By Mata Press Service

At first glance, the sign on the unassuming building in the industrial sub-division on Hammersmith Way in Richmond, B.C. – Canada’s most Asian city – seems to be misspelt.

But once you get through the doors of Foreseeson Technology Inc., the vision of its founder Sung Ub Moon, sheds light on the company’s curious moniker.

It’s about learning from the past, innovating with the present to foresee the needs of the future – all the seasons, all the time.

“We make visions become realities,” said Moon, whose journey from the South Korean port city of Gunsan to become one of Canada’s top tech entrepreneurs, is a story of the ties that bind us internationally.

Growing up in Gunsan, which also hosts a massive technology hub and an American military base, Moon, 55, was never far from the logistics and politics of international trade relationships.

“Korea is not rich in natural resources, and I knew the way for a secure future was international trade so I chose to study international economics at Seoul University,” said Moon, a father of two children, a daughter 24 and son, 20.

“South Korea’s main natural resource is our people…we are known for our skills in various industries, especially technology,” he said.

After university, Moon joined Daewoo Industrial, South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate after the Hyundai Group, and was assigned to work in the computer export division.

“My job was to not only sell the product, but it was also to work with the Information Technology (IT) department team,” said Moon.

“Although I liked everything about my job, I found I loved the manufacturing aspect of the business most of all.”

As Moon progressed with both his personal and professional ambitions, the company he worked for, Daewoo, which had 320,000 people in 110 countries, was going in the other direction.

Daewoo, one of South Korea's most powerful industrial conglomerates, or "chaebols", with close ties to other business leaders and top politicians, started unraveling and later collapsed in 1999 under debts of more than $80 billion. Its founder Kim Woo-choong, who was on the run for six years, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for embezzlement and accounting fraud.

For Moon, this was a pivotal moment in his life.

“I left Daewoo in 1994, although it was one of the top companies at the time, and I had a great future with them, I wanted to try something new.

“I was not sure about what to do next. But then one of my Canadian customers invited me to work for them on a one-year work visa.  I thought, why not? I could use that Canadian experience in the future when I return to Korea,” said Moon.

Moon landed in British Columbia, armed with the philosophy of the “Customer is King”, and quickly adapted to his new employers’ client base.

“I spoke English quite well in Korea…here the English everyone spoke was different. In the working environment, there are different styles and terminologies and that was tough.

“But it was a bit lonely…After 6 months without my family before I called my wife and asked her to quit her teacher’s job in Korea, and come here. I said I cannot wait any longer please come…Thankfully she came.”

Moon was quickly promoted to a managerial level because of his skill set.

“Before I knew it, my visa had been renewed five times as I was always trying to find ways to grow the company.

“During my time with the company, we grew from a $30-million business to a $250-million industry. After 5 years renewing our visas, I realized we could not go back, I was doing too well here. We applied for permanent residency status and stayed here.”

But as with all growth, the company decided to make some changes. The company wanted to shut down its manufacturing division, which Moon had helped build.

“We had a difference of opinion and I left…I did not have any money and I did not have any long-term plan at the time for our future,” Moon recalled.

In South Korea, unemployment can carry a heavy social stigma.

Among OECD countries, South Koreans work more hours per week on average than all but one other country and almost 50% more than famously industrious Germany.

“My daughter, she was 10 years old at the time, she asked me one day, father, where do you go?... I had no place to go, so in the mornings I would dress for work, and go wandering around the neighborhoods…And sometimes I would go to the driving range and buy a basket of golf balls and stay the whole day there with my computer

“For almost one month I had nothing to do but think of a way to secure a future for my family,” he said.

Moon then chanced upon an opportunity to use his Asian connections in Korea, China, and Taiwan, arranging to buy and import parts for less than the going price.

“They said yes and I made 5 percent…I like to call it the Asian relationship and I became a small purchaser.

 I had access to friends, ex co-workers, and manufacturers from the Asian side. I could get the same quality of product at a cheaper price. I definitely used all my experiences and contacts in Asia to build my business,” said Moon.

With his first $20,000, Moon rented a small office space.

“It was tiny and did not have a washroom…we had to use the washroom at a nearby park. Instead of a washroom, I hired two people…three months later I got my first big order for $50,000 dollars. Remember, I did not have space to store so I had to be creative and got a bigger place.”

Since those humble beginnings, Moon’s business has grown meteorically and today he employs over 100 people in a 30,000-square-foot operation.

“I pick my staff by referrals…my work family has grown by recommendations…It is a very close-knit…our workplace is really multicultural and diverse, and inclusive,” said Moon.

Foreseeson Technology today is a multifaceted, award-winning innovator, providing services in electronic manufacturing, IT Security Distribution, Electric Vehicles Charging Equipment as well as, Battery Storage Solution.

 “We build for the medical industry, the automobile industry, the security industry and pretty much every industry… we are a true Canadian manufacturer who is efficient and competitive in the market,” said Moon.

For Moon, the future is all about going green.

Foreseeson’s Green Energy Solution division now supplies and installs Electric Vehicle chargers in the city of Vancouver and 10 other municipalities.

The company is in the process of developing a battery with backup power so people can charge their EVs at home or their workplace.

“Battery technology is the future…we cannot continue to just harness and waste energy, we have to learn to distribute it sustainably.”

 Foreseeson has also developed a ‘grow container’, which Moon describes as the future of food.

The ‘grow containers, fitted with new LED technology, mimics the natural world and allows for the cultivation of vegetables all year.

“It is especially perfect for people and chefs who want grow their own food,” said Moon – an immigrant success story, whose diversity reflects Canada’s strength.

 “Use whatever opportunity that comes your way and learn from it… in the end, it will be your asset,” is Moon’s advice to New Canadians.