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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.
LINE Hybrid WOW Library For many people, books are magical doorways, allowing you entry into other worlds. Sometimes they are a shelter from the troubles of real life. Other times a fun playground to explore. And still other times, a way of gaining insights into the world that people wouldn’t get from their own lives.LINE believes in the power of books, and to that end, the LINE Plus offices in Korea offer the LINE Hybrid WOW Library, home to thousands of books available to all LINERs, both offline and online. Let’s check it out! LINE Hybrid WOW Library One of the most important questions LINERs are always asking themselves is “Is this a WOW?”, because creating that feeling of “WOW” is what leads to industry-leading, No. 1 services that people truly love and embrace. We call it “an unprecedented experience that you just have to share with others.” ( Read more ) And one of the most important sources of that inspiration for creating “WOWs” is in books. The LINE Hybrid WOW Library is the place where LINERs go to look for WOW insights and experiences, featuring books recommended by fellow LINERs. The LINE library features books any LINER can borrow, either a physical copy or as an e-book readable on mobile devices like smart phones and tablets (which is in line with LINE’s Hybrid Work policy and why it’s called the LINE Hybrid WOW Library). WOW BOOKS Curation From LINERs, by LINERs and for LINERs! LINE Hybrid WOW Library updates its “WOW” curated section every month with books personally recommended by LINERs. WOW Books 큐레이션 코너 WOW for LINERs Business management, leadership, and self-development books we think are great for LINERs WOW from LINERs WOW books personally recommended by LINERs for other LINERs Written by LINERs Books written by LINERs FNL Books Books autographed by the guests featured in our FNL (Friday Noon Live) events WOW in Magazines Magazines in all sorts of fields, from business management to philosophy The “WOW from LINERs” selection is especially notable, as LINERs can grow closer to their colleagues by sharing in the insights and experiences others have recommended. (!) Wait a minute! I heard that the LINE CEO recommended a book to LINE Hybrid WOW Library. Is this true?! Yes, it is! EJ Lee, the CEO of LINE Plus, takes reading very seriously (she even says it’s a dream of hers to open a bookstore in her neighborhood). EJ recently recommended the grown-up fairytale The Long, Long Night by Luri. The Long, Long Night (by Luri) EJ says: “I have two principles when making book recommendations for LINERs. The first is to pick a book that is easy to open, even for those who do not enjoy reading. And, second, to choose a book unrelated to work. As soon as I came up with those principles, I thought of The Long, Long Night. It’s a fairy tale but it’s more meaningful for adults, with their world experience, rather than for children. We all have to face the world and live on even if we would rather not. We all face radiant and tough moments of our own, and in all such moments our lives are connected to the lives of other beings, intertwined with coincidence and inevitable. At times, our moments shine and are helped by others’ support and sacrifice. To me, this book is about love and solidarity when leading our uneasy lives. This may sound cliché, but I hope this book offers a little WOW to you as well.” OFFLINE WOW Library Located on the 20th floor of the LINE Plus offices in Korea, the WOW Library is available for any LINERs to step in whenever they want and browse through the various books and magazines. In the WOW from LINERs section, the books also have notes with what people think are the most impressive sentences from the book and the reasons the book was recommended. Furthermore, there are panels set up in different spots around the library to introduce some WOW BOOKS. When taking a break from your work or when visiting the offline space with colleagues for casual meetings, you may find insights through the curated books on display. (Please note that you can borrow books from the online WOW Library using a QR code!) ONLINE WOW Library If you have decided what you want to read from the library but don’t want to carry a whole book around with you, you can borrow it instead from the “online” WOW Library. There are approximately 80,000 books available for LINERs, with about 400 books being added each month, providing all sorts of fascinating and creative ideas for any LINER looking to broaden their thoughts.(!) What books are the most popular in the WOW Library? Software Engineering at Google: Lessons Learned from Programming Over Time in the IT/programming field, topped the list. As the importance of software engineering is emphasized more amid rapid technological changes, we can see how LINERs enjoy using Google's years of know-how to build their own skills. Other top-ranked books include Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life, Inconvenient Convenience Store, and Being Good at Your Job. A glimpse into the WOW Insights of LINERs From No. 1 through No. 10, we were able to see a wide range of interests and insights from LINERs, in a wide range of fields including IT and programming, science fiction, novels, self-development, humanities, and business management. Let's take a look at what insights people have found and shared based on the LINER book recommendations. Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life (by Lulu Miller) WOW from Client Side Engineer (LINE+)“No spoilers! is probably the best introduction to this book. When you flip through the pages without any preconceived ideas about the book, you can feel its true appeal the best. If you need a small wonder in your boring and tiring life, open the first page of this book. I'm sure it will lead all LINERs to a whole new world. Welcome, to the world of small wonders.” Inconvenient Convenience Store (by Hoyeon Kim)WOW from Business Manager (LINE studio)"Since the episodes unfold in an omnibus way and everyone in the story is depicted as the main character, I think there will be something that resonates with anyone who reads it. I recommend it to those who want to see a heart-warming story from the perspective of each main character, and to those who are looking for an engrossing book that draws you in just like a drama." Being Good at Your Job (by Shu Yamaguchi, Gen Kunoski)WOW from Server Side Engineer (LINE+)“This book argues that the senses are important to being good at a job. It explains people who are good at what they do with their own senses as an example, and in the second half of the book, it also introduces how to develop your senses. This may sound like an obvious argument, but there are many examples in the book that made me think, "How can I do that?" I recommend this book as a tool to help people think about becoming a star employee!" Understandable IT Knowledge for Non-Majors (by Wonyoung Choi)WOW from Product Planner (LINE Biz+)"I worked on online-related tasks at my previous job, but working at LINE was a new challenge. I found this book while looking for IT-related books for my personal growth, and for better communications with the related teams including the development team. The author is a non-IT major and helped me understand IT tasks easily based on his own experiences, so I recommend reading this book to anyone who is struggling. Dallergut Dream Department Store (by Miye Lee)WOW from Client Side Engineer (LINE+)"Dallergut Dream Department Store is a fantasy novel about dreams. I enjoyed imagining the mysterious world you can only enter by falling asleep and the world in dreams where you can move between reality and the dream world, and my was heart warmed by the fairy tale-like stories. I'd like to share this book with my fellow LINERs because it is relaxing and comforting to read when you want to escape from the tiring and hard reality." WOW Library doesn't just have books! The offline WOW Library is a place where LINERs can get inspiration from the space itself and boost their creativity away from their work desks. Located on the 20th floor, the highest floor of LINE office, it boasts a breathtaking view of Bundang. You can pull up a cushion anywhere in the library and sit down on the tiered lounge. Thanks to this, it also serves as a venue for various internal events and exhibitions. Of course, it is also a great place to take a break after immersing yourself in work. You can grab a cup of coffee, chat, or simply recharge here [Hybrid WOW Library - Special Exhibition] "LINE STYLE: With the newbies" I hope that many LINERs will find WOW insights in the library’s books and inspiration for their daily lives! ※ The information in this content applies only to certain corporations, and may differ for other corporations.
Onboarding New LINERs With Fun Travel Overseas An earlier post (Click) introduced how during Covid-19, LINE moved to 100% online work, including for onboarding new LINERs. Today, that training and orientation is conducted in a hybrid of online/offline form, as part of the LINE Hybrid Work 2.0 system. LINE new hire on-boarding process The overseas training program is a particularly important part of the new hire onboarding processes, as it lets us give our newcomers an international taste of the company and show them how LINE operates in other markets, helping them to become true LINERs. In the beginning of 2020, the program was suspended because of Covid-19, but it resumed from the end of last year with the easing of regulations on overseas travel.As a result, over 100 new LINERs left for Japan in February 2023. Here we would like to give you a glimpse on what this special experience was like for our newest LINERs! Day 1: Discovering the Yotsuya Office in Tokyo Departing for Japan Early in the morning, our new hires gathered in Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, everyone wearing I’m a LINER T-shirts. A short flight to Haneda Airport in Tokyo, and soon everyone was on the bus to LINE’s Yotsuya office. Yotsuya Office Tour Through the office tour, it was interesting to see the environment where our colleagues in Japan work and compare it to the Korea office. As the head office for LINE Corporation, the Yotsuya office features a hot-desking system, much like the main Korea offices in Seongnam, offering all the LINERs there maximum flexibility and efficiency. (And, as you can see in the photo, it seems like Moon and Leonard are in charge of cleaning Yotsuya Office!) As the Yotsuya Office is the tallest building around, it offers splendid views from nearly every angle and from every part of the office. Inside the office in the FIELD30 area, there was a fascinating wall composed of only whiteboards, allowing people to write anything, any time inspiration took hold. With the wide range of comments left all over the wall, along with drawings of LINE Friends characters, we really got a sense of the free and open atmosphere in the Tokyo office. Plenty of our new LINERs took the opportunity to pick up a pen and add their own comments to the wall. LINE Corp. introduction and session on LINE services Afterward that initial tour, we moved on to a series of lectures about LINE, including a company introduction, a talk about LINE’s development culture, and talks on various services offered by LINE Corp. We learned about the services that require close collaboration between the different offices, such as LINE Messenger service, and the mission for the teams providing services with special goals on LINE APP LINE Official Account, LINE GIFT, and LINE NEWS, as well as the key vision LINE has for the future.The new LINERs took plenty of notes on all they learned in those sessions, saying they were looking forward to collaborating with the LINERs in Japan. Meeting Japan’s new LINERs During our visit, we also had the chance to chat with many new LINERs in Japan! Several new hires from LINE Corp. asked questions and talked about their feelings about working together. Despite having different nationalities, we realized that all us new hires had similar questions and thoughts. / View from a new LINER / One of the new hires from LINE Corp. in Japan, Kohei-san, said we could contact him separately if we had any questions and we exchanged our LINE IDs. On the second day of our trip, my group invited him to hang out in the evening, and we all talked together for nearly two hours. Despite the language difference, we were able to use a mix of English, Japanese, Korean and body-language to communicate surprisingly well. In the end, talking with Kohei-san really helped us see many things about LINE, like its position and image in Japan, along with some of the cultural differences between South Korea and Japan. It was great to have a chance to share our experiences like that.’’ Day 2: On a mission to learn about Japanese and global trends in IT Experiencing IT trends A map of the many locations the new LINERs visited in Tokyo. 둘For three weeks before the new LINER trip to Japan, everyone worked together on finding locations around Tokyo we should check out. On day 2 of our trip, our teams got the chance to put that research into practice, visiting all sorts of fascinating locations in Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, and more. We tried out the hip unmanned stores that are so popular among today’s young people, selecting drinks on our mobile devices and then picking them up; cafés where humans and robots work together (Japan, after all, accounts for 45% of the global industrial robot market), and an environmentally friendly used-clothing store. The new Korean LINERs spread out wide across the city and immersed ourselves in the latest trends. Trying out LINE services One great part of being in Japan was the opportunity to check out a whole bunch of services that are only available there. We live-streamed our explorations, like making a wish at Meiji Shrine or just picking up coffee. It was very exciting. In addition, we got to experience just how easy it is to pay for things using LINE Pay at any store in Japan. LINE Pay is popular in many countries, but it isn’t available in Korea, so this was a very useful hands-on experience. Also super important — eating! We used LINE Place to search for nearby restaurants, reading all the reviews to find the ideal spot. We even wrote our own reviews and even earned points!In addition, we made a point of interviewing real Japanese users on the street or subway, getting first-hand feedback about what they like most about LINE. At first, it was a bit awkward, but it was such a valuable opportunity to hear the voices of local users — after all, the first keyword of LINE STYLE 3.0 (click) is that Users Rule. Nothing beats hearing directly from the people who use our products. Day 3: Wrapping up the training with warmth and pride! An unforgettable meeting with GCPO Jungho Shin On the last day of the training, we were very impressed to meet Jungho Shin, founder of LINE and Group Chief Product Officer (GCPO) of Z Holdings Co., Ltd. The seminar room where new LINERs were gathered was filled with colorful paper bags, filled with unexpected gifts from Mr. Shin. Among those presents, the chopsticks gift stood out. In Japanese culture, a gift of chopsticks is called "hashi", which means "path" or "connection." In this sense, a gift of chopsticks are said to be given to build special relationships with each other in the future. After receiving such a heartfelt gift from Mr. Shin, all the new LINERs were all the more determined to create WOW services together.Mr. Shin also held a Q&A session. When asked, “What do you feel the most proud of at LINE?", he answered, "I feel the most proud whenever I meet new hires," deeply impressing everyone in attendance. Proposing a new LINE service! On the last day of training, we had a session to share our experiences from the second day, and even proposed new LINE services based what he learned. Everyone came to realize that, even if we see the same thing, how we feel varies greatly. But what was most important was the chance to gain a deeper perspective of LINE users that we could use for our work. The ideas proposed in that session were shared company-wide through LINE’s internal bulletin board, encouraging all the new hires with the heartwarming comments from the more senior LINERs. “(Clap clap clap) Go for it ~ New LINERs~!” SPECIAL THANKS TO In the end, the new LINERs said the most meaningful part of the training was experiencing the entire process with their peers. Through the various onboarding experiences at LINE, everyone was able to build a solid foundation in understanding LINE as a company, how it works, basic work skills, networking and more. This overseas trip provided hands-on experiences, deeping our understanding of the company and its services even more. We look forward to and support the journey of new LINERs who will take charge of LINE services in the future! ※ Please note that the details described in this article may not apply to all offices.

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