Jong Gyu Park, an Assistant Professor of Management in The Lucille and Jay Chazanoff School of Business at CSI, has concluded a seven-week trip to South Korea, which was funded, in part, by the College’s Center for Global Engagement (CGE).

Park explained that he had two primary goals for the trip, “First, I was invited to deliver lectures and seminars for several profit and non-profit organizations in South Korea, focusing on my recently published book [What to Look at: Oppenheimer’s Leadership, TurningPage, 2024 (published in Korean)].”

What to Look at presents various methodologies that J. Robert Oppenheimer applied to people, work, and organizations to achieve success in the Manhattan Project during World War II. The author, Park, focuses particularly on how leaders can adapt Oppenheimer’s leadership principles to today’s workplace—a dynamic, technology-driven environment characterized by hybrid work models, increased collaboration, and an emphasis on adaptability, diversity, and well-being. The book has become a bestseller across several major booksellers in South Korea and has been recommended by various companies as essential reading for leaders.  

“Second,” Park added, “I aimed to visit various universities to engage in research activities and professional reconnections. This second goal was partially supported by a grant from the CGE.”

Some of the research that Park conducted involved collecting data on leadership effectiveness in South Korea and he also engaged co-authors at a number of universities in the country to make progress on some ongoing research projects on leadership.

Park also made a number of important connections with large companies on his visit. He noted that some of these organizations included “Samsung, LG, GS Caltex, POSCO, and Lotte Giants (a South Korean professional baseball team based in Busan).

“These connections are crucial for me as a leadership scholar,” Park continued, “as they provide opportunities to observe workplace dynamics and collect data (e.g., through surveys of leaders and employees). In addition, I was able to meet and talk with CEOs of the companies (e.g., GS Caltex and Lotte Giants), so it was also very valuable experience that I was able to listen to their challenges and also learn their leadership.”

Park stated that he intends to return to South Korea during Winter Intersession for ten days to conduct follow-up seminars and lectures, as well as continue his ongoing research collaborations. Next, summer, he plans to visit again.

By Terry Mares