Proptech startup Zigbang has been developing an innovative metaverse project called ‘SOMA’ for the past two years, realizing a ‘future workplace’ where all employees commute online instead of to an office. While numerous metaverse platforms already exist in the market, few services replicate the actual work environment as meticulously as Zigbang’s SOMA. It features 3D avatar-based video calls and faithfully transfers the offline office environment online, continuously evolving by incorporating user feedback in real time. Notably, the ‘Surround View’ feature allows users to check the status of not only nearby colleagues but also those at a distance, providing an immersive experience similar to an actual workplace.

However, the enormous video streaming costs required to maintain these immersive features have emerged as a challenge. Recently, we’ve been negotiating contract renewals, optimizing solutions, and changing pricing structures to manage these costs. Amidst persuading our internal team and intense negotiations with client representatives, I happened to encounter **The Merchant of Venice** through an audiobook.

This encounter with the novel, inspired by Antonio Correa (Yoo Seung-eop), the protagonist of Rubens’ portrait ‘Man in Korean Attire’, felt remarkably timely. Yoo Seung-eop’s life story—taken captive during the Imjin War, surviving the brink of death, traveling through Japan and Ming China before arriving in the Republic of Venice, Italy, and succeeding as the chief manager of the Delucci Trading Company—was thrilling.

This book, in particular, offered profound insights into the essence of business negotiation. The protagonist, a merchant from Gaeseong, practiced his father’s teaching: **“Always consider the other party’s interests first to establish long-term transactions.”** He led crucial negotiations to victory by doing so. I also applied this principle during my recent contract renewal process. By simultaneously considering the interests of both headquarters and the client company and finding common ground, I successfully reached an agreement on a renewal case that had been facing difficulties. To continue applying this wisdom of mutual benefit in the remaining discussions, I started my day today by waking up at 4:30 AM to update my blog.