Mentoring
