Yang Duk-jun
The president of iriver
EVERYONE
LIKES to listen to music and most people don't live
without music. In the 1970's the guitar was especially
popular on campus. We often saw students strolling through
campus with an "MP3", Walkman or CD player.
Nowadays, many students use an MP3 made by iRiver.
iRiver is the best in efficiency and design, and the
most popular. Yang Duk-jun is the president of iRiver
and is a graduate of Yeungnam University (YU).
Q How did
you come to create the name "iRiver"?
A The initial
'i' comes from the word "internet" and then
I added on 'river'. A river of the internet. Actually,
I focus on globalization, so the name is easy to pronounce
and the name is also a familiar sound.
Q What was
your focus in this area? 
A During
my school days, I liked all kinds of technical things,
so I assembled all kinds of machinery in my house. At
first, I hoped to make a beauty product. But I gave
up that dream. Then I started working on semiconductors
in the SAMSUNG Company. I worked at SAMSUNG for
several years. I wanted to produce a semiconductor directly
on my own after I left the company.
Q What do
you think are the main factors resulting in your success?
A I targeted
the internet users, I concentrated my energies on internet
marketing. Accordingly, I focused on the homepage
for advertisements and publicity. I strived to make
it easy and friendly for custumers to buy our goods,
and that this should be done by making small and
medium enterprises. And I gave my custumers my caring
and concern. MP3 is a portable multimedia system. We
choose electric home appliances initially. This
was our focus for about ten years. But MP3 was not part
of that endeavor. Of course, MP3 emphasizes efficiency,
but the main thing is that it suits me. MP3 is like
a fashionable wristwatch. So we employed, not a technical
expert, but a computer geek (someone who is known to
sit up all night at a PC room). For example, a technical
expert talks about the strong points of certain goods.
Computer geeks say, "Uh? Why is this button here?
If this button is on the left, it's much more convenient.
An earphone is more convenient the right side than on
the left side. Etc.." They are different from technicians
in what they see.
Q
What are the strategies for international and domestic
marketing?
A So many
people use the Internet. We issue updates
to people on goods, new products, events, etc.. Many
companies make MP3's, but only iRiver makes profits
on the MP3. MP3 itself is not the 'golden goose'. The
issue is not " What to do, but how to do."
In addition, we make our product with our spirit.
Q Have you
ever suffered from trial and error?
A I was
disappointed in KAIST(Korea Advanced Institute of Science
and Technology). I think that they tried to make basic
accessories without a sound financial basis, so I must
import many accessories from France even though the
price is more than four times the domestic price. I
think iRiver will be the best if we have engraving
techniques of several metal patterns like curtain designs.
Then, we will be able to design much better.
Q Do you
have any advice to YU students?
A First,
life doesn't progress according a plan. A successful
life is not without failure. Accept the challenge to
do anything - without fear!!

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