▲ Korea Sinzisikin Association / President Jongbaek Kim

The Korea Sinzisikin Association is a non-profit public organization that finds and appoints new intellectuals (sinzisikin) in all sectors of societies and businesses twice a year commissioned by the Ministry of Interior and Safety since 2006. 

Taking the steering wheel of the association second time in a row, PowerKorea sat down with the association president Jongbaek Kim and learned the activities done and the activities to come.

Q. First of all, we congratulate you for winning the second terms in a row. How do you feel?

A. First of all, I would like to show my thanks to all 7,000 members of the association from the bottom of my heart. I believe that I’m confident to say that the 7,000 sinzisikin members of the association have played opinion leaders in our society and are working hard to bring Sinzisikin Promotion Act (tentative) into real. To do that, there are still many obstacles we need to overcome but we are determined to make it happen with smile and the never-losing-a-hope spirit. I thank them again for choosing me the captain of the association second time in a row and I will do my best.

Q. What are the things you want to achieve during your second terms?

A. Bringing Sinzisikin Promotion Act will be my foremost goal. Global projects come next and building a better network for 7,000 members come last. Finding and listing new intellectuals will strictly follow the standard we have built fairly. The Sinzisikin Promotion Act is set to be proposed by lawmaker Wonshik Woo and the act will serve to find new intellectuals and share their knowledge with the society. The act will propel the twice-a-year event of finding and listing new intellectuals more systematically. Apart from these three major goals, we will also share a considerable amount of time and effort in philanthropic activities covering from the disabled to elderlies living alone and underprivileged children. 

Q. Who are new intellectuals and what are the movements about?

A. Those who share their knowledge and value of their profession with the society can be new intellectuals. They were regarded as Ph.D. or professors in the past but they come from a variety of backgrounds and skills today. The new intellectual movements were inspired by Alvin Toffler’s book <The Third Wave> but most movements failed on account of the government-led campaign and of the people not playing the center of the philosophy. The movements in South Korea started in 1998 led by the government but shifted its driving force to the private-led and today through the Korea Sinzisikin Association. 

Q. Lastly, what is the ongoing project at the moment?

A. The first half year of finding and listing new intellectuals have been closed and the second half is open from July. The 39th awarding ceremony will take place at the National Assembly with rewards for those who are distinguished in their contributions. <PowerKorea>