"There was something more important to protect than money."
Comedian Jang Dong-min honestly revealed the reason for choosing the Korean market first after rejecting a multibillion won offer from a global corporation.

A video titled "The reason I, who was ridiculed, lined up large corporations with an idea" was posted on the YouTube channel 'Knowledge Inside' on the 12th.

On this day, Jang Dong-min announced his new journey as an inventor and entrepreneur. In particular, he conveyed his belief that "what's more important than money is Korea's status," which resonated strongly.

During the COVID-19 period, Jang Dong-min lived alone and experienced discomfort while separating garbage, saying, "The labels on PET bottles don't come off easily." From this inconvenience, he devised the "vertical label" technology to improve the situation. This eco-friendly structure, which separates the label when the cap is opened, has been praised for enhancing consumer convenience and recycling rates, earning him the unusual honor of receiving an award from the Minister of Environment.

In 2023, he founded a company called "Blue Sky" and entered the environmental technology business in earnest by signing memorandums of understanding with Kwangdong Pharmaceutical and Samyang Packaging. This is not just a simple invention but is causing actual changes in the industry.

However, it is noteworthy that he turned down offers worth billions from overseas corporations even with this innovative technology. Jang Dong-min noted, "I'm truly grateful that global companies, including those from the U.S., reached out first," adding, "Even among the employees, there were many discussions about why I wasn't pursuing this. In fact, there were a lot of conflicts."

Nevertheless, he stubbornly chose the Korean market first. The reason was clear. "Right now, the entire world is paying attention to K-POP and K-culture. I wanted to place K-environment at the center of it all. I wanted to show the world how Korea is solving environmental issues." Money can be earned back, but Korea's status must be properly utilized when given an opportunity, reflecting his philosophy. He revealed the image of a businessman who prioritizes philosophy and values over revenue.

In this way, Jang Dong-min successfully transformed once again as an 'environmental entrepreneur' armed with both eco-friendly technology and philosophy, moving beyond being just an entertainer. Internet users are applauding him with comments like, "Really great philosophy," "Was Jang Dong-min like this?" "It's impressive to reject billions," and "I hope it truly becomes a K-brand."

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