[Interview] Yunsik Choi, a Korean futurist

An interview with a Korean futurist: Yunsik Choi

Interviewee Profile

As Korea's most popular futurist, he is the author of more than 50 books (including futures scenario books such as ‘2030 A Bold Future’). His books have been published in South Korea, China and Japan. In addition, he served as the president of the Institute for Future Technology Management, State University of New York in Korea, research professor at the State University of New York in in Korea, and head of the executive course at the International Business School. Recently, he founded the Asian Future Research Institute to train futurists and study future scenarios. In addition, he communicates with the public through various lectures. He graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in Foresight. 

Q: How did you find out about foresight, and how did you start your career as a futurist?

Q: It seems that foresight is not widely known in South Korea. Do you agree with my opinion? And where do you see the cause?

A: As far as I know, the Hawaiian school of futures studies seems very similar to the European mainland, not the Anglo-American foresight. This school puts a lot of emphasis on philosophical and ideological aspects, and tries to look into the distant future. The Houston program, on the other hand, seems to be very practical, like the typical American style, and strong in the foresight methodology. I was more interested in this Houston foresight style. The Houston program also has a greater focus on the commercial private sector. On the other hand, the future strategy program at KAIST in South Korea focuses heavily on technology. If you recognize the differences between each of these schools, it can help you decide which direction to take your foresight research in the future.

A: To be honest, I started studying foresight in Houston simply after being introduced to it by an acquaintance. Actually, I still think that South Korea is barren, but it was even worse when I started studying foresight. When I write my books, I have been writing books with the theme of future scenarios. However, most of the existing books on the future published in South Korea are published under the same themes as specific prophecies or great prophecies.

A: From another point of view, it could be said that South Korea is not a barren land for foresight. In South Korean society, foresight actually exists in all areas. They just don't use the name foresight. In fact, if you look at future research institutes or those in charge of future research, they are more active than any other country. However, they are conducting future research in the same way as they did in the past in the discipline or sector to which they belong. Futurists like us need to build a comprehensive methodology system by synthesizing these scattered future research methods.

Q: It seems that most futurists currently working in South Korea are in the shadows. And futurists in some sunny places are felt to be in the minority. How much do you agree?

Q: There were people in academia who underestimated popular futurists like you. What do you think?

A: We need to further subdivide the roles of those who study the future. I divide them into three groups:

A: First, 'future interested' are people who are interested in the future and collect and deliver various information. The scenarios they create can conflict. Second, 'future researchers' are people who systematically learn about foresight methodology and have the ability to conduct future research on their own based on this. If you have graduated from the Houston foresight program, you can say that you are equipped with future research capabilities. Third, 'professional futurists' are people who do full-time future research. It does not mean that one can become a professional futurist after graduating from a specialized curriculum such as the Houston program, but it is necessary to accept the research methodology established by traditional foresight.

A: I think it would be ideal if each group was clearly divided, defined what they could do, and organic collaboration was achieved between each group.

A: The important thing is that if the public comes into contact with the writings or books of future interests and thinks that the contents contained therein are all of foresight, the whole of foresight can be misunderstood. This is worrisome.

Q: In terms of demand, how much do you think public/private organizations have value or need for foresight? Or, conversely, do you think that the domestic demand for foresight cannot be met due to the lack of professional futurists? Or do you think that the academic system or methodology of foresight is not satisfactory to the public due to insufficient maturity/completeness?

A: Many national institutions and governments in South Korea are conducting future research projects. However, in most projects of government agencies, there is a strong tendency to write a scenario that the organization wants. There seems to be no significant difference in the private sector. If a company does a future research project, futurists often have to write what the company owner or decision maker wants. As a futurist, I don't think you should do this. So, instead of being part of an organization or working on a project as a team or group of many people, it may be better to work alone.

A: Considering interest in future research, South Korea is very quick to recognize and follow global trends. For this reason, public institutions and local governments have created future research or future strategy departments. However, the problem is that research is biased only on the latest trends, and there is a strong tendency to neglect the creation of necessary results in countries or companies. Perhaps, as the 4th industrial revolution paradigm has recently received social attention, the demand for foresight seems to increase. In other words, a new paradigm is approaching, and people tend to rely on futurists because they do not know what will come in the future. If a new paradigm is popularized, then the demand for foresight will decrease again or a new field of name will be created instead of foresight.

Q: It seems that there are very few educational institutions that train professional futurists. My guess is that the biggest cause is the lack of public understanding and needs for foresight. To what extent do you agree with my opinion?

A: I think that foresight is like riding a cycle of the times. Now seems to be the time for that cycle to rise. So, in many universities where professors did not major in foresight, there were more elective subjects teaching foresight.

A: Also, since foresight is a relatively new field, when people graduate with a foresight major in South Korea, they will face difficulties in making a living in reality. Therefore, it seems that there is not much foresight education in South Korea.

A: I once received a proposal from the presidents of the university to create a new department. However, because the university professor society in South Korea is very conservative, they were very opposed to the establishment of the Foresight Department for fear that their domain would be invaded. For this reason, KAIST is the only institution that has established a department of foresight in South Korea.

Q: A futurist in South Korea once mentioned, “The reality is that it is very rare for people who majored in foresight in South Korea to actually advance into the field of foresight.” What do you think is the cause? Looking back on the past/present, what do you think is the most difficult part of working as a futurist?

A: In South Korea, the value of futurists is undervalued. In fact, public institutions or private companies order projects that establish future scenarios. However, the cost that customer companies consider for the project is one-tenth of that of a typical consulting project. Considering this aspect, I think that the perception or understanding of foresight in South Korea is still in its infancy.

Q: Do you think the demand for futurists or futurists will increase further in South Korea? If so, what type of futurists do you think should be further nurtured?

A: It is important to mass-produce professional futurists, but even more important is to get many people to use foresight properly. Training professional futurists is very slow and labor intensive. Instead, I think the fastest and most effective way is to educate the practitioners in charge of future research in the field about foresight techniques. Current futurists should feel a sense of mission in this regard.

Q: At this point, what is the most important part of a junior who wants to start foresight as a futurist?

Q: I am currently working on a part-time master's program as an office worker. Do you think positively about advancing into a futurist (and entering a doctoral program) as a professional scholar in the future?

Q: What do I need to prepare or have to become a popular full-time futurist like you?

A: It is fundamentally the most necessary part for futurists to receive professional training. In order to work professionally in foresight for a long time, it is necessary to have a professional education in a place like Houston. Going on to a doctoral program can also be a great help to work as a futurist for the rest of your life.

A: For futurists, it is their destiny to constantly study. Such studies should be studied throughout life as if they were continuously exploring various fields of study as well as studying foresight.

A: And the next important thing is scanning. For futurists, scanning is like a graceful swan on the water, ferociously webbing under the water. You have to constantly watch the world go by. I scan about 2-3 hours every day.

A: Lastly, as a professional futurist, you should conduct research to develop future research tools. I feel a lot of limitations when studying scenarios with existing tools. There are limits to using only tools trained in places like Houston or Hawaii.

Q: Lastly, as a senior futurist, what advice would you like to give?

A: Working as a futurist in South Korea is not easy at first. However, it is very important to keep working hard. Don't neglect blogging, participating in projects, presenting scenarios, or publishing papers. At first, it may seem like a pointless effort. However, as time passes and a certain point passes and such efforts are accumulated, there comes a point when you feel your value has risen significantly. In South Korea, there are not many professional futurists, so if you go up to a certain level, you can receive the highest level of fame or treatment. It takes time, but I recommend trying it properly.

A: And one of the core of foresight is insight, which creates greater value as time passes and knowledge accumulates. That is why being a futurist is a very good career for a lifetime.

A: It is important to be active not only in the South Korean market, but also in the global market. Even in neighboring China, I have experienced more enthusiasm for foresight in China than in South Korea. Even if you are a South Korean futurist, you do not have to look only at South Korea, because to see South Korea properly, you have to look at the whole world together.

A: I hope you will make an effort and study to actively utilize artificial intelligence technology in future research.

A: Foresight is not an area occupied by many experts in one limited market. Foresight is an area where the more futurists create synergy with each other, the greater the value is created. That is why I hope that many of my junior futurists will come out and create value together.