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- LINE Hybrid Work 2.0 LINE's Hybrid Work 2.0 : Letting Employees Choose How They Prefer to Work for Best PerformanceMost companies tell their employees how they should work. Based on the nature of their tasks, project cycles, and how much international collaborating they do, companies often allow everything from occasional remote work to 100% remote work. The focus is on managing employee tasks and performances, both domestically and overseas.With the Covid-19 pandemic now receding into the past, many companies are transitioning back to office work. But not LINE, which continues to maintain its much-praised Hybrid Work system. This is based on the belief that a hybrid environment allows each team and employee at LINE to work at their best efficiency and productivity. LINE's Journey to Its Unique Work Style In fact, even before the pandemic, LINE had implemented its LINE SMART WORK system, which offered the option of working remotely once a month (along with flexible working hours from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., as long as a monthly standard is met). Combined with video conferencing and other collaborative tools, the remote work environment was already in place. Therefore, when the initial pandemic situation occurred, we were able to swiftly transition to full remote work, ensuring all organizations could operate 100% smoothly while staying safe from COVID-19.As the pandemic continued, LINE began to fundamentally rethink our way of working to better realize our global business direction. The answer was an optimal way of working (or hybrid work) that could yield the best results. LINE chose a slightly different path, opting not to uniformly impose a single work style on the entire company, but instead experimenting and exchanging feedback on the optimal style for each organization and role.In July 2021, we officially implemented LINE Hybrid Work 1.0, making LINE the first major company in Korea to implement a remote work system after the pandemic. Depending on the work style needed by each department — based on the nature of their work, project cycles, and degree of global collaboration — we provided a range of options from 100% remote work to coming to the office for a number of days a week. Through the “Working in _____ for a Month” pilot program, we experimented with flexible working options from various locations. As a result, we decided to give our employees flexibility to work anywhere they wanted in Korea, with the approval of their department lead, as long as their tasks and performance could be responsibly managed.In July 2022, LINE once again proposed a new work paradigm, LINE Hybrid Work 2.0, which allowed people to work from overseas too. This was made possible because over the previous two years, LINERs built trust that they could deliver results responsibly and professionally. LINE Hybrid Work 2.0 With LINE Hybrid Work 2.0, it's possible to work from overseas locations (within a 4 time zones of Korea). Employees can work from anywhere in Korea for as long as they like, and overseas for up to 90 days per year. This expansion opened up such places as LINE’s major markets of Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia, as well as Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Maldives, Guam, New Zealand, Saipan, and Australia. With LINE’s 200 million users around the world, being able to work abroad really helped our employees gain new insights and increase work efficiency through new experiences in a diversity of global environments. To create an optimal work environment, we provide Hybrid Work Points. You can freely use points worth KRW2.04 million each year to build a remote work environment that best suits you and your working style.Finally, we've updated our company-wide collaboration rules, which we call the Ground Rules. The Ground Rules refer to guidelines we’ve added to ensure successful offline collaborations and interactions, such as regular face-to-face meetings, managing members' sense of belonging and bonding, and intensive onboarding for new members. Thanks to these Ground Rules, LINERs can efficiently interact with other roles/teams. We also support Ground Rule-related training programs, helping organizations to set their own policies that suit their work, projects, and collaboration style. Workplace/Location “Find a location where you can fully focus!” - Ensure a stable physical environment (network, equipment, etc.) that allows you to concentrate on your work. - When working remotely, the basic rule is to work from home where the physical environment is optimized to ensure full concentration on your work. (Working outside while traveling or in locations such as cafes, parks, or libraries is not allowed.) - … Work Management “Share and provide feedback frequently!” - Each department or project conducts daily scrums and greetings at the start or end of the day. - Share work plans (goals, due dates) and progress with your Lead/PM and team members as frequently as possible. - … Communication “Be proactive in communication!” - During business hours, please communicate through the LINE messenger and other channels and respond to others promptly. - When sending a Slack/LINE/Works message to colleagues, it is recommended to include both a greeting and the reason you are contacting them, making it easier for others to respond quickly, even during their meetings. - … Working Hours “Manage your working hours consistently, whether at home or in the office!” - It is recommended to align your working hours with colleagues for better collaboration. - Share your starting and finishing times, along with your work or away statues, with Leads and colleagues to facilitate good communication. - … Office or Remote? Office and Remote! LINE has fully renovated its office in Korea to reflect the hybrid work situation. The office has transitioned from a simple workspace to a central space for face-to-face collaborations and interactions. We've reduced the total number of seats, implementing free-seating system for most people instead of individual fixed seats, and filled the resultant space gains with larger and more pleasant multi-person meeting rooms and gathering spaces. Considering the increase in video conferences, we've also increased the number of single-person meeting rooms (called “Focus Rooms”) and installed personal lockers to everyone can secure their belongings. Each floor has public spaces for refreshments, tea time with colleagues, and casual idea meetings. LINE Hybrid Work 2.0 Snapshot With the implementation of LINE Hybrid Work 2.0, we introduced LINE Hybrid Work 2.0 Tips! to enhance LINERs' collaborations and interactions. Offering a wide range of meeting rooms, office equipment available for day rental, ways to increase bonding in a remote work environment, and security health checklists, the Tips guide has been used by about 75% of LINERs, making it a go-to resource for both existing and new employees curious about Hybrid Work.Next, a company-wide special lecture was conducted to help people improve work skills in a Hybrid Work environment. From the ultimate purpose and meaning of Ground Rules (our steps for ensuring efficient collaborations and trust in each department), to the use of 1-on-1s for seamless synchronization between the organization heads and members, and from education on concentration/space/time management to effectively managing the environment surrounding individuals and increase work productivity! Especially for space management, there was an opportunity to receive direct home office consulting from space experts.Finally, everything from new employee onboarding to all internal events have transitioned to hybrid. We broadcast offline events online, allowing all LINERs to participate regardless of their location. Presenting two keywords: “Jeju” and “Bali”. Can you guess what they are? They are the top places LINERs like to go for remote work. Jeju Island for people staying in Korea (followed by the east coast cities of Goseong and Yangyang), and Bali, Indonesia for those going abroad (followed by Chiang Mai and Bangkok in Thailand and Tokyo in Japan). For overseas work locations, we could see that LINE's main markets are popular. This confirms the needs of LINERs who want to see and experience firsthand how the services they create are used overseas and hear the users' voices. * Editor’s note: As I’m writing this, I'm currently in Jeju, working and living on my own. Only my physical location has changed, but I've not experienced problems getting my work done or communicating with team members. However, I do think working here has made me a lot more efficient and productive. Changing where I’m based has really helped me clear my head, making me more focused on my work! Experiencing what this is like firsthand has really made me more confident in LINE’s remote work program. * Editor’s note: The LINER who provided the above photo spent a month in Bali with their colleagues. Although they had a strong camaraderie, they didn't know much about how each other worked or what specific tasks they did due to the detailed division of work roles. However, through this Bali remote work, they were able to better understand each other's tasks and roles. The future of work is here So, that’s the story of LINE Hybrid Work. LINERs are finding the optimal work style according to job-specific, organization-specific, and individual styles, sometimes in the office and sometimes remotely, for the best results. If you’re interested in working for a company that lets you find the work environment that’s right for you, come join us! ※ The information in this content applies only to certain corporations, and may differ for other corporations.
- LINE OPEN OFFICE Once a month, a packed LINE library on the 20th floor of Bundang Square buzzes with excitement as we host LINE OPEN OFFICE. Debuting in April 2023, each LINE OPEN OFFICE features young people aspiring to join LINE and their seniors from school or other activities, gathering to learn more about the fun and challenges that LINE offers. Thus far, some 200 have attended, so let’s learn more about what makes LINE OPEN OFFICE so special. What makes LINE OPEN OFFICE so ‘open’? First of all, the views are wide open. "Welcome to LINE!” Upon arrival at LINE’s office in Bundang, just south of Seoul, the first thing that greets participants is the spectacular view from our WOW Library on the 20th floor. The library is a popular space where employees usually read books or magazines, chat over coffee, and collaborate on projects. It’s also where many events are held, like town halls and workshops. However, during LINE OPEN OFFICE, it's exclusively for the use of our future LINERs as they learn all about our company. After hearing about LINE's work culture, there's an office tour so attendees can experience LINE's work environment up close. From the in-house cafe that LINERs visit first when they come to the office, to the meeting rooms and focus rooms where various LINE services are born, to the in-house convenience store and massage room for when people want a break, they get to explore every nook and cranny of LINE's office and envision how LINERs work. Secondly, 'LINE's A to Z' is open for those who are curious about everything LINE! “I'm curious about your code review culture.”, “Is it true that there are no fixed working hours?”, "What does an AI developer at LINE do? As part of the big day, we offer a session to reveal LINE's A to Z for participants and answer all their questions.LINERs work wherever their efficiency can be maximized in accordance to their team policy, developing services for 200 million users by collaborating with global colleagues. That kind of freedom seems appealing, but the languages and workload might be worrying at the same time. However, after hearing about the values LINE considers important and its journey so far, they can better understand how LINERs work with autonomy and also great responsibility. Attendees can start to envision why so many excellent people want to work at LINE, how they would work if they were a part of the team.Especially notable is the LINE Engineering introduction session, where the participants' eyes really light up. After listening attentively to the session, everyone participates in the Q&A, leading to honest and realistic questions that are typical of college students. From talks about technology used in practice, to organization and culture, and personal career and goals, students can get honest answers from current LINERs. Thirdly, we open a meeting place with senior LINE members. What I'd like to tell myself if I were to go back to job hunting is, 'The important thing is to just keep on going, even when you're feeling down.' The most special part of LINE OPEN OFFICE is getting to meet with senior LINERs. They share stories about when they started dreaming of becoming developers, what activities they did in college to achieve their goals, how the interview process was, what they find most satisfying about working at LINE now, and what they wish they had prepared during their undergraduate years. Through the interview session, senior LINERs offer honest, clear, and heartfelt answers to the questions juniors are most curious about, giving those young, aspiring LINERs a chance to learn how the senior LINERs came to do their current jobs.Afterwards, we move to a meeting room on a different floor to glimpse the work atmosphere and have a cozy lunch between seniors and juniors. As everyone eats hot burgers fresh from the restaurant on the first floor, we unwind and continue talking. Before everyone knows it, they’re not just hosts and guests, but friends, exchanging contacts and social media handles, promising to meet again soon. Looking forward to seeing you at LINE Seeing and hearing about LINE and LINERs firsthand from LINE’s office, we hope our guests get to experience LINE on a level that they couldn’t from the outside. We are also constantly working on developing more ways for our future LINERs to learn more about our company.We know many of you are eagerly waiting for the day LINE's open recruitment begins. Although the schedule is not yet set, once confirmed, you'll be able to check the good news first on the recruitment site you're reading now, or on the LINE CAREERS' social media accounts. Until then, please keep reading the LINE CAREERS channels and look for future LINE OPEN OFFICE events where we can continue our meetings with you! ※ The information in this content applies only to certain corporations, and may differ for other corporations.
- Mission & Values Create an amazing life Platform that brings WOW! to our users. From when you wake up until you fall asleep, as the foundation for your daily life, we aim to surprise, inspire and make your life better. We have steadily expanded our presence in the business landscape and the number of services we offer our users, which in turn has caused our impact on our users’ lives to grow. Moving forward, we will keep challenging ourselves to use our technology and services to create new and unexpected value in our users’ daily lives. WOW! WOW = “An unprecedented experience that you just have to share with others”! = “astonishment beyond imagination” "WOW!” is “an unprecedented experience that you just have to share with others.” “!” represents “astonishment beyond imagination”. In order to become the choice of users and deeply impress them, we have to realize both “WOW” and “!”. Together, that makes “WOW!,” and that needs to be our goal.WOW! begins with big ambitions — aiming for 120 out of 100 and tenfold growth rather than twofold or threefold. If this were easy to do, everyone would do it. But WOW! cannot be created from mediocrity, so it’s fundamentally important that we set our sights higher than anyone else — so high that others think it’s unreachable and give up. In the fierce process to reach such a high standard, you’ll be able to find a clue to WOW!. Life Platform We connect with our users through our wide range of services, like search, messenger, media, commerce, fintech, and AI. By “life platform”, we mean that we provide services that are closely connected to our users’ lives, impacting all aspects of daily life. 24/7, from when our users wake up until they fall asleep, we strive to support the overall life of the users. Our Aim We aim to create No. 1 services that are adored by countless users. Because users will not choose a mediocre No. 2 or No. 3. To make a WOW! service, you need to give your everything to your projects. No. 1 services that lead the market and change paradigms always have a WOW! factor. Gather together a range of No. 1 services that users depend on for the foundation of their daily lives, and you’ve created a “life platform”. In order to reach that goal of earning our users’ support and loyalty, we must continue to challenge ourselves with a fighting spirit and the determination that “We can do it”, no matter what. Moving forward, we will never stop taking on the challenges of creating a WOW! Life Platform. Values By “Values”, we mean the way we should work to achieve our Mission. Three core directions — Users Rule, Get It Done, and Lean & Mean Teams — set the standard for creating services, working as individuals, and collaborating as part of a team. Nine keywords are organized into three groups of three, so that we can put them into practice more readily. Users Rule Because only services that users find interesting and choose to use can survive, let alone become industry leaders, users are the foundation and core of our services. That is why you need to think from the users’ perspective at every step of creating a service, from start to end. You must ensure that the users trust us during every step of the service development process, from pinpointing user needs in advance to releasing distinctive services that embrace those needs. Always Data-drivenThe most crucial element when creating a service is to identify user needs accurately. If you misidentify what our users need then your very starting point is going to be wrong. You must analyze the data in depth, not just going on a hunch, and use that as the basis for your decisions. Only then will you be able to uncover our users’ hidden needs. Furthermore, user needs are always changing, so you must be attentive to their changes and keep your data up-to-date. Perfect the DetailsOnce you have pinpointed the users' needs, you must create services with the details totally perfected, like only we can offer. We can only survive the fierce competition of the marketplace when we offer unique and distinctive user experiences that stand out from the multitude of alternatives.What makes experiences distinctive lies in the specifics, not the grand idea, so you must pay particular attention to the finest details.Furthermore, the work doesn’t end with the release of a service. There is no guarantee that the users who were initially satisfied with a service will still use it a year later. You must aim for a standard that exceeds their ever-changing expectations, observe their reactions, make the necessary modifications, and do what it takes so our users continue to choose us. Stay Trustworthy Until now, we have grown through earning the support and dedication of our users.But as our business has grown, so too has the scope of what we consider “users”, beyond just the people who use our services to now include shareholders, governments, local communities, partners, and employees. And these users demand a higher level of trust.Accordingly, in order to maintain their trust and further strengthen that bond, you should always be thinking in terms of “how” you are achieving your goals, not just “what” you’re achieving.The level of trust that users demand is always changing and may be higher in the future. You must always be attentive to those changes and respond promptly. Get It Done Our job is to always be solving problems. So, you must focus on solving such problems with grit and determination, rather than just dwelling on the problems or challenges, and do your best to create solutions.There are always endless reasons why something can’t be done, but, you need to dig deep and find ways to accomplish your goals.If you truly did your best—if you gave it your all and went beyond your limits—your time and effort will still be meaningful even if you meet failure at the end of the road. Or, even better, those experiences can serve as valuable lessons for your next challenge.When you finally do succeed after going through all this, you will feel an even greater sense of accomplishment. Work Intensely and Be FocusedYou will face numerous problems to solve and, yes, each of them will be difficult.Therefore, you must understand the nature of your work first—what you are doing, why you are doing it, and for whom. Then prioritize your tasks and focus on solving the problem at hand.You can only solve problems when you properly allocate your time and effort according to the importance of each issue.What’s more, you will find that you can come up with new, out-of-the-box solutions when you’re intensely immersed in the work, rather than simply “working hard”. Take the InitiativeThe more difficult a task is, the harder it is to find a solution when you are limiting yourself to just your own tasks. Take the initiative to look at the whole process and if you find a better method, talk to your peers first and work together, even if something is not on your task list.Note that this is not about simply pinpointing problems or criticizing. It is important to dive into the process and collaborate. Only with such efforts will you be able to achieve your ultimate goal. Embody ProfessionalismIn order to “Get It Done”, meaning to accomplish the challenging tasks we have before us, each one of us must be professional. A “professional” is someone who regularly achieves outstanding results in their work, beyond what most people can do. And “outstanding results” means the kind of results that greatly exceed the expectations of everyone you work with. Understanding that rigorous standard, you should be striving to confidently call yourself a professional.An organization made from such excellent professionals is an organization that can tackle any challenge that comes its way and ultimately succeed. Lean & Mean Teams Lean & Mean Teams refers to creating teams that are efficient, with nothing in excess of what is needed, single-minded in their common objective.A hundred mediocre athletes with middling ambitions cannot beat a team of 10 elite athletes who are determined to win no matter what.We can only create outstanding results when an organization is optimized for a given task, moving in perfect order like one body, battling with a true fighting spirit. Open Communication, Vertical Decision-making Most of the tasks you face will have more than one solution. To identify the best solution, open and honest communications based on a deep understanding of the task are essential, regardless of authority, position, age, or experience.In an open environment, team members will suggest ideas to find solutions, and the team leader will listen to them and set a clear direction based on their input.The leader will also take responsibility for those decisions. Team members must trust their leader's judgment and work together to achieve the team's goal. Keep in Sync with GoalsWe work in an ever-changing environment, so our teams need to be able to quickly exchange opinions, adjust the direction according to prevailing conditions, and synchronize their progress with all members in real time.Only then can you promptly respond to any situation, survive and ultimately achieve your goals. Enjoy the Challenges Together The more difficult the challenge is, the more important the support of your teammates is.When teammates complement and encourage each other in difficult times, a bond is formed, creating a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts, and an energy that you cannot create alone.There’s nothing like the feeling of accomplishment and pride you get after overcoming challenges together as a team, challenges you once thought were insurmountable when you were on your own. Mission & Values in LINERs’ everyday lives Our Mission & Values have been very prominent in all the LINE offices, serving as a constant reminder of our core principles to all LINERs. These values are found in various places such as PC wallpapers, virtual backgrounds for video conferencing with coworkers, digital posters, and more. Our Mission & Values is with you every moment from when you start at LINE and as you grow as a LINER. Wallpapers and screensavers reinforcing the Values messaging We look forward to growing together Mission & Values is not just an abstract value, but rather the foundation of every moment of your work as a LINER, of your practical choices and your judgments. For those who want to make users around the world say “WOW!,” for those who dream of creating No. 1 services together with other outstanding colleagues. please do not hesitate to join us. We look forward to hearing from you. Go to LINE Jobs Postings
- Celebrating 10 Years at LINE! In 2023, we celebrated the 12th anniversary of the LINE messenger and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of LINE as its own company.There are certain experiences all LINERs know — from the obligatory selfie with Mega Brown on the first day at LINE, to the countless tests conducted from a taxi in a foreign country, waiting at a restaurant, or even in a hotel room, to the exhilarating moment of successfully launching a service we've prepared with all our hearts.We invited two LINERs who have been part of LINE's numerous milestones over the past decade to talk with us. # A Decade Built on Big and Small Days Q. Hello! Could you briefly introduce yourself? Byeongguk Kim (Server Side Engineer): Hello, I'm Byeongguk Kim, and I've been working in various positions at LINE for the past 10 years. I primarily work on backend programming, and I'm currently devoted to developing an AD review system.Boyoon Choi (Business Strategy): My name is Boyoon Choi, and I work in the LINE CPO Strategy department. Nice to meet you. Lately, I've been managing KPIs and establishing processes for LINE Messenger products. Q. How did you feel when you were asked for an interview? Byeongguk: Since it's my first time reaching 10 years of service, I was quite surprised. (Laughs) I was unsure if I was suitable for an interview. I reflected on how I was as a novice 10 years ago, how I am now, and how the company has changed over the years. Considering the many experiences and changes, I thought looking back would be meaningful for both me and the company, so I agreed to the interview.Boyoon: I realized I've been with the company for quite a while (laughs). Time has flown by without me noticing because I've been consistently working. 'LINE+ 3,650' event for 10-year LINERS 10-year gifts received as part of “10 Years Together” Q. How do you feel about reaching 10 years of service?Byeongguk: Time really flies. It feels like just a while ago I was a fresh newcomer, I can't believe it's been 10 years. We had a long-term service commemoration event last April. It was fun to see many people I hadn't seen in a while, everyone seemed the same.Boyoon: Ten years ago, LINE was just starting, but now we have more colleagues and a huge number of users, which makes me very proud. Also, the fact that I've grown with LINE during this process feels quite emotional. # From a Newbie Who Needed Help, to a Senior Who Can Now Assist Others Q. Byeongguk, you were LINE's first new hire who joined direction from university. What made you apply to LINE and what stands out the most when you look back at the process? I applied to LINE for one reason, my aspiration for the global market. I thought that working for a broader market would allow me to gain more experience and naturally become more capable. Looking back now, I realize it's not just about the country you work in, but the attitude you bring to your work that’s important. I was fortunate to have diverse experiences in various domains at LINE. Q. Can you share your memories of your first day at LINE? I was assigned to LINE Development Lab 3, which had about 30 members. The lab kindly threw a welcome party for me. We all went to a nearby chicken restaurant and had a blast. I remember thinking, "Developers really do love chicken!" (Laughs) I tried not to drink, fearing I might make a mistake, but a sharp senior saw through me and made me drink. I remember his expression saying, "Gotcha!" (Laughs) Q. You've worked in various fields at LINE, from gaming, cryptocurrency, to advertising. What led you to switch roles and what advantages did you gain from it? Actually, I had several role changes within the gaming organization. I was often assigned to areas lacking resources, like a firefighter, which made me comfortable with transitions. Eventually, I wanted a bigger change and transferred to fintech, which attracted me the most among the open positions in Career+ (an internal recruitment program). This switch was different. It was like moving to a new industry, even a nascent one. I faced new domains, different colleagues, similar but different work processes, stricter security requirements, and tighter government regulations. However, the problem-solving know-how I gained from gaming was still applicable. For example, how to ensure users can use the service in real time without errors. Working with people from diverse backgrounds, applying our collective expertise, we built a robust and superior exchange. As a result, the job switch allowed me to gain a broader range of experiences. Q.Is there something today’s Byeongguk would like to say to newbie Byeongguk from 10 years ago?"Don't be scared". I wish I had more confidence. In fact, I have a timid, extremely shy, triple A-blood type personality. As a newcomer, I naturally didn't know much, and I was very cautious even to ask questions since everyone around me was a stranger. Because of this, I think there were many things I regret. In the first and second year review process, I often heard "Byungkook lacks confidence compared to his abilities". Looking back now, I think it would have been better if I had been more proactive with the mindset of "even if something goes wrong, I can correct it". # LINE Connecting Me to a Dynamic World Q. Now let's hear from Boyoon. Unlike Byeongguk who started with LINE as a new employee, you worked on related tasks as part of NAVER for about eight years, even before LINE was established. When did you start working on LINE services and what was LINE like at that time? My connection with LINE began in 2010 when I started working in Tokyo, Japan. It was when smartphone use was increasing, and I remember Jung-ho Shin, the founder of LINE and now the GCPO (Group Chief Product Officer) of LY Corporation, declared in a town hall meeting that we should prioritize making smartphone applications as the paradigm was shifting. Back then, we primarily focused on PC functionalities and screens, and adapted these for mobile. However, we started from scratch, placing smartphone applications at the center, and went through an ideation process to determine what kind of applications were needed. We discussed what unchanging desires people would have even as the times changed, and I think social needs such as the desire to connect with each other, to share stories, and to record and share what happened came up first. This ideation led to the birth of LINE Messenger. We also created a photo-sharing service called Photo Album, which no longer exists. What struck me was that everyone, now executives, worked very passionately. It felt like if we discussed an idea in the morning, it would be made into a service by the evening. (Laughs) Q. You moved when LINE was established in 2013. Do you have any memorable moments from that transition period? As I mentioned earlier, I was already working creating Japanese services and Japanese employees from NAVER Japan, so it felt like just the corporate name changed rather than a significant shift. It was very natural for me. Q. You've been active in various fields such as new businesses, global, and fintech. What prompted your career shift and what benefits have you gained from it?Previously, I was part of a new business team and experienced various new tasks. My original career was in service planning and marketing, but I also had the opportunity to create a game while considering new businesses outside of messaging. From this experience, I realized there are many businesses I'm unaware of. Given the company's growth at the time, I became curious about the overall products and businesses at LINE, which led me to apply for a transfer to the PMO (Project Management Office) department. Working there broadened my perspective, allowing me to examine and systematize various business/national structures, and I learned a lot about LINE and business. Q. Three years ago, you became a team lead! I'm curious about what kind of leader you've strived to be over the past three years. Given the rapid changes in the industry and our company's numerous businesses and challenges, there's always a lot of new information and areas to learn. I believe a comfortable and flexible atmosphere allows for the acceptance of new information and synergy creation. I've tried hard to create an environment where we can openly discuss issues within the team. Also, since our team members often communicate with leads and executives from other departments, I've been striving to empower them with more authority and responsibility, hoping they grow into members who can independently lead their tasks. # Responsibility, bonding, and unforgettable Moments Q. Over the past 10 years, there must have been many unforgettable moments. Can you share some memorable ones? Byeongguk: I vividly recall the 2014 Game Developer Center project. The project was mainly run by Japanese developers, and there was a shortage of staff, so support was requested to the Korea team, and I was selected. I went to Japan with other Korean colleague, worked busily on development, shared development issues in English with Japanese developers. We also enjoyed skewers and beer after work and even participated in an Oktoberfest event nearby. (Laughs) Near the end of the trip, I declined the director's suggestion to stay longer for the project. Also, I remembered I had to go shopping for clothes because it was an extended business trip, accidentally chose butter salt ramen from a ramen vending machine, and even watched my umbrella break during a typhoon. (Laughs) Looking back, it was an experience I could have because LINE is a global company.Boyoon: We faced many challenges before launching LINE. One of the services we launched then had reached 100,000 users, and I have a modest but happy memory of celebrating that achievement with my team. Also, when launching a new service, we conduct field tests. I remember taking a taxi to less-traveled suburban areas in Thailand to test if everything was working well. I also recall visiting our QA team in Dalian and trying the popular spicy dishes there. Q. Over the past 10 years, what is your proudest accomplishment or achievement?Byeongguk: Specifically, I've built a common monitoring system for the Game organization, reduced the number of servers by a third through improving the performance of the exchange Websocket server, and transitioned the AD review server deployment environment to K8S. However, more than these, I think the most meaningful thing is my growth from a junior to a senior developer who can help my team members. Initially, I learned a lot by observing the code written by seniors, receiving shared philosophies and know-how about problem-solving, and seeing how to respond when troubles arise. Now, I'm happy to be able to encourage and pass on those know-how to my juniors. I hope to continue sharing with others as much as I've learned.Boyoon: Firstly, I want to commend myself for taking on challenges in various domains. Regardless of success or failure, I've diligently worked on tasks I hadn't tried before and accumulated knowledge and experience! Q. In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that you've grown with LINE every step of the way. What are some unforgettable changes or challenges the company has undergone?Byeongguk: Looking back, every moment at LINE was a challenge, and the company has constantly evolved. If I had to pick one really big change, it would be LINE Hybrid Work. We suddenly started working from home due to COVID-19, but we efficiently organized this situation into a Hybrid work system, which we're operating well with version 2.0. It was a big change and challenge for the company, and I think it was possible thanks to the efforts of all LINERs, including HR, to establish the system.Boyoon: I'll never forget the moment when LINE was rapidly growing with increasing users in multiple countries. Although I wasn't directly responsible, it was extremely gratifying to see the company itself growing. And the moment of listing on the New York Stock Exchange was an unforgettable moment for any LINER, even though I watched it from afar. Q. Could you share your most memorable personal experiences of challenges and growth?Byeongguk: I remember creating a transaction volume event with a junior developer. Instead of dictating everything and assigning tasks, I guided him to find good methods by sharing various information and know-how. I did this hoping that my peer would grow more than me, but I think I also grew by trying new methods. Since then, we've been able to positively influence each other while working together on various tasks.Boyoon: The most memorable experience was when I planned a game on the new business team. Since it was a field I had never experienced before, I didn't actually know how difficult it would be when I started. However, after about three years of hard work, we launched it and had quite a lot downloads, exceeding 10 million users, and the performance was good in terms of indicators. Also, before that, I had only been on business trips to Japan, but I think it was good to have the opportunity to launch the service I made in Thailand and Taiwan. Q. This is the question I'm most curious about. (Laughs) Both Byeongguk and Boyoon, what has been your driving force or secret to staying with LINE for such a long time?Byeongguk: I think there was never a dull moment since I was responsible for various product tasks within LINE. LINE seems to encourage employees to have diverse experiences. For instance, I initially developed a LINE announcement tool with Javascript, then in Japan, I built a game developer center with JAVA. Later, I created a game server using Unity modules in C#, and also developed an exchange server that transmits market information in real-time with Websocket. Currently, I'm developing both front and back ends of an AD review platform. I can summarize that there was no time to get bored because I was always in the middle of something really dynamic.Boyoon: I think I'm similar. The tech industry itself is dynamic, but LINE is really dynamic. New projects continuously emerge, and the countries we service also keep changing, so there was never a dull moment. Rather than thinking about long-term employment, time naturally passed as I continuously carried out new tasks. With new trends like NFTs and AI constantly arising, keeping up with the world's changes and industry trends seems to be the secret to long-term employment at LINE. Also, LINE has an atmosphere that actively encourages new challenges and changes, so being able to switch tasks when needed also served as a driving force for me to keep working. Q. Do you have any goals or dreams you want to achieve at LINE in the future?Byeongguk: My goal is to build Asia's No. 1 ad platform. Although it's actually an organizational vision (laughs), I feel we've come closer to it through our merger with Yahoo Japan. I know our leaders are thinking a lot about how to realize this vision in response to the merger. I want to contribute to this effort and would love to see a project I participate in become No. 1.Boyoon: In the short term, my goal is to contribute to the systematization and process establishment needed as part of the merger. In the long term, I'd like to contribute to LINE creating another WOW service for our users. Q. I'm curious about what “work” and “LINE” mean to both of you.Byeongguk: I think of work as problem-solving. Various problems arise in doing business, and I see myself in a position that primarily uses programming to solve problems. In that sense, when I think about LINE, I consider it a place with many interesting and exciting problems. Sometimes it throws me problems I don't want to solve which can be annoying, and other times it gives me problems that make me proud once solved ... It feels a bit like a mischievous friend. (Laughs) As much as we've interacted over a long period of time, I feel like LINE is a friend that needs a lot of attention, just as much as it gives.Boyoon:: I see work as a way to contribute to the world or the company with my modest talents. And LINE seems to me like a line connecting us to a dynamic world. Working here, I get to learn about changes in the world that I wouldn't have known otherwise. Q. Could you share a message for your colleagues at LINE and future LINERs who will be joining us soon? Byeongguk: First off, you're always welcome here. I'm a senior developer who has grown through various experiences, but there are many people at LINE more brilliant than me. Not just in our team, but in every LINE organization, there are people who actively solve problems while fulfilling their responsibilities. There’s no better opportunity to grow than working in a good place with good people. Boyoon: I want to express my gratitude to my colleagues who have unknowingly helped me grow so far. And for future LINERs, ah, LINE is such a wonderful place, how should I describe it ... (laughs) Like a line from a poem, "Walking through a forest of tall trees, I grew taller," I believe LINE is a place where I can grow among the tall trees created by my colleagues. With many excellent colleagues like tall trees and various opportunities given, I hope you join LINE and work with us.
Meet the Global LINERs
- AnalysisHyeonah Kang Data AnalystBefore she started working at LINE, Hyeonah was visiting Hong Kong where she came across a LINE pop-up store and was impressed to see the long lines of people using LINE Messenger and loving the LINE characters. She joined LINE because she saw it as a leading example of a Korean company succeeding globally, and she was excited about the opportunity to analyze data from a broader perspective, including multinational user service patterns. Let’s dive into the story of Hyeonah, a data analyst with 10 years of experience!LEARN MORE
- Business & SalesSehoon HeoBusiness Management Introducing Sehoon Heo, lead for the Global Display Business team. After working as a digital marketer in advertising agencies and mobile game companies, he joined LINE to deepen his understanding of backend platforms and services — a key source of platform revenue — from a user's perspective. As team lead, he values aligning his team's roles and goals with the members' expectations.LEARN MORE
- EngineeringJongyoun AhniOS EngineeringJongyoun joined LINE in 2015 after working as an intern the previous summer. He has been involved with iOS development since he joined LINE, and he has worked on various LINE services, including the LINE Messenger chat rooms and LINE Pay. His current task is developing the photo gallery feature on LINE Messenger for iOS. Let's find out what Jongyoun has learned about being an engineer while working at LINE.LEARN MORE