The boss who loves his single malt

For a man who heads a global electronics giant as the Managing Director of its Indian operations, Moon B. Shin surprises you when he says he hates being a “slave to technology”.

Sitting inside a private room in the plush China Kitchen restaurant at Delhi’s Hyatt Regency, Shin says he doesn’t understand why people have to look at e-mail or work on a laptop even on a two-hour flight. “I don’t like that,” smiles Shin, who uses, rather predictably, an LG Shine phone.

Inside track Moon Bum Shin wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Here’s stuff you would never get to know about this affable Korean. Born: In Chosuna, a seaside village near Pusan, in 1954 Family: Wife and two children. Son works in LG, daughter is on a break from work. Shin lives alone in Delhi Education: Ajou Institute of Technology, Seoul, with a degree in mechanical engineering First job: In 1978, as an engineer for Hyundai in Seoul First salary: Roughly $220 per month Music: Korean pop. Grew up listening to Neil Diamond Film: Gone With The Wind is an all-time favourite Hobbies: Golf, gymnastics and chatting with friends (of course, over several rounds of drinks) Food: Chinese and Indian Drink: Anything that says ‘whisky’ on the label Best advice to colleagues: No control is best control Personal mantra: Work hard, value your friends and take active part in sports—these are the three best ways to stay happy

What he likes far more, though, is single malt Scotch and he makes no bones about it. “Any good whisky is meant to be drunk. We Koreans love to drink and must be one of the largest consumers of whisky. When I am in Korea, I meet my school friends and some 20-30 of us go drinking and partying well into the night,” he laughs as he orders a double shot of JW Black (followed by another).

But we persist. What sort of a man is this busy boss of a multinational giant? Which brand of suits and shirts does he like? What’s his favourite holiday destination? Does he eat only imported Korean food and water?

Shin laughs out loud yet again (in fact, his laugh— very spontaneous—is quite infectious. It makes you smile anyway). “My wife tells me what brands are in vogue and picks them for me. I love Ferragamo shoes and Pierre Cardin shirts, though. My suits are ordered from Korea and I wear a brand called Maestro,” he says.

As for food, this ‘young’ man who does 100 pushups every day, loves all things Indian. His favourite haunts are Bukhara (at ITC Maurya) and Masala Art (at Taj Palace) in Delhi. He also digs Chinese food.

And, of course, whenever he finds time, he loves to travel. “Home is where the heart is, but I also love travelling to Japan. I love the mountains there, the pure oxygen that you can breathe. I also have a soft corner for places that have hot springs. A dip there can make you healthier. I want to stay forever young you see,” he jokes, adding, “of course, I love to drink even on holidays.”

He also plays golf whenever he gets time (he has a handicap of 14). “Next weekend, let us meet for a round of golf in the morning. Then we can chat over drinks,” he suggests. That’s ok, I tell myself, I can still be home by lunch, just as Shin concludes his sentence: “And we can finish off with dinner and a few drinks.” Over a 100 push-ups, 10 hours in office, a few more discussing business, several rounds of single malt and golf—life at 54 is exciting for Moon B. Shin.