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.

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.