Why Personal Branding on LinkedIn Matters and How It Differs in Korea

    In today's competitive job market, personal branding has become more important than ever. Creating your own unique identity can help you stand out from the crowd and attract opportunities. This is where professional networking platforms like LinkedIn come in, offering a space to build and showcase your career story. It's a key tool for connecting with others and highlighting your professional skills and experiences.

    In the U.S., LinkedIn is widely used as an essential part of career management. Professionals and students alike actively maintain their profiles, making sure to include a professional headshot and a detailed summary of their experiences. They often use specific keywords to highlight their skills and post articles, comments or thoughts to establish themselves as experts in their field. It's not just a resume; it's a dynamic portfolio that helps them network, get discovered by recruiters, and find new opportunities. Many people use it to share their achievements, celebrate promotions, and even get endorsements from colleagues, all of which build a strong professional reputation.

    On the other hand, LinkedIn usage in Korea is not as widespread. While it is popular among those seeking jobs at global companies or in the IT industry, many people don't use it regularly for networking or personal branding. In Korea, we are more accustomed to using company-specific resume and cover letter forms when applying for jobs. This traditional approach means we often focus on filling out pre-determined templates rather than building a personal brand on a public platform. The concept of creating a public-facing career profile is still new, and many Koreans feel that their professional lives should remain separate from their personal social media presence, which is a key difference from the U.S. approach.

    I personally haven't used LinkedIn much, but after learning about the concept of personal branding, I think it's a valuable platform to explore. Building a profile is a great way to think about how you want to present yourself professionally. Even if it's not a common practice in Korea yet, creating a LinkedIn account could be a good first step toward understanding the importance of showcasing your skills and experience to the world.

Cooking Korean Dishes and Watching Korea vs. the U.S. Soccer Game

    What’s your favorite sport? Most ONU students I’ve met are into volleyball, football and disc golf. Personally, I don’t really have a sport I regularly play. In Korea, middle and high school PE classes are usually only about an hour a week, so I never got much exposure to various sports. To be honest, I’m also not good at them. (Embarrassingly, my volleyball skills test in high school earned me a C.)

    But there is one sport I love to watch: soccer. I enjoy sports with relatively simple rules, and like many Koreans I follow soccer partly because of Son Heung-min, a famous Korean player. Last Saturday, with that interest in mind, I watched a friendly match between South Korea and the United States with my friends. It was held in New Jersey ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    Before kickoff, I cooked food for two Korean friends, one American friend, one Chinese friend and one Taiwanese friend. In the photo, from left to right, you’ll see Gamjajeon, Tteokbokki and Bibimmyeon. Gamjajeon is a potato pancake: crispy on the outside and soft inside. Tteokbokki — known in English as spicy rice cakes — is my absolute favorite Korean dish. I’m seriously addicted; I eat it at least once a week. Bibimmyeon is a sweet-and-spicy Korean instant noodle. First, cook the noodles. Drain and rinse them in cold water, then mix with sauce. Don’t they all look delicious?

    Eating homemade Korean food while watching soccer was a thrill. In the first half, the U.S. team pressed hard, forcing South Korea to add more defenders. In the middle of the tension, Son Heung-min scored first. My American friend Natalie was disappointed but admitted it was a great play. Then Lee Dong-kyung added another goal to end the half. In the second half, Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo kept blocking U.S. shots. Natalie was both frustrated and impressed. The match ended 2-0 for South Korea, and we all had a great time.

    Cheering for Korea over Korean food in the U.S. felt a little awkward but exciting. Because Korea is ranked lower than the U.S. in FIFA standings, I honestly didn’t expect such a result. But once I started watching and cheering passionately, the unexpected win felt even sweeter. I hope your weekend was just as enjoyable as mine.