“If you are young and have dream, let’s get started.” – Kim Ui-Gu(Business Administration 13), owner of Dorian Gray
- 경영대학
- Hit419
- 2021-06-24
Dorian Gray, the main character of “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, gets his eternal youth by devoting his soul to the devil. It is of course impossible for anyone to make a contract with the devil or to keep one’s youth. It’s because human beings live their life of finite time. However, with the perpetuity of time they go for it and finally make changes. In this “Individual Focus”, we met Kim Ui-Gu, who is the owner of a cocktail bar named “Dorian Gray” located in Hyehwa-dong. 3 years ago, the 26-year-old student started his business with youth as security. Time passed, he is a owner of well-known bar now.
Q. Hello, please introduce yourself.
I’m Kim Ui-Gu, the owner of “Dorian Gray” cocktail bar in Hyehwa. I’m majoring in business administration. Nice to meet you.
Q. Can you tell me how did you start your business with this type?
I didn’t have exact plan for business. I just pursued what I like, and the cocktail bar was a kind of result. When I was 22, I joined a group of a cocktail and took on a president of the group. With my position, I had opportunities to come in contract with owner of bars. As I listen to stories of them, I became inclined to provide my favorite cocktail to someone. With this wish, I made money on a working holiday to Australia after military service. Back to Korea, I prepare for cocktail work like getting a license and attending an academy and started the business.
▲The poster when he lent the party place and of the Department of Fine Arts display
Q. Did you have any difficulties by preparing business or get something new?
There was a huge gap between reality and ideals. I dreamed of me making a talking with guests and cocktails with cool atmosphere. However, the tip of an iceberg. With sudden accident like leaking water and blackout, and I had to pay attention to many other things like tax and management. I was just a beginner, it was a huge trouble. Fortunately, many neighboring friends helped me to overcome.
Q. There might be not only moments when you wanted to give up, but also moments to think “It’s good to start this job.”
As a student I did something by myself. I think it’s enough to make me courage and confidence like I can do whatever I want. It’s also good that guests call me owner. (laugh) I have memories of lot of things like party, exhibition of art students. “Dorian Gray’ is the place where I could achieve what I imagined, thankfully.
▲ The interior of the bar “Dorian Gray”
Q. What is the competitiveness of “Dorian Gray”?
“Dorian Gray” is the only bar with shisha in Hyehwa. The exotic stores are rare itself and there were few shisha bars in Hyehwa but they closed their business. In this state, our bar has rarity to be an attractive place for many. So, I try not to settle for the present, but to change constantly to make a return for visitors. I always try to communicate with them to make progress. By their feedback, I am improving shisha instruments. I think the instruments changed a lot compared to the beginning.
Q. I am curious about you as SKKU student.
You know I studied hard to go to SKKU? I think that’s why I didn’t want to study. (laugh) Seniors also advised to me like “Enjoying school life is rights only for freshmen.”, “It is worth to get academic probation at least once.”. I have doubt these were meaningful though. So, when I was a freshman, I try to enjoy college like rather than study. I joined some interesting groups like JDA, the dancing group, and groups of cocktails, start-up, cooking.
Q. You might have many experiences of activities.
As I have time with people of variety fields and activities, I considered what I like and can do best. The Cocktail bar is one of results of consideration. However, I want to tell freshmen or juniors that It’s better to study in advance. You might have doubt of your study, but it would be your help someday. You can enjoy your time, but you don’t need to think “Study? It’s not important” like me. After I started my cocktail bar, the knowledge of business administration, my major, helped me. Since then, I studied more about that.
Q. You like challenges. What is your moto?
I always keep my introduction of my SNS. It’s “Do what you wanna do”. We are young and it’s time to do whatever we want before we have much burden. You might regret after doing something, but it’s better than regretting after doing nothing. My moto is just going for it, even if it would be regretful afterwards.
Q. Please give some advice or good words for the people who dream start-ups.
Until last year, I didn’t recommend starting business. I had to manage all about that so, I thought it’s better to live like others. However, I had chance to work at office, after that, the life of my business was better. The eager to work my job as an owner was far different. I want to tell you that you don’t have to do your best to do your job perfectly. My bar was not also perfect from the first time. Upgrade your job and complement the incomplete. It would be hard to perfectly start.
Q. Do you have any plans?
In the past, I stimulated myself to success. But nowadays, I got to pursue my happiness. Rather than being obsessed to actual outcome, I want to experience more and concentrate on myself, and other friends too.
Q. Do you have the thing you want to say lastly?
I am a people person. It’s good to visit my bar drinking cocktails and doing shisha but, feel free to come and have talk with me. You can share interesting stories and worries with me. Of course, I can be a friend of you. “Dorian Gray” is always open to you.
Source: SKKUZine_SKKUPeople