On April 7th, Channel PNU met the delegate of Panasia, Lee Soo-Tae, at headquarters in Gangseo-gu, Busan, and heard a story related to ESG management and balanced regional development. Delegate Lee emphasized regional dispersion is a way to run the state effectively.

Q. What do you think is the method to solve the centralization of the metropolitan area?

A. "Regional Economic Activation" can succeed if graduates of prestigious regional universities work in the local area. Furthermore, regional dispersion is a measure of national economy activation and an effective development method to relieve transportation, residence, and environmental problems in the capital area. 

If local universities become the base, supply the labor force, and companies that receive human resources develop, the local economy can be activated. After the trend of population decline gets eased, and as we attract current elementary, middle, and high school students to local universities, the structure of a virtuous circle can be realized. 

Q. What is the role of the company in ESG problems?

A. Like supporting current Ukraine refugees and domestic disasters, I believe enterprises taking a leading role socially, and showing their practices to the youths, have far-reaching power. In addition, while the gap between rich and poor and conflicts between the social classes are getting deeper, businesses should give proper rewards to performances and follow the timestream of a carbon-neutral era. 

Q. What is the ESG management of Panasia?

A. Because Panasia is an eco-friendly equipment company, we strive to use alternative energy or solar energy and make donation activities continuously. In the aspect of "Governance," we have set up a constructive proposal window by operating a "Junior Board" so that young people are in the position of deputy- and section- head. I believe that many promising talents could come to our company because we have a great corporate culture in various ways. 

Q. We heard that you served consecutive terms as the head of the 4th supporters association of the Busan National Science Museum.

A. I see this as an honorable position but it also requires entails major responsibilities. However, this is also part of ESG management. What people saw and felt when they were a child influenced their whole life, and I want to play a role in stimulating and resolving the scientific curiosity of the generations that will lead this in the future.

Q. Who are the right people for Panasia?

A. The first criteria is enough knowledge of the major, and the second is character and personality. We look forward to talented people with the personality of "Benefit oneself and others," who can work for themselves and others in line with the company vision to create technology that is not in the world and contribute to human public service with that technology. 

Q. Is there anything you want to say to youths in Busan, including PNU students?

A. I believe Busan is an open city full of passion following its regional characteristic of being a port city. Human creation ability that cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence comes from integrated thinking ability, including literature, art, and philosophy. Busan has many convergent talents who are magnanimous and have a strong challenging spirit.

There are opportunities for the talents to perform their capabilities, such as the 2030 Busan World Expo and Gadeok New Airport. I hope you to be the protagonist of the future by participating in these opportunities with the spirit of the challenge for the future and creativity toward something new.

Reporter Kim Hyun-Kyoung

Translated by Lee Su-Hyun