We conducted an in-house interview with Assistant Manager Jung Je-won of the Management Innovation Team, who was selected as CloudNetworks' Employee of the Year for the second half of 2025.
What was the secret behind his selection as Employee of the Year by company-wide vote in his very first year? We share the interview content, covering his story of improving the work environment through the principles of proactiveness, speed, and accuracy, finding feedback within casual conversations and putting it into immediate action, and his sense of responsibility as a general affairs officer whose work is "shadow-like" yet illuminates the entire organization.
🏆CloudNetworks In-House Interview – Assistant Manager Jung Je-won, Management Innovation Team
Q. Please give us a brief self-introduction and an overview of your current team's role.
Hello, I'm Assistant Manager Jung Je-won of the Management Innovation Team at CloudNetworks. The Management Innovation Team plays a pivotal role in providing operational support and handling internal work in the areas of HR, accounting, and general affairs so that the company can run smoothly, and among these, I am in charge of general affairs.
Q. What led you to join CloudNetworks?
When choosing a company, I placed importance on the "turnover rate." CloudNetworks had a relatively low number of employees leaving compared to its years in business, which caught my interest. I had no experience in the IT industry, but the atmosphere during the interview was good and I felt I was able to express myself well, so I decided to join.
Q. About a year after joining in January of last year, you were selected as Employee of the Year through a company-wide vote. What are your thoughts on receiving such a major award in your very first year?
The first thing that came to mind was gratitude. Since it was a result of all the employees voting, the fact that everyone voted for me was, first and foremost, something I was grateful for. I've only worked here about a year, but I feel I made a good choice in joining, and I felt the company welcomed me warmly too, so I was thankful.
Q. General affairs work covers a broad scope and requires coordinating the needs of various departments. What is your own "work principle" that you consider most important when handling tasks?
There are broadly three. One is "proactiveness," the second is "speed," and the third is "accuracy." A lot of general affairs work is done as follow-up action, but in fact, there are also parts that can be prevented in advance. Before employees experience inconvenience or difficulty, I often check things myself first and ask whether there's anything needed or anything unnecessary. When I do that, the results tend to be good and the work gets finished quickly. As for speed, by the time an issue reaches me, it has often already become urgent, so handling it quickly is important. However, since being fast alone doesn't produce good results without accuracy, I think speed and accuracy go together. These three are the principles I prioritize most when working.
Q. Colleagues often say that your "attitude toward work is more passionate and energetic than anyone else's." What do you think is the driving force that keeps your passion alive?
I think it's feedback. Whether it's good feedback or bad feedback, the fact that people show a reaction gives me a great sense of accomplishment and motivation. Praise serves as confirmation that I'm doing well and gives me a sense of achievement, which makes me work even harder. In the case of negative feedback, I take it as a sign that I thought about something incorrectly, and in the process of fixing it and making it better, I also gain motivation in a way. It's a significant part of how I approach work.
Q. How do you go about hearing feedback?
I tend to check in through natural conversation. After improving general affairs work or benefits, I have casual conversations with employees and ask how things are. Rather than being formal and asking for opinions, I ask comfortably within everyday conversation. If I hear a lot of positive things, I keep going in that direction, and if I hear that something is inconvenient, I try changing it to figure out how to make things more comfortable and help people focus on their work. Actually, I've worked this way from the start. Even though it's a workplace, if everyone is only formal, it becomes uncomfortable for both sides, so I believe work can be done well within a comfortable relationship. I feel this tendency has come out even more positively at CloudNetworks.
Q. Among the tasks you carried out during the second half of last year, is there a case that you found most rewarding — one that genuinely improved our company's work environment or received positive feedback from colleagues?
It was when I prepared for and ran the overseas workshop. Managing the schedule, checking headcounts for anyone who was sick, and handling special notes — things I prepared thinking they were only natural — were received positively by employees, which made me both grateful and, in a way, surprised. For the employees receiving these notices and announcements, it seems to have been a novel and good experience. During the trip, there were some people who weren't feeling well due to stomach trouble or fever symptoms. Seeing them recover after I gave them medicine I had prepared in advance made me feel that I had prepared well. Due to scheduling, the workshop was split into Group 1 and Group 2, and I went with Group 1 first. Even after returning to Korea, I kept checking on Group 2's schedule while they were still abroad, staying in contact with the guide and making sure they were sent off on time. Later, when I indirectly heard good feedback, I was truly grateful. At my previous company, there was little to no reaction, so it was hard to know whether something was good or bad, but at CloudNetworks, people do give feedback. When wondering whether I could satisfy the majority, seeing the reactions helps me judge.
Q. Wasn't it difficult preparing for and running an overseas workshop for the first time?
It was my first time preparing an overseas workshop, and also my first time leading such a schedule. Being the first time may have made me put in even more effort, but I thought the most important thing was for everyone to return safely to Korea, and I was satisfied that we achieved that goal.
Q. From the perspective of someone with hands-on experience, what do you think is the "value and appeal of general affairs work"?
I find it appealing to build knowledge across all fields. You can't become a specialist, but I like the feeling of being a well-rounded homemaker-like figure who knows a bit of everything. I think this is the appeal. If you have specific knowledge in one field, you might lack it in another, but when I provide work support or information within what I know, the sense of accomplishment is great. For example, when a car accident occurs and someone contacts me, I guide them based on what I know, and seeing things resolve safely gives me a sense of accomplishment. It makes me feel like I'm helping. Based on my personal experience of having wished someone would support me in certain situations, I can now be that support for others. When things are wrapped up well and I receive positive words, it feels really good.
Q. As someone with experience at other companies, what do you feel is CloudNetworks' greatest appeal or point of difference compared to your previous workplaces?
The biggest thing is opinions. People clearly state their own opinions. When opinions aren't clear, it's frustrating and can lead to bottled-up stress, but here, individuals speak their opinions, and even though not everything can be accommodated in terms of work, we try to take them into account and reflect them in our work. I like the opinions that come out through natural, casual feedback. When things are too formal, there's a lot of packaged language, but words that come from casual conversation seem to allow for more well-rounded thinking. They're unadorned, so they're easy to understand, and there have been things I've fixed because of that. I think CloudNetworks has its own sense of closeness. There's both internal and external intimacy. It's a stretch to call the company a family, but since there are many long-tenured employees who are close to that level, the rapport between people works well, and when help is needed, people help without hesitation — something I hadn't felt much in other workplaces.
Q. You have many opportunities to communicate with staff across all departments in your work. What characteristics or energy have you personally noticed among "CloudNetworks colleagues"?
I feel the bond among employees within the company is unusual. While clearly separating work from personal matters, it's important to work within the comfort that comes from good relationships. If I work while feeling uncomfortable, good results don't come out, but when employees work in a comfortable atmosphere, the results tend to come out well too. I always see people showing enthusiasm and doing their best in their own work.
Q. You're currently active in the in-house bowling club as well. If you were to introduce our club directly to colleagues, what would you most want to recommend?
I'm in both the bowling club and the singing club. I like that these are clubs you can join without pressure. Bowling in particular is a sport that's both common and not so common, but even with a little interest, you can learn how to bowl and enjoy it casually, which I like. There are many skilled people internally. Led by the club president, there are people with high scores and their own styles, so depending on individual personality, you can find someone to learn from. Rather than focusing on scores, people seem to enjoy the situation itself. They enjoy the act of bowling itself. Bowling together comfortably, I've developed my own style and naturally gotten better than before. As for the singing club, I've noticed that many members genuinely enjoy singing. Early on, we would sing until we were too exhausted to sing anymore, but now it's become something that relieves a lot of stress. Since singing naturally involves shouting a bit, it becomes a refreshing time. We do club activities about once a month, and I come back refreshed after spending time with people.
Q. Among the culture or benefits you've experienced since joining our company, is there a point you'd genuinely want to brag about to people around you?
I think the company itself takes good care of employees' families. I think the scope of care the company provides is broad. I consider this a major benefit. I feel the company takes care of employees based on the idea that when family life is comfortable, employees can focus on work. For example, health checkups are supported not only for the employee but also for one family member, there are thank-you greetings to parents on Parents' Day, and a Korean beef gift set is given to families to celebrate one year of employment — the fact that the company thinks even of employees' families is amazing. I think that's why good people stay with the company for a long time. I believe it's a factor behind the long tenures.
Q. You started 2026 with a wonderful award. Is there a goal you personally or professionally want to achieve this year?
Rather than having one specific thing I must do, I have a strong desire to be recognized consistently on a personal level. I'm someone with a desire for recognition, so I like being acknowledged by others. Because I kept trying to be recognized and acknowledged, I feel a positive cycle worked well for me last year. Not limiting it to just last year, this year — rather than a specific plan — my goal is to keep being a steady employee without ups and downs going forward. I think that will lead to personal growth, and personal growth will bring personal stability, which will let me focus on work, so I want to keep building a steady positive cycle. Rather than a company-related goal, what I want to see through well is that the office relocation planned for the first half of this year goes smoothly according to plan without any issues, so that employees can work in a good environment — that's my goal.
Q. If you were to express in one sentence the attitude you bring to work or the value you consider most important?
My mission is "responsibility." I think responsibility is the word that best describes who I am, and my motto in life is "give your best in everything." I believe that if you don't give your best even in small things, you won't give your best in other things either, so this reflects my motto of living with a sense of responsibility. Doing so has led to recognition, and I gain energy and motivation from being recognized. I always think about wanting to do this well, wanting to get through it without any issues.
Q. Doesn't giving your best every time wear you out?
Since I've been working, on-site I focus on work and handle it responsibly, and in my personal time I spend time just for myself, so once I clear my head, I can run again. Right now, I have a good balance. Since a career is a marathon, I plan to pace myself with the long view in mind.
Q. Lastly, please share a message to the colleagues who gave you their strong support through their votes.
First, I'd like to say thank you. Honestly, I think the job I do itself is shadow-like work. There's no one without a shadow, and in a way it also means marking each and every person one by one; since I'm someone who can't do the work alone, I think one reason I was able to stand out is that there was a light that grew my shadow. I believe that light is the fellow employees I work with, and since I think they showed a lot of capability and support in their own positions, whether on-site or in the office, I believe it's the employees who showed and achieved so much that allowed me to stand out. (Since I was the person in charge of announcing the vote and tallying the results) I actually knew the outcome in advance, but I was so grateful. I took it as encouragement and support through the vote, saying I had worked hard, so it touched me in a way. I'm someone whose actions come before words, and I think acting first and showing results is how I can repay this gratitude. As I mentioned, my goal is to be consistent, so I'll repay it by continuing to work hard with long tenure going forward.
✏️Editor's note: Through this interview, we were able to catch a glimpse of why Assistant Manager Jung Je-won was selected as Employee of the Year in his very first year with the company. Throughout the interview, we could feel that the things he considers "natural" actually come from a thoughtfulness that isn't natural at all. In particular, his statement that "the job I do is shadow-like work, but the light that grows my shadow is the employees" stood out for both its humility and its insight into the organization as a whole. From his drive to seek out feedback through casual conversation rather than formality and translate it immediately into improvement, to the flexibility of weaving experience from various fields into general affairs work, we were able to see how he is bringing new energy to CloudNetworks.
The photo of him organizing snacks in the break room is a familiar everyday sight to his colleagues. Small changes that improve employees' inconveniences — such as improving the way snacks are organized and installing a board for collecting feedback — accumulate every day. Just as he vowed to repay everyone through "action rather than words," we look forward to seeing Assistant Manager Jung Je-won continue to build a steady positive cycle going forward.
