ED: The Navy patrol ship Cheonan was sunk and 46 navy forces were killed. Also, some people were sacrificed during the underwater search operation for the missing naval personnel of the Cheonan. CBT met Back Hun-sung who works as a manager in the field of marine construction and listened to his experiences.
*The recovery of the Navy patrol ship Cheonan
The sad news revealed the poor conditions of marine technology and operation, which include the recovery of the ship, the underwater plumbing and the construction of the dock. The work for the recovery of the ship is perilous. I was sorry to hear the news that people died during the underwater search. These accidents show how poorly managed Korean marine administration was. Korea has especially inadequate safety regulations for divers. Although there are regulations, people usually do not observe the rules. The divers may have had strong feelings of obligation on finding the missing sailors. If the managers had recommended they obey the safety regulations, the tragic events would not have happened.
* I quit my job at 28 years of age, and I went abroad to be a diver
I worked in Samsung Electronics as an engineer. Diving into the sea was just my hobby. Since I loved diving so much, I decided to be a diver, then I searched for a job which I can use diving skills. I quit my company when I was 28 years old. After I graduated from the university in America, I worked for 5 years in a company related with marine construction. In 2002, I came back to Korea and began to work as a manager for 'CDS Industry.'
*The first success of the installation of buoys among domestic companies
When I worked in America, the most difficult thing was physical and mental fatigue. Physical strength is important when working underwater. The divers have to react quickly to changing situations because the environment under the sea is dangerous. If the weather is not good, the field of construction is truly unsafe. However, when people observe safety regulations, they can overcome the risk factors. The days of working as a diver in America was the hardest time in my life, but I received a chance to learn more about the field.
After I came back to Korea, I was in charge of the project to install buoys, which are structures to transport crude oil from a large oil tanker to an oil storage terminal. The work was only possible by foreign companies back then. However, our company was the first to succeed in that job among domestic firms in 2005. That success was the most precious experience in my life.
*Never miss your chances to succeed
Experiencing many things is very important to young people. You can have diverse experiences. If you cannot try something in a direct way, then read books. You will gather indirect experience from readings. The more you try to experience something new, the more wisdom you can get. Although you might think that some experiences are useless, they will certainly be helpful to you. Also, you have to know what you really enjoy doing. You will meet many chances in your life. Never miss your opportunities for achievement and success.