The outmigration of the young generation to the metropolitan area in terms of employment has become increasingly serious. The report in “The Developmental Difference between Metropolitan Area and Non-metropolitan Area & Policies,” which the “Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade” released on August 2nd, announced that 55.5% of the young generation, 50.5% of employment, and 86.9% of the top 1,000 companies are concentrated in the metropolitan area.

“Channel PNU” will introduce excellent companies in provinces that have been innovating and maintaining their position in the infinite competition between the metropolitan area, the provinces, and companies. The first one is “SEJUNG,” located in Geumjeong-gu, Busan.

“SEJUNG” specializes in fashion distribution, which creates a beautiful cultural life for customers, and has grown steadily according to customers’ needs and celebrated its 48th anniversary this year. The company has various affiliates. Sejung, Sejung CCR, Sejung C&M are  in a division of fashion distribution. Nestige is in a division of interior design. Sejung I&C is in a division of IT consulting services. It is especially prominent for men’s wear brands such as INDIAN, BRUNO BAFFI, and TREMOLO, and women’s wear brands such as Olivia Lauren and Dalist. In addition, SEJUNG has been developing jewelry and accessories brands, and online lifestyle brands, and is evaluated as a long-lived longevity brand by all generations.

■A story of becoming a representative company in Busan

In 1968, Park Soon-Ho, president of SEJUNG, opened “DongChoon Market,” a T-shirt outlet in Busan Wholesale Market. In July 1974, he established a corporation called “Dongchoon Textile Industry” to raise it as a brand and opened a fashion store called “INDIAN.” The small business had been on the up and up and had dramatically grown with the changeover of the agency system.

At the time, INDIAN created innovative turtleneck sweaters and also produced T-shirts with silket yarns for sweaters for the first time in Korea. Thanks to excellent product quality, it was said that “One in two men in their 40s and 50s in Korea has INDIAN in their closets.” In its glory days, the company had more than seven million VIP members and sold 1.4 million T-shirts annually. 

In 1991, the company name was transformed into a new mission called “SEJUNG” to follow trends, which means that it gives back its mission to society and grows on a global scale. In 2013, the company moved away from its brand-oriented business and turned INDIAN into a new distribution company called “WELLMADE,” which can bring balance to customers’ lives. “WELLMADE” created a beautiful living culture for customers with various brands in a shop, reflecting the characteristics of each region’s customers. Additionally, Young and trendy new brands such as Olivia Lauren, 12&, and COCOROBOX have also become well-known, embracing customers in their 20s and 50s. “SEJUNG” selected celebrities as models, such as Sin Min-A, Lim Young-Woong, Kim Tae-Hee, Lee Dong-Wook, and Jung Woo-Sung, and has been marketing actively.

A new vision of “SEJUNG” is the advance into the world. Therefore, it has been challenging to operate the division of global business independently, expand domestic brands into global markets, and create new global brands. Additionally, it has been showing various products such as men’s wear, women’s wear, accessories, and lifestyle. Recently, it has been making overseas websites and opening stores abroad centered around DIDIER DUBOT.

■Diverse divisions which develop “SEJUNG”

With a long history, there are various fields in “SEJUNG”; Merchandiser (Production&Purchasing Management), Design (Product Design), Production Operation (Production Strategy Planning and Quality Management),  Purchasing Management (Ordering Subsidiary material and Managing quality and claim), Merchandiser (Connecting between head office and store, Sales), and VMD (Directing the image of the store). Especially in the division of product planning and design, it is crucial to have an outstanding sense and acknowledgment of fashion, the ability to design sketches, and sample making. Furthermore, in the division of production and purchasing, it is essential to understand the cost, profit, and loss and speak a second language fluently. In the division of distribution and sales, it is required to have the ability to communicate, analyze data, and use Office programs.

■Flexible Organizational culture “SE-Sin-Sa”

The word “SE-Sin-Sa” is derived from an abbreviation for people who make “SEJUNG” enjoyable in Korea. This flexible organizational culture is one of the advantages of the company. Besides, there are excellent systems for company welfare, such as holidays interspersed with workdays, annual vacations in organizations, leaving work on time, and taking a day off on birthdays. The company also gives employees benefits, including the prohibition of unnecessary overtime, BIG vacation, free breakfast and lunch at the company’s cafeteria, brief reports, and a flexible seating system. It focuses on interactive communications based on meeting by positions, meeting with the CEO, and events at the end of the year. Moon Seok-Chan (Assistant Manager, Personnel Team) said, “We need to follow trends and have insight into the fashion industry, so a casual atmosphere and communication are the advantages of the company.”

Reporter Shin Yu-Jun

Translated by Park Yeon-Hee