상상하는 카멜레온처럼 변화하라

2025년 수정본 (9월은 잔인한 달 수록, 2012년 8월 출간)

[English follows Korean]

카멜레온은 무슨 색일까?

카멜레온은 주변 색에 맞춰 몸의 색깔을 바꾸는 동물이다. 그래서 카멜레온의 색을 정의하는 것은 사전에서나 가능한 일이다. 자신을 보호하거나, 먹이를 찾기 위해 색을 바꾸는 카멜레온은 3개 층으로 된 색소 세포를 바탕으로 몸의 색깔을 변화시킨다. 이 색소 세포가 주변 환경을 인식하고 이에 반응하는 것이다.

카멜레온은 환경에 맞춰 보호색을 만들지만, 완전히 숨어버리지는 않는다. 고유의 색을 잃지 않고 주변 환경에 새로움을 더한다. 빛, 노출, 온도에 반응하며 자신의 감정을 색으로 표현하기도 한다. 카멜레온은 환경을 인식하고 자신의 의사를 전달함으로써 세상과 끊임없이 소통하고, 스스로를 변화시키며, 환경까지 새롭게 만든다.

그런 카멜레온처럼 변화하며 살아가는 사람이 있다. 그는 피부 속 색소 세포는 없지만, 변화에 민감하게 반응하며 빠르게 적응하고, 새로운 가치를 창출한다. 책이 사람을 만들고, 사람이 다시 책을 만들 듯, 그는 세상 속에서 변화하며, 세상이 다시 그를 통해 변화하기를 꿈꾼다.

그의 이름은 김동욱. 삼성전자 IT솔루션 사업부에서 일하고 있다. 어떤 상황에서도 변화를 추구하며, 환경 변화를 주의 깊게 관찰하고, 자신의 삶을 조정할 결정들을 내린다. 그래서 급변하는 IT 업계에서 일하는 것이 그에게는 자연스럽다. 그에게 변화란 무엇일까? 그리고 어떻게 그런 변화를 만들어가는 것일까?

카멜레온의 변화 과정 1

세상 바라보기: 환경 인식

Q. '변화하는 삶'의 중요성을 강조하셨는데, 김동욱 씨가 생각하는 변화란 무엇인가요?

A. 변화는 멈추어 있어서는 안 된다는 것과 일맥상통합니다. 세상은 계속 움직이는데, 나만 가만히 있을 수는 없죠. 세상과 나를 유기적으로 연결하고, 그 흐름 속에서 나를 조율해야 합니다. 단순히 휩쓸리는 것이 아니라, 현재 자신이 처한 상황과 자신을 냉철하게 판단하며 주체적으로 움직이는 것. 그것이 진정한 변화라고 생각합니다.

Q. 구체적인 경험을 바탕으로 변화가 어떻게 일어났는지 말씀해 주실 수 있을까요?

A. 변화는 환경을 어떻게 인식하느냐에서 시작됩니다. 대학 시절, 뚜렷한 목표 없이 경영학과에 진학했을 땐 회계학, 통계학 같은 과목들이 왜 필요한지도 모르겠고 재미도 없었습니다. 그런데 박상용 교수님의 재무관리 수업에서, 교수님이 경제신문을 스크랩해 와 실제 사례와 이론을 연결해 설명해 주셨습니다. 그 순간 경영학이 현실과 맞닿아 있다는 것을 깨달았고, 학문 자체가 즐겁게 다가왔습니다. 환경을 긍정적으로 받아들이는 것이 변화의 출발점이었습니다.

Q. 학창 시절에 경험한 또 다른 변화가 있다면요?

A. 군대 시절, 처음엔 별 의욕 없이 시간을 흘려보냈습니다. 당시 대학 생활은 열등감이 심하고 자존감은 바닥이었기에, 군 생활도 의미 없이 흘러가고 있었죠. 그런데 어느 날, 동료들과 꿈에 대해 이야기하는 자리가 있었습니다. 그들은 각자의 분야에서 새로운 세상을 만들겠다는 꿈을 갖고 있었습니다. 예를 들어 ‘세계를 움직이는 증권맨이 되겠다’는 VIP자산운용 최준철 대표, ‘제대 후 벤처 창업을 하겠다’는 OGQ 신철호 대표 같은 분들이 있었죠. 저는 그냥 시간을 때우고 있었는데, 그 순간 군대라는 환경이 전혀 다르게 인식되었습니다. 그 이후 군 생활은 ‘꿈을 꾸는 시간’이 되었고, 훨씬 의욕적으로 바뀌었습니다.

또 한 번은 미국 코네티컷의 Sacred Heart University에 교환학생으로 갔을 때였습니다. 첫 수업에서 교수님이 내준 숙제를 알아듣지 못하고 당황해하며 찾아갔는데, 자조적인 태도를 보이는 저에게 Dr. Bridget Lyon 교수님은 “Why not?”이라는 질문을 던지셨고, 그것이 제 인생 질문이 되었습니다. 이후 ‘잃을 게 없다’는 마음으로 인터뷰에 도전했고, 프루덴셜 증권(Prudential Securities) 인턴십을 하게 되었으며, 하버드 서머스쿨에서 국제 경영과 금융 수업도 들을 수 있었습니다. 남들이 보기엔 무모해 보일 수도 있었지만, 환경을 긍정적으로 인식하자 용기가 생겼고, 소중한 경험으로 이어졌습니다.

카멜레온의 변화 과정 2

보호색 만들기: 상상을 통한 연습

Q. 환경 인식만큼이나, 그것을 변화로 연결하는 과정도 중요할 것 같은데요?

A. 저는 평소에 ‘상상’을 많이 합니다. 현실에서 무언가를 변화시키는 상상, 변화된 환경에서의 나를 상상해 보죠. 다양한 시나리오를 떠올리는 것은 마치 간접적으로 그 환경을 미리 경험해 보는 것과 같습니다. 그래서 실제 변화의 순간이 왔을 때, 한층 더 유연하게 대응할 수 있어요. 저는 상상을 단지 긍정적인 면뿐만 아니라, 어려움과 최악의 상황까지도 포함해 구체적으로 합니다. 일종의 Plan B나 Worst Case까지 그려보는 거죠.

Q. 실제로 그런 상상이 변화를 이끌었던 사례가 있을까요?

A. 사원 시절, 언젠가 글로벌 기업과 프로젝트를 함께 해보고 싶다고 상상한 적이 있습니다. 그 상상은 구체적인 형태를 띠었고, Google과 협업해 Web 프린터를 만들자는 아이디어로 발전했어요. 물론 사장님께 말씀드렸을 땐 “재미있는 아이디어네”라고 웃고 넘어가셨지만요. 그런데 그로부터 2년 뒤, Microsoft와의 협업, Slate PC 기획, Google과의 Chromebook 런칭 등 실제 글로벌 협업 기회가 찾아왔습니다. 상상했던 방향과는 달랐지만, 사전에 시뮬레이션을 해봤기에 훨씬 익숙하게 변화에 대응할 수 있었습니다.

Q. 변화가 항상 긍정적이지만은 않을 수도 있는데요?

A. 맞습니다. 저도 경제학을 이중 전공하다가 흥미를 느끼지 못해 포기한 적이 있습니다. 지금 돌아보면, 입시 위주의 공부 방식에서 비롯된 잘못된 학습 방식 때문이었을지도 모르죠. 반면, 경영학은 상황에 따라 해석과 해답이 달라질 수 있었기에 저에게는 더 매력적이었습니다. 중요한 건 후회 없는 변화입니다. 결과가 어떻든, 변화 속에서 고민하고 시도한 흔적이 있다면 그것만으로도 의미 있는 경험이라고 생각합니다.

카멜레온의 변화 과정 3

가치 더하기: 변화를 통한 행복

Q. 변화를 통해 추구하는 궁극적인 가치는 무엇인가요?

A. 개인의 변화가 세상에 긍정적인 영향을 줄 수 있다면, 그것만큼 보람된 일이 없겠죠. 변화가 나 혼자에서 끝나지 않고, 세상과 소통하며 확장되는 과정이 중요하다고 생각합니다.

Q. 그래서 IT 업계를 선택하신 건가요?

A. 네, IT는 세상을 바꾸는 속도가 가장 빠른 분야 중 하나입니다. 대학 시절 송재용 교수님의 전략 수업을 들으면서 IT 산업의 전략적 가치에 눈을 떴고, 이후 자연스럽게 진로가 명확해졌습니다. 현실과 맞닿아 있는 IT 제품을 통해 실질적인 변화를 만들어낼 수 있다는 점이 매력적이었습니다.

Q. 외국계 기업이 아닌 삼성전자를 선택하신 이유는요?

A. 외국계 기업은 대부분 글로벌 본사의 전략을 따르는 한국 법인인 경우가 많습니다. 반면 삼성전자는 한국에 본사를 둔 글로벌 기업으로, 전략 수립부터 실행까지 주도적으로 참여할 수 있습니다. 한마디로 ‘한국에서 세계를 움직이는 일’을 할 수 있는 곳이죠. 제품 기획, R&D, 마케팅까지 전 과정에 직접 참여할 수 있다는 점에서 더 큰 의미가 있습니다.

Q. 대기업의 조직 문화가 변화에 제약이 되진 않나요?

A. 오히려 삼성전자는 글로벌화와 다양성을 강조하면서 문화적으로도 수평적이고 개방적으로 변화하고 있습니다. 외국 기업과의 협업, 해외 주재 경험, 외국인 임직원 등 다양한 요소들이 이미 자리 잡고 있어요. 개인적으로도 국내 기업에서 세계를 무대로 일할 수 있다는 것이 굉장히 매력적입니다.

후배들에게

대학생활은 다양한 시도를 즐길 수 있는 시기입니다. 실패를 두려워하지 말고, 다양한 경험을 해보세요. 실패조차 나중에는 자산이 됩니다. 또 하나는 ‘나 자신을 알아가는 시간’으로 삼았으면 좋겠습니다. 무엇을 좋아하고, 무엇을 잘하며, 그와 무관하게 ‘무엇을 하고 싶은지’를 고민해야 합니다. 그 과정에서 많이 상상하고, 변화를 꿈꾸기를 바랍니다.

카멜레온은 3분 안에 스스로의 색을 바꾼다. 그러나 사람은 새로운 환경에 적응할 때 평소보다 3배 이상의 스트레스를 받는다고 한다. 본능적으로 변화보다는 관성에 익숙한 존재이기에, 변화는 때로 두렵고 버겁다. 그럼에도 불구하고 김동욱 씨는 변화 앞에서 도전을 선택했고, 상상을 통해 변화를 예행연습하며 자신과 세상의 가능성을 넓혀갔다. 그의 변화가 개인에 머물지 않고 세상과 맞닿아 있기에, 앞으로 그가 만들어갈 변화가 더욱 기대된다.

[English Version]

Be the Chameleon Who Imagines and Adapts

What color is a chameleon?

A chameleon changes its color to match its surroundings. Therefore, defining its color is only possible in a dictionary. In reality, its color is constantly shifting—to protect itself, to attract a mate, or to catch prey. The chameleon achieves this through three layers of pigment cells that sense and respond to environmental changes like light and temperature.

But the chameleon doesn’t disappear entirely into its background. Rather, it adds something new to its surroundings while maintaining its own identity. It reacts to light, exposure, and heat, expressing its emotions through its skin. In doing so, the chameleon not only adapts but also communicates with the world, continuously transforming itself and influencing its environment.

There is a person who lives like a chameleon. He doesn’t have pigment cells layered under his skin, but he senses change and responds with remarkable agility. He seeks to add new value to the world by embracing transformation. Just as books shape people and people shape books, he dreams of changing through the world, and of the world changing through him.

His name is Dongwook Kim, and he works at Samsung Electronics in the IT Solutions Division. Regardless of the situation, he pursues change. He pays attention to shifts in his environment and makes decisions to transform his life accordingly. It’s no wonder that working in the fast-paced IT industry feels natural to him. But what exactly does “change” mean to him? And how has he brought it into his life?

Chameleon’s Transformation Phase 1

Observing the World: Environmental Awareness

Q: You’ve emphasized the importance of “a life of change.” What does change mean to you?

A: To me, change means never standing still. The world is in constant motion—if I stay the same, I’m falling behind. I believe I must stay organically connected to the world, engage with it, and evolve accordingly. Change isn’t about being swept away like a reed in the wind; it’s about making cool-headed judgments about where I am and who I am, and taking deliberate action.

Q: Could you share an experience that illustrates how change has occurred in your life?

A: Change begins with how you perceive your environment. When I first entered business school, I lacked a clear goal. I didn’t understand why I had to study things like accounting and statistics—it felt dull and disconnected from real life. But then I took a finance course with Professor Sangyong Park, who is now the Dean of Yonsei Business School. Every class, he brought in clippings from the economic newspaper and explained how abstract concepts connected with real-world applications. That was when I realized that what I was learning was deeply relevant to reality. Suddenly, business felt exciting and full of possibilities. Once I embraced my environment, I was able to transform into a confident business student.

Q: So change begins with a new awareness of one’s surroundings. Can you share another experience from your student days?

A: I had several such moments, especially during my military service—which I still consider part of my education. Initially, I lacked motivation and was simply passing time. Before enlisting, I had hit rock bottom in terms of self-esteem. But one day, while talking with fellow soldiers about our dreams, I was shocked. Each person was envisioning a future where they would change the world in their own way. One dreamed of becoming a powerful stockbroker (Juncheol Choi, now CEO of VIP Asset Management), another wanted to start a tech venture after discharge (Cheolho Shin, founder of content platform OGQ). Their ambitions made me reflect on how passively I had been spending my time. That conversation transformed the way I saw my military service—it was no longer wasted time but a two-year opportunity to dream. From then on, I approached each day with purpose.

Another pivotal moment came when I studied abroad at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. I struggled to communicate during my first finance class and approached the professor, Dr. Bridget Lyon, to ask for help. I was self-deprecating and said things like, “I’m from Korea, my English isn’t great, maybe this isn’t for me.” She simply asked, “Why not?” That single question became a lifelong challenge. From that point on, I stopped thinking about what I couldn’t do and started imagining what I might achieve. I told myself, “I have nothing to lose.” That shift in mindset gave me the courage to seek out an internship (which I eventually found at Prudential Securities in Stamford), and even to apply for Harvard Summer School programs in international business and investment banking. I dared to challenge myself precisely because I knew there was little to lose—and those challenges became priceless experiences.

These stories show that transformation begins with how you interpret your surroundings. He reframed his environment through his own lens, turning ordinary moments into opportunities for change. But awareness alone isn’t enough. Just as a chameleon gains no advantage by sensing its environment but not changing its color, real change requires action. How did he turn awareness into meaningful transformation?

Practicing Change: Building Adaptive Coloration Through Imagination

Q: Environmental awareness is important, but turning that awareness into real change isn’t always easy. How do you bridge that gap?

A: That’s why I rely heavily on imagination. I often visualize change—how I could change myself, how I could change my surroundings. I enjoy dreaming in my daily life, and I believe that dreaming in diverse directions is essential to living meaningfully.

Imagination is like exposing yourself to various environments in a virtual sense. When you're actually placed in those kinds of situations, it becomes much easier to adapt. If you’ve imagined something even once, it’s far easier to recognize it when it appears in reality. Imagination stimulates awareness and gives you a mental rehearsal for taking action. It helps me respond flexibly in real situations and adds depth to the change process. My imagination doesn’t only cover optimistic or ideal scenarios—it includes uncomfortable or difficult ones as well. I always consider Plan B and even the worst-case scenario. The positive outcomes, I simply enjoy. The negative ones—I try to face them calmly.

Q: That’s a fresh perspective—practicing change through imagination. Could you share more on how you actually imagine these scenarios?

A: There’s no secret technique, really. (laughs) I just try to imagine things as concretely as possible—what kind of situation I might be in, and what I would or could do in that situation.

Here’s an example. When I was just a junior employee, I suddenly had a thought: “What if I could someday collaborate on a project with a global tech company?” I imagined the project itself—one where we’d deliver targeted or personalized print ads via web-connected printers, subsidized by companies like Google through ink and toner sponsorships. I even pitched the idea to our division head at the time, Mr. Jongwoo Park, suggesting he visit Mountain View and propose it to Eric Schmidt and Sergey Brin. He chuckled and said it was an interesting idea—but that’s where it ended.

However, about two years later, I actually began working on international collaborations: with Microsoft on our Series 9/7 premium PCs, on the world’s first Windows tablet PC (Slate), and with Google to plan and launch the world’s first Chromebook. During this period, I met then-VP Sundar Pichai multiple times in Mountain View, Las Vegas, and Suwon. The projects were not exactly what I had imagined, but because I had mentally rehearsed such scenarios, the real experiences felt strangely familiar. The transition to action was smoother, even though the journey was often painful and full of challenges.

Q: So far, your stories make change seem exciting and positive. But don’t changes sometimes have negative consequences too?

A: Absolutely. For instance, I was double-majoring in economics and business but eventually dropped economics. I just didn’t find it interesting anymore. In hindsight, it may have been because I approached it superficially—trying to memorize theories instead of truly understanding them. Perhaps it was due to the exam-focused learning culture in Korea, where memorization often takes priority over deep comprehension.

In contrast, business studies fascinated me. Even with frameworks and methodologies, the answers were never fixed. In business, the “right” answer depends on context. That ambiguity allowed me to inject my own thoughts and ideas into the learning process, and I found that very rewarding.

You may experience regret or failure when you make changes—but there’s no such thing as a “correct” change. What matters is how deeply and sincerely you’ve thought about it. If the change was made with a genuine desire to create a better tomorrow, then it is already meaningful in itself.

Adding Value: Finding Happiness Through Change

Q: There may be no fixed answer to change, but surely there’s something you ultimately hope to achieve through it?

A: I hope that the personal changes I go through can contribute, even in small ways, to the world around me. If change only benefits me, it feels incomplete. The ideal scenario is that personal transformation leads to broader societal change.

Q: Is that why you chose to work in the IT industry—because you believed it could drive change in the world?

A: Yes, that was part of it. During my senior year in college, I took a strategy class with Professor Jaeyong Song, who now teaches at Seoul National University. (I later took his EMBA corporate strategy course in 2021, continuing that connection.) His lectures focused on strategy and business cases in the IT industry, and I found them absolutely fascinating. That’s when I began to believe that IT could genuinely change the world. Since my life theme is “change,” I was naturally drawn to a field where evolution happens rapidly. IT is deeply embedded in our daily lives—it felt like the right arena to turn that belief into action.

Q: You could have pursued change through a foreign company. Why did you choose Samsung Electronics instead?

A: When people talk about foreign companies, they often mean the Korean subsidiaries of global firms. These local branches typically operate under headquarters’ strategies and focus on regional clients. Samsung Electronics, on the other hand, is the global headquarters. Here, we plan strategy, execute, and manage operations worldwide. Some might think foreign companies drive more global impact—but Samsung is already a global company. Working here means I can influence the world from Korea.

Another major advantage is being involved in the entire business value chain—from product planning and R&D to production and global sales. At a local branch of a foreign firm, your scope may be limited to Korea. But here, I get the chance to work across various markets and help shape global strategies. I find it empowering to participate in decision-making that influences the bigger picture.

Q: Large corporations in Korea are often perceived as rigid or hierarchical. Have you felt cultural constraints when trying to pursue change?

A: There are certainly differences compared to foreign companies, but Samsung has become increasingly global and horizontal in its culture. It’s not as authoritarian as people might expect, and in some ways, it’s surprisingly flat. Workloads can be high, but even junior-level employees are entrusted with substantial responsibility.

For example, I started my career in finance within the Printing Division—a small unit with many experienced lateral hires and a flat culture. As a new hire, I was responsible for the division’s entire budget and expense management, which required me to speak up in meetings with senior leaders. That experience taught me to work independently and focus on impact over hierarchy.

The company also offers abundant global opportunities. Many projects involve collaboration with foreign firms. Our global offices span key markets, and we work with international clients and an increasingly diverse workforce. Samsung is actively embracing globalization and diversity, and the culture is changing accordingly. Personally, I find it incredibly appealing to be able to work on global projects while being based in Korea. Imagining myself helping transform the world while staying rooted in my home country makes me genuinely happy.


A Message to Students Dreaming About the Future

College life, in my view, has two important dimensions. First, it’s a time to explore diverse experiences—and to enjoy doing so. There’s more to college than studying. Even if you fail at something, the experience itself holds meaning. Failures at a young age often become the fertilizer for success later in life.

Second, college should be a time to discover who you really are. The version of myself I imagined when I first entered college and the one I saw upon graduating were very different. In fact, who I am today as a professional hasn’t changed much since my graduation. That’s why I hope students take the time to explore and understand who they are. It may sound extreme, but if you don’t know yourself, you don’t really have a life of your own. You need to understand what you like, what you’re good at, and—regardless of both—what you truly want to do.

To do that, you have to experience a lot. You need to collide with the world, challenge yourself, and keep imagining. Dream of change, and embrace it. I hope many of you will go through this journey.