Hoban Group hosts summer lecture with 'Paris Minsu' professor

Hoban Group held a special summer lecture for its employees, inviting a French culture expert to share insights on the mindset needed for growth in a rapidly changing era and on building competitiveness in the age of AI.

The conglomerate said Monday it hosted the lecture at its headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on July 24.

About 160 employees attended, including Kim Dae-heon, Hoban Group's president of planning; Kim Yun-hye, president of management at Hoban Property; and Kim Min-hyeong, executive director of the group's communications division.

The speaker was Jeong Il-young, a visiting professor in the Department of English, American and European Humanities at Inha University, known by the nickname "Paris Minsu" for his accessible approach to French culture. Jeong lectured on the theme "What sets people who keep growing apart," exploring the attitudes and competitive strengths needed in a fast-changing world.

Jeong said that in today's rapidly shifting environment, "lifelong growth" — a commitment to continuous learning and adaptation — is replacing the concept of a "lifelong job" as the defining competitive edge. He said the habits of asking questions, embracing challenges, building trust, collaborating with others and treating failure as part of the growth process are what ultimately determine whether individuals and organizations thrive.

He also said that in the AI era, distinctly human strengths — creativity, empathy and communication — will matter even more than the ability to use technology or solve problems.

Hoban Group views talent as a core competitive asset and runs a range of education programs, including its lecture series. Beyond job-specific training, the company has brought in specialists across the humanities, history, science, social affairs and culture to give employees fresh perspectives and new insights.

Past speakers have included history educator Choi Tae-seong, neuroscientist Jang Dong-sun, Lee Ji-sun, a professor of social welfare at Ewha Womans University, and Nam Kyung-pil, former governor of Gyeonggi Province.

"We hope this lecture gave our employees a new lens through which to view a changing world and a meaningful opportunity to reflect on their own direction for growth," a Hoban Group official said. "We will continue to support our people's development and build a learning-centered corporate culture through a diverse range of lectures and education programs."