This blog post introduces how to effectively utilize contest award experience in a game design resume and translate it into tangible competitive advantage.
Self-Introduction
“I am a curious and positive person.”
I grew up traveling between various countries from a young age. My father, who is Chinese, ran a business related to automotive parts, and my mother was a teacher. Due to my mother’s profession, I had to change schools every four years, which naturally led to living in multiple countries. Living in diverse places like the United States, China, and the United Kingdom gave me the opportunity to experience many cultures and learn a great deal.
This environment made me more familiar with different languages than my peers and naturally broadened my understanding of cultural differences. In particular, frequently traveling with my mother to various regions within Korea and abroad, meeting diverse people, became a great asset to me.
Since childhood is a crucial time for friendships, my parents were often concerned about my situation of frequently changing schools. However, thanks to my curious and positive nature, I actually enjoyed encountering new environments and people, and I believe this had a positive impact on me. Interacting with people of diverse personalities and backgrounds broadened my understanding of others. Hearing ‘living stories’—experiences I couldn’t gain from books or indirect exposure—expanded my horizons.
These experiences became crucial building blocks that shaped who I am today. I grew up with a personality that finds it easy to connect with people naturally, developing a flexible mindset open to embracing new things. I also cultivated a tendency to enjoy the process of conceptualizing and completing things on my own.
“Once I decide I must do something, no hardship can intimidate me.”
Truthfully, I wasn’t particularly interested in studying during my childhood. Had I grown up only in Korea, I might have focused on academics earlier. However, seeing people in various countries prioritizing their passions over formal education naturally led me to ponder, “What do I truly want to do?”
As a result, I discovered an interest in drawing and became absorbed in expressing ideas sparked by new experiences. It was a time when creative work held more appeal than studying. Then, it suddenly hit me: ‘I am a citizen of the Republic of Korea, and I must build my life here in Korea.’ And the starting point for that was facing the practical task of ‘studying.’
Until then, I thought academics stifled individuality and freedom. But as I sincerely searched for what I truly wanted to do and explored information, I realized that academic achievement isn’t just a simple credential; it can be proof of ‘grit and attitude.’
That was my sophomore year of high school. To rapidly improve my grades, which had been in the lower half of my class, I began studying relentlessly. I focused on one subject at a time—English, Korean, then Math—and raised my scores. As a result, I achieved my goal of becoming the top student in the entire school. From the moment I decided ‘I must do this,’ studying ceased to be a source of stress and instead became a means to gain freedom.
Through that effort, I gained admission to the business school I desired. During my university years, I developed an interest in founding a game company. Later, my internship experience at Neowiz helped solidify my dream of pursuing more innovative game development. This journey led me to prepare for my current goal: employment at your company.
Strengths and Weaknesses of My Personality
“I am a highly competitive and driven individual.”
The greatest strengths in my personality are my competitive spirit and drive. What surprised me most upon entering business school was how many people were simultaneously working on diverse projects. However, being outgoing, curious, and always smiling, I initially didn’t seem like someone who could pour passion into something or excel at it.
Then, by chance, I got the opportunity to attend a special lecture by a business school professor I really wanted to meet. After the lecture, I told the professor about my dream: “I want to create the most innovative game in the world.” He replied, “Then you must put in the effort first.” In that moment, I realized I must have appeared to be someone who wasn’t putting in the effort, and his words actually sparked my competitive spirit.
From that point on, I began dedicating 10 hours a day to game planning and analysis, immersing myself in what I truly wanted to do. Analyzing various games and re-planning their structures and fun elements was both a great joy and a challenge for me. Building on this experience, I entered game-related contests and achieved the result of winning an award.
While I’m naturally curious and enjoy exploring diverse fields, once I start something, I tend to demonstrate intense focus, digging deep until completion. I believe this trait becomes a strength when planning immersive games or pushing a single project through to the end.
“Always start with conversation.”
Conversely, my drive can sometimes be a weakness. I tend to charge ahead without considering the surrounding context once I start a task. This showed both positive and negative sides in business school classes that emphasized teamwork.
Specifically, I sometimes pushed forward with assigned tasks quickly without sufficient discussion. This led to teammates feeling distant from me or, at times, burdened. I also reflect on giving relentless feedback without fully considering the team’s readiness.
To address these issues, I established the principle of ‘always prioritize communication first.’ I deliberately set aside short breaks or informal chat time during every meeting to check in on team members and encourage sharing thoughts.
Through this process, I’ve come to understand people’s diverse facets, which has actually been a huge help in game planning. Understanding the varied human psychology and behavioral patterns allowed me to design games that feel more realistic and relatable. Simultaneously, I’ve directly experienced the synergy created by good teamwork, learning the value of moving together over going fast alone.
In closing
I consider my strong drive and competitive spirit, combined with the effort to embrace others’ perspectives and grow together, to be my greatest assets. Moving forward, I will continue to push myself while maintaining an attitude of advancing in sync with those around me. I believe this process will lead to further growth and better results.
What I Learned Between Success and Failure
“Living Away from Home: The Tear-Jerking Experience of a Small Dorm Room”
The experience I felt was both my greatest success and failure was my first time living independently.
When I entered university, my free-spirited nature led me to believe living with my family might become uncomfortable for both sides. Coincidentally, my parents were also positive about me moving out. So, I took the 2 million won I had saved from part-time jobs and headed to Seoul. I secured a room in a small goshiwon near campus and began my life truly on my own.
Those two years in the goshiwon were a true turning point in my life. At first, I was half hopeful, half excited, but I soon had to face the reality of that life.
I had to become sensitive to even the slightest noise in the cramped space and learned the importance of not encroaching on each other’s territory. I realized that organizing and cleaning even one cramped room was much harder than I imagined. I had to handle everything myself and shoulder the responsibility of earning the rent for my own room.
The most memorable moment was a day when I was sick, vomiting alone in my goshiwon room, cleaning it up myself while crying. At that moment, I felt deeply that the process of truly becoming an adult was this bitter and lonely. Until then, I had lived sparkling with curiosity, but after that experience, I clearly understood that I had to take responsibility for my life with my own hands.
Life in a foreign place not only instilled a sense of responsibility in me but also taught me how to acknowledge and respect others.
Before that, I had lived focused solely on studying, so I didn’t understand the diverse aspects of the world. Questions like ‘Why would someone steal?’, ‘Why would someone become addicted?’, ‘Why would someone rely on alcohol to get by?’—I used to pass judgment on these easily. But living alone, I gradually came to understand how each person’s life is shaped by such diverse environments and circumstances.
People were struggling to survive in their own ways, and understanding that changed my perspective. The world was far more complex than I’d imagined, and I learned you shouldn’t judge people by simple standards.
Ultimately, I was able to grow significantly within that cramped, stifling space of the goshiwon. I matured enough that the phrase “came of age” fits—I gained a broader perspective to reflect on my own life and understand others. That time was undoubtedly tough, but it was also a period that brought invaluable insights.
Looking back now, my first taste of independence was both a success and a failure, and all those experiences ultimately made me stronger. Perhaps I can’t even call that time a failure because of the lessons I gained from it. Success and failure always go hand in hand, and it seems we constantly learn and grow in the space between them.
