By Jiae Park Photos courtesy of NBC
Recently, Korean American men have stirred it up in the reality-show spotlight. The Cho brothers, Erwin and Godwin, battled it out on “The Amazing Race.” Then Yul Kwon won “Survivor: Cook Islands.” Now we get to meet James Sun, an Internet entrepreneur from Seattle who graduated from the University of Washington as a millionaire — the technology fund he started at the age of 18 with $5,000 grew to $2.3 million by graduation day. He will use that business savvy as he vies against attorneys and even an Olympic ice hockey player to earn a seat next to “The Donald” on the latest edition of NBC’s “The Apprentice,” which premiered on Jan. 7. He can’t say if he got the Donald Trump signature send-off, but he did tell KoreAm something about the toupee-wearing tycoon.
So what’s Donald Trump like?
He’s a very nice person, and I respect him a lot. Donald Trump is a big thinker. You have to be on your toes at all times. He’s warm and tough at the same time, and has lots of style and personality.
Why did you want to be on the show?
Getting into Harvard is a piece of cake compared to this. You got to want it. I have two daughters that I love dearly, and I wanted to inspire them to dream bigger, think outside the box, and achieve the impossible. In a sense, they are a minority of minorities because they are female and Korean. I want them to grow up knowing they can do anything in the world. Making “The Apprentice” will be a life lesson on thinking outside the box that my girls can hold onto forever and pass down, generation to generation.
On the Web site for “The Apprentice,” nicknames were given to each contestant. Why do they call you the “Webhead”?
I’m an Internet guy. I’ve played with the Internet since I was a kid, and my company’s Internet. And we kind of look at being a geek [as being] cool.
Can you explain the concept behind the Web site you created, Zoodango.com?
I wanted to get involved in a project that could be a multibillion-dollar project, and what I saw was the proliferation of MySpace and social networking sites like Facebook. And what I realized is that I’m 29 years old, and I won’t put up a profile on MySpace because I feel like I’m too old. When you graduate college, you want to start showing off, and when I say showing off, expressing who you are in a different way. Zoodango is a place where people between the ages of 24 and 45 can really express themselves in relation to their professional career, instead of partying in college or how popular you are on MySpace.
So anyone can join, not just professionals?
Any person over 18 can join Zoodango. It’s a place for professionals to connect and network. Even a Starbucks employee is a professional to me. They have valuable knowledge in the coffee industry that nobody else has. And the world might say, “Well, she’s not or he’s not technically a professional,” but I say that person is a professional, and they have a story to share about working at Starbucks.
Why do you think you should win “The Apprentice”?
I come from a background that has Fortune 500 experience, and I’m an entrepreneur as well. And I think what’s very important is that some people are meant to work for other people and that’s it — not really take a risk and [not] go out on their own. I’m kind of like Trump in a way because I’ve taken a lot of risks to get to where I am in life. And I’m willing to take a risk every day. I don’t want to sit here and be comfortable, and I think that’s something that Donald Trump would appreciate.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years, I expect Zoodango.com to be a billion-dollar company, as big as MySpace and Facebook. I also see myself achieving things outside of business, especially serving social causes around the world. I’ve got a big heart for kids in third-world countries.
What recommendations do you have for entrepreneur wannabes? How do they go about becoming successful?
If you want to be an entrepreneur, you got to go all in. If you never go all in, then your chances of winning … are very, very slim. Don’t try to do it on the side, or do it over 10 years. Rack up some savings until you can go all in, [then] give every effort that you have. … You’re either in or out.
