China News Service, Shaoxing, January 10th (Reporter Xiang Jing) "I have a deep relationship with Shaoxing, not only because of textiles, but also because of this livable city." Zhang Jae-won, a cloth merchant from South Korea, can speak fluent Chinese In a recent interview, he said with emotion that he has been in love with Shaoxing for 20 years, and he hopes to continue to enjoy the next 20 years with his family here.
20 years ago, Zhang Jae-won came to Shaoxing because of his work, specializing in the textile trade between South Korea and China.
From wandering in a foreign land to living and working in peace and contentment, Zhang Jae-won has witnessed China's rapid changes and resonated with the development of Shaoxing.
Shaoxing is famous both at home and abroad for its "cloth". China Textile City, located in Keqiao, Shaoxing, is already the world's largest textile distribution center, attracting a large number of foreign businessmen to start businesses here.
According to Zhang Jae-won, he was working in a textile trading company in South Korea at the time. "Because the textile market in Shaoxing is huge, the company assigned me to manage the Shaoxing office."
After accumulating market resources in the early stage, Zhang Jae-won started his own business in 2007. "At that time, the government gave many preferential policies to foreign businessmen. For example, I rented an office space, and the government subsidized the rent of 10,000 yuan, and I also enjoyed 'free public transport'. 'Scenic spots are free' and other living benefits."
As a witness and participant of China's development, Zhang Jae-won has felt the deepest changes and fierce competition in these years.
"Just like 20 years ago, our business mainly relied on telephone communication. Now the Internet communication is more and more convenient. But there are more communication channels, and the market competition is more intense." Zhang Zaiyuan said frankly that as a textile trader, he must redouble his efforts to develop new products. Samples, new customers, new markets.
At the beginning of 2023, Jang Jae-won did not stop, and while he was busy shipping goods, he studied the fashion trends of fabrics in the spring and summer of the coming year.
Jang Jae-won makes an analogy: "When others leave, I want to run; when others run, I must fly in the sky."
Zhang Jae-won also served as the chief vice president of the Shaoxing Korean Chamber of Commerce, often helping Korean businessmen in Shaoxing to solve their entrepreneurial problems and building a bridge for them to communicate with the government.
Although he is busy with his career, Jang Jae Won enjoys it.
Zhang Jae-won fell in love with this city because of the "cloth".
"Shaoxing has changed a lot in recent years, but it has always been very attractive. It is a city I like." Zhang Zaiyuan said that he took his wife and children to Shaoxing to settle down in Shaoxing in the second year.
Shaoxing has been rated as the cultural capital of East Asia, and it has nurtured and formed a cultural context represented by Yue culture, calligraphy culture, Yangming culture, and Lu Xun culture.
In fact, Jang Jae-won has been very interested in Chinese humanities and history since he was a student.
"When I went to university in South Korea in 1988, I chose Chinese as my major." Zhang Jae-won recalled, "At that time, the Chinese department scored very high, and learning Chinese was a very honorable thing."
"My university professors often talk about Lu Xun, Lu Xun's works, and Shaoxing, the hometown of Mr. Zhang Zaiyuan." "Hometown", "The True Story of Ah Q", "Kong Yiji" and other Lu Xun's works include elements such as small bridges and flowing water, Xianheng Hotel, etc. , left a deep impression on him.
Living in the "Dream Water Town" made Zhang Jae-won's family feel very comfortable.
Whenever they are free, they will go for a walk in Lu Xun's hometown scenic spot, Fushan Park, Lu Town and other places.
Zhang Zaiyuan mentioned, "My wife is also a calligraphy lover. The "Lanting Collection Preface" by the great calligrapher Wang Xizhi was created in Shaoxing Lanting, and she likes it very much."
"Our family is very adapted to life here, this is our second hometown." Zhang Jae-won said with emotion.
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