Broadcaster and entrepreneur Song Eun-hee mentioned the complicated feelings she had during the time of her close friend Yoo Jae-suk's success as she appeared on 'You Quiz' to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her company's founding.
On the episode of tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block' that aired on the 30th, the 32-year veteran comedian and 10-year corporate professional, 'Song CEO' Song Eun-hee, participated and shared her story.
That day, when Yoo Jae-suk saw Song Eun-hee, he started teasing her, saying, "You came wearing something unusual," and Song Eun-hee appeared feeling somewhat awkward about her style. She introduced herself as a 32-year veteran comedian and a 10-year corporate professional, mentioning that she has a seven-story office building in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, with over 50 employees.
Yoo Jae-suk expressed his admiration, saying, "You also have an impressive building in Sangam-dong. They call you the '100 billion CEO.'" Song Eun-hee shyly replied, "I don't know where the story of 100 billion comes from; I don't have 100 billion. I just felt good, so I just kept it."
In response, Cho Sae-ho mentioned, "I heard that the company headquarters is worth about 7 billion won at current market prices," further fueling the idea of her being a '100 billion CEO,' and Song Eun-hee remarked, "It's not for investment purposes. We want to make it possible to shoot content anywhere in the building. You could say we invested in the facilities."
She said she established the content company during a time when her broadcasting activities were halted. Song Eun-hee shared, "I became unemployed, but I realized I was unemployed a year later. I was told I would get a call when the restructuring happened, but a year went by with no offers. That's when I came across new media, and I happened to learn editing, so that's how it happened."
Ten years ago, the content company started with two writers, Kim Sook, Song Eun-hee, and one freelance producer. It has grown to a company with 50 employees located in a seven-story building in Mapo-gu. Song Eun-hee mentioned she receives a salary of 3 million won, saying, "I hope all employees can grow more. Can't we at least give them a raise for meal expenses?"
She said she learned editing, as well as Excel, herself. Song Eun-hee remarked, "I'm probably the fastest among the eagles. I use my three fingers. But still, I can use all three of them." Reflecting on the early days of her startup, she mentioned, "In the beginning, I was just sitting around because I didn't know what to do. Now, I'm in the Future Strategy Office (CEO's office). I feel safe and warm now," to which Yoo Jae-suk asked, "I heard it's most challenging for the CEO on paydays. How is it?"
Song Eun-hee explained, "Now, we have a CFO in charge of management support, so I don't handle the bank account. In the beginning, I managed the accounts and paid the employees' salaries." She added, "Once I missed the payday on the 28th and sent it out on the 30th. I can't imagine how much they disliked that. But nobody said anything. So I set up automatic transfers, but the next month I forgot about the automatic transfer and paid again. Yet nobody mentioned anything. So I said, 'Do you want to take next month's salary early, or return it?' and got it back again," which drew laughter.
Song Eun-hee confessed that she experienced burnout three years ago, saying, "I think I had burnout about 3 to 4 years ago. I always kept my phone close and would reply to messages funnily on KakaoTalk." She recalled, "One day, after a meeting in Gangnam, I was crossing the Olympic Bridge to get to the World Cup Bridge, and I really like that bridge. But I wasn't happy. I felt sad. I got a call and thought, 'Should I throw my phone there?' I wondered why I was doing this to enjoy wealth and honor."
Yoo Jae-suk, who is a close friend, also related, "Sometimes I have such thoughts. They give great offers, and it's really nice, but when I think about it one day, there are too many decisions to make. Having so many decisions is a very happy life, but it doesn't come the way I want it to."
Additionally, Yoo Jae-suk, who knows Song Eun-hee well, said, "Eun-hee's biggest advantage and also the most challenging part has been her confidence. She has a lot of confidence, but it's not funny. I lack confidence." To this, Song Eun-hee replied, "I have confidence but am not funny. You Jae-suk can't pull it off due to nervousness, while I have too much confidence and can't pull it off. I can't maintain that rhythm and such links."
Overcoming those times, Yoo Jae-suk has become the nation's MC, and Song Eun-hee has transformed into a CEO with 50 employees after ten years. Reflecting on the days when Yoo Jae-suk was receiving awards, she said, "Watching my friend succeed and become the top MC feels really strange. It's a very strange feeling to witness my friend's success."
Song Eun-hee acknowledged, "In the past, Jae-suk would ask me, 'What do you think?' and I had times when I told him what was good. Now, Jae-suk has gone from being anxious and worried to becoming a highly successful MC, and I realized during that time that I was relying on my confidence without thinking about myself. After that turnaround, I think it made me happy to see Jae-suk succeed. Truly."
As she continued, "I'm essentially an eternal grasshopper, and I hope to be Eun-song. It's fun and enjoyable to play together, and I feel happy just by being involved. Jae-suk has such great sense. Even when I started my podcast, he accepted everything, saying, 'What are you doing, holding the camera?'" expressing her gratitude. Yoo Jae-suk will personally participate in the 'Vibo Show,' which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Song Eun-hee disclosed, "I saw that Sook did a good job. The concept is Yoo Jae-suk and the kids. We're also preparing 'The heat-struck seagull.'"
[Photo] OSEN DB, broadcast capture
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