How 5 Years of Parenting Made Me a Better Korea Business Partner

Today feels like the perfect day to share my story. In January 2020, I made a tough choice: stepping away from my role as founder of a Forbes-recognized coworking space and putting my career on hold. Right as the world was facing COVID-19 for the first time, I became a full-time dad. Now I'm ready for the next chapter, and I'm convinced that this journey has made me a better person overall.

My Background: Bringing the World Together in One Space

Before becoming a dad, my wife and I founded Hive Arena, one of Korea's first independent coworking and co-living spaces. We built a global community that attracted remote workers from 55 countries.

But as we were getting started, the coworking market in Korea suddenly exploded. WeWork entered the Korean market, local coworking startups launched one after another, and the government started creating free startup support spaces everywhere. Suddenly, we were like David facing multiple Goliaths. We couldn't compete with their fancy facilities and huge budgets.

So we completely changed our approach. Instead of trying to win on amenities, we focused on what really mattered: genuine human connections. We partnered with tech communities like Seoul Tech Society, Pyjog (Python developers), and Elixir Seoul Meetup, creating a place where developers and entrepreneurs could actually grow together.

The results spoke for themselves: a thriving 500-member international community, the Coworker.com Members Choice Award 2018 for Asia, and recognition as one of "The 11 Best Coworking Spaces in Asia" by Forbes.

Three Ways I Help International Business Succeed in Korea

My wife, now a successful tech recruiter, recently looked at me from a professional perspective. Her conclusion? "Being a dad didn't set you back—it made you much better."

Here's what I bring to international businesses, based on my entrepreneurship experience and enhanced by my time as a dad:

I Unlock Hidden Opportunities Through Strategic Networking

In Korea's relationship-based business culture, success often comes from connecting the right people at the right time. I've developed an eye for spotting untapped potential and creating valuable connections that others might miss.

Matching Skills with Opportunities: While running our coworking space, I met Umit, a Turkish designer who had already gotten 300+ upvotes on Product Hunt in 2015. Most people saw him as just another freelancer, but I recognized his marketing talent. When a Korean startup was preparing for overseas expansion and struggling with their marketing approach, I introduced them to Umit. The match was perfect—they needed exactly his skills, and he needed a meaningful project. After their service launched, the startup got major coverage in US media.

Encouraging Potential When Others Hesitate: Sometimes the biggest opportunities come from encouraging people to take that first step. Kevin, an Elixir developer, wanted to start Korea's first Elixir meetup but was hesitant. The challenges seemed overwhelming: barely any Elixir developers in Korea, venue costs, uncertain attendance.

Instead of focusing on the obstacles, my wife and I suggested: "Just try it first. If it doesn't work, try again. If the venue is a problem, let's solve it through partnership." We helped him launch Elixir Seoul Meetup. Soon after, Kevin was invited as a speaker at Elixir Europe Conference 2017—a opportunity that probably wouldn't have happened without that initial encouragement.

Building Networks That Outlast Businesses: The most valuable networks are the ones that grow organically and survive beyond any single business. During our co-living days, our British customer Ben started a group chat called "Hive Food Gang(sters)" for residents who loved cooking together. I didn't create it, but I recognized its value and supported it.

Five years later, that group is still active. Even though our service ended, they continue meeting for parties every month or two. These organic connections often lead to the most unexpected opportunities.

Supporting Career Transitions: In 2020, when my wife wanted to transition into tech recruiting but was hesitating, I saw this as another networking opportunity. I suggested: "If you lack confidence in yourself, why not trust how the amazing people around you see you?" She started building a board of advisors for her career.

To amplify her network's support, I wrote "I Recommend My Wife as a Tech Recruiter" and posted it online. The post got 10,000 page views in 3 days, leading to interviews with about 20 companies and her successful career transition. Sometimes the best networking move is helping others succeed.

Why this matters for international companies: In Korea's relationship-based business culture, having someone who can spot hidden talent, encourage potential, and build lasting connections can be the difference between success and failure. I don't just make introductions—I identify opportunities that others overlook and help people unlock their potential.

I Build Strategic Partnerships That Open New Markets

When entering Korea, many international companies struggle to break through established networks. I've learned that the key is building strategic partnerships that create entirely new market pathways, rather than competing directly with existing players.

Turning Competition into Collaboration: When WeWork entered Korea with massive resources, we faced a classic market entry challenge: how do you compete when you can't match the incumbent's scale? Instead of direct competition, I identified an untapped market segment—the individual developers and international talent within Korean startups.

By partnering with tech communities like Pyjog (Python developers), Seoul Tech Society, 9XD, Elixir Seoul Meetup, and Learn to Code, we didn't just gain customers—we opened access to Korea's developer ecosystem that even WeWork couldn't easily reach. These partnerships became our market entry strategy: connecting with the people who drive innovation in Korean companies.

Creating Cross-Border Market Bridges: With strong local partnerships established, I then built bridges to international markets. I systematically connected with global digital nomad communities, convincing remote workers who typically chose Bali or Chiang Mai to consider Seoul instead.

This wasn't just marketing—it was market creation. By combining our local tech community access with international talent, we created a new market category: a place where global remote workers could plug into Korea's startup ecosystem. This attracted 500+ remote workers from 55 countries and earned recognition through the Coworker.com Members Choice Awards 2018 for Asia.

Proving Market Value Beyond Location: The ultimate test came when we moved to Singil-dong, an area completely unknown to foreigners. This experiment proved that our strategic partnerships had created real market value independent of traditional advantages like prime location or brand recognition.

For 2 years before COVID, international talent continued finding us through word-of-mouth, demonstrating that strategic partnerships can create sustainable market access that doesn't depend on conventional market entry factors.

Why this matters for international companies: I don't just help you enter Korea—I help you access markets that others can't reach. Through strategic partnerships with local communities and international networks, I create new pathways that turn market entry challenges into competitive advantages.

I Navigate Korea's Complex Business Environment to Deliver Results

Korea's fast-paced business culture creates unique challenges: tight deadlines, rapid pivots, and the need to balance relationship-building with results delivery. Having worked in this environment for years, I know how to cut through complexity and focus on what actually moves the needle.

When Business Gets Complicated Fast: Last summer, I wanted to reconnect with the business world, so I started looking for opportunities. Through a marketing agency, I joined a Korean startup's global B2B project. Originally brought in for global PR, the startup suddenly had a more urgent need: finding B2B partners in Singapore with just two weeks before a trade show.

This situation perfectly captured Korea's business complexity: rapid strategy changes, impossible timelines, and the pressure to deliver results no matter what. They had a long list of potential companies—the typical approach when companies first go global, casting a wide net hoping something sticks.

Cutting Through the Noise: With such a tight deadline, I knew the standard approach wouldn't work. Instead of contacting hundreds of companies randomly, I quickly analyzed what would actually work:

• Studied the market size, characteristics, and business culture
• Selected 20 strategically relevant companies—not too big (they wouldn't care), not too small (no real impact), but just right for potential partnerships
• Developed a targeted approach that could cut through the noise

The marketing agency was initially worried. Here's someone who's been out of business for 5 years because of childcare, and now he wants to completely change the strategy with only 2 weeks left? But they were amazed by how quickly I executed the new plan.

Results That Matter: Over 50% response rate, successful booth operations, and one of those companies is now their official distributor in Singapore. Working with people again after so long, I felt my business instincts coming back to life.

Why this matters for international companies: Korea isn't a market where having a good product is enough. It's one of the world's most competitive markets with incredibly fast customer responses. This makes it valuable as a testing ground—the fact that Korea has the second-highest number of ChatGPT paid users globally, after the US, proves this point. Korea combines global sophistication with unique local culture. As a Korean with global experience, I can navigate these cultural complexities and intense market competition that foreign companies often struggle with.

How Being a Dad Enhanced These Core Abilities

The three capabilities I've shown above were developed during my entrepreneurship years, but my time as a full-time dad significantly enhanced them—especially in ways that matter for international business.
My wife, now a successful tech recruiter, puts it best: I grew significantly during my parenting years, especially in "understanding people" and "effective communication." Before, I was mostly results-focused, but now I understand the people I work with better and communicate with them more effectively.

This change came from a unique experience during COVID. When daycare closed, I spent about 2 years, 24/7 with my then 2-year-old. Teaching Korean to a child who was still babbling, using non-verbal communication extensively—this naturally developed my communication skills.

What this adds to my business capabilities:

Enhanced Cultural Intelligence: Working with a toddler who doesn't share your language or logic framework is excellent training for cross-cultural business situations. You learn to read non-verbal cues, adapt your communication style instantly, and find creative ways to bridge understanding gaps.

Improved Patience and Persistence: In international business, especially in Korea, relationship-building takes time and requires persistence through multiple setbacks. Parenting teaches you that meaningful progress often happens slowly, and that maintaining calm consistency usually wins over dramatic gestures.

Deeper Empathy in Problem-Solving: When helping my child navigate frustrations, I learned to see problems from completely different perspectives. This translates directly to helping international companies understand not just what Korean partners need, but why they need it and how to approach it sensitively.

My wife says she experiences "much deeper comfort, understanding, and empathy" when we talk now compared to before. In business, this translates to understanding not just what needs to get done, but how to work with people to make it happen. In today's world where empathy is becoming a core skill for international business success, this enhancement makes me a more effective partner.

What I'm Looking For

After five years focused on family, I'm excited to re-enter the business world with a unique combination of:

• Global startup experience (Forbes recognition, 55-country community)
• Cultural bridge-building abilities (Korean market + international perspective)
• Enhanced people skills (thanks to intensive dad training!)

As international companies increasingly look to Korea as a key market, I'm particularly interested in roles that leverage my experience in building strategic partnerships and navigating complex cross-cultural business environments.

🎯 Business Development Manager - Korea
Leading market entry strategy, partnership building, and business growth for international companies entering Korea
🎯 Strategic Partnerships Manager
Creating and managing the local partnerships that open new market pathways, as demonstrated in my coworking space experience
🎯 Market Research Manager - Korea
Analyzing Korea's unique business environment and providing strategic insights to help international companies make informed decisions and achieve concrete results

Ideal Companies:

• International organizations expanding into Korea
• Global companies seeking strategic Korean partners
• Businesses that value cultural intelligence and relationship-building
• Fast-moving companies requiring both strategic thinking and local execution

I'm open to full-time, part-time, or project-based collaboration. Whether you're a startup testing the Korean market or an established company ready for serious expansion, I'd love to explore how my experience can help you succeed in Korea.

The Bigger Mission

I'm sharing my story for three reasons:

First, I want to help international companies succeed in Korea. Over 9 years of entrepreneurship and 5 years of intensive parenting, I've gained a unique perspective on both global business and Korean culture. Whether you're a multinational corporation planning Korean expansion, a startup testing the market, or an established company seeking strategic partnerships—I want to collaborate with organizations that value cultural intelligence and relationship-building in their Korea strategy.

Second, I want to expand my network with global business leaders. Five years focused on parenting naturally reduced my business network. Now I want to form new relationships and connect with people who have international perspectives. From my coworking space experience, I learned that the most innovative opportunities come when people from different cultures and backgrounds meet and collaborate.

Third, I want to change perceptions about career breaks for parenting. In Korea's traditional business culture, it's still rare to see fathers take extended time for childcare. But this experience gave me exactly the skills that international business requires: cultural sensitivity, patience for relationship-building, and deep empathy for different perspectives.

I hope my story encourages other parents—especially fathers—to embrace active parenting without career fears, while showing companies the hidden value that caregivers bring to international business. In today's global economy, the ability to understand and connect across cultures isn't just nice to have—it's essential for success.

If you're exploring opportunities in Korea or building international teams that value both results and relationships, I'd love to connect and explore how we can create something meaningful together.

Let's Connect

To international business leaders: Korea offers incredible opportunities—I'd love to help you navigate them successfully.

To companies expanding globally: Next time you're considering Korea, remember that local expertise and cultural intelligence can make the difference between success and struggle.

To fellow parents in business: You're not behind—you're developing exactly the cross-cultural skills that global companies need.

To anyone curious about Korea: I'd love to grab coffee (virtual or in-person) and share insights about this fascinating market.

Ready to explore how we might work together in Korea? Reach out:

📧 Email: me@jongjinchoi.com (preferred - I respond within 24-48 hours)
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jongjinchoi

If you know someone who might benefit from connecting with me, I'd be grateful for an introduction. New relationships and interesting conversations about Korea are always welcome.

P.S. For companies considering Korean market entry: I'd love to share specific insights about what worked (and what didn't) in our global community building and B2B partnership development. Sometimes the most valuable lessons come from real experience, not textbooks.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there making different choices and redefining what career success looks like. Our kids are watching, and they're learning that being present matters just as much as being professionally accomplished.