Moving Beyond 38% "Ghost Members"! Tokyo Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry Proposes Structural Reform for a "Robust Organization" at 2nd Board Meeting

Seiichi Sakakibara, Representative Director of EMOLVA Inc., a company specializing in SNS marketing, and Chairman of the 49th Member Engagement Committee of the Tokyo Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (hereafter, Tokyo Korean CC), presented a proposal for fundamental structural reform of the organization at the 2nd Board Meeting.

This proposal, built upon thorough discussions and data analysis from the 1st Member Engagement Committee held previously, aims to transition from a "bloated organization" to a "robust organization." Verification for full-scale implementation will commence in collaboration with the Board of Directors and various committees.

▼Click here for the press release regarding the 1st Committee: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000149.000021425.html

Background of the Proposal: The Reality of "38% Ghost Members" Revealed by Data

The Member Engagement Committee focused on "committee attendance rates" as an indicator of the organization's "satisfaction and engagement." Attendance records from the previous fiscal year (48th term) across three committees were compiled and analyzed.

The results revealed that out of a total of 79 members, 30 members (38.0%) were so-called "ghost members" who did not attend a single committee meeting in the year, despite 12 meetings being held.

Furthermore, it was found that 53 members (67.1%), or two out of every three members, attended three or fewer meetings, indicating a serious situation where they were "barely functioning members."

In response to this reality, Sakakibara pointed out that the current organization has become a "bloated organization" that is "not large, but thin and numerous." To break free from a structure where a small number of highly motivated members bear an excessive burden and their morale is eroded, he proposed a structural reform plan that changes the organization's framework itself, rather than making superficial improvements to attendance rates.

Core of the Reform: The "Practical Benefits x Ideals" Dual Axis, Returning to the Declaration of Purpose "Economic Assistance"

Instead of unilaterally blaming ghost members, the organization questioned whether it provides "reasons to continue participating." The answer derived was the provision of practical benefits such as "making money and growing business."

Article 5 of the "Declaration of Purpose," the origin of the Tokyo Korean CC, clearly states "information exchange, cooperation, and mutual economic assistance among members." "Economic assistance (mutual support in business and management)" is not a new concept brought in from outside, but one of the core objectives that has been upheld since its founding.

By bringing "business practical benefits (Axis A)," which have tended to be treated with reservation in past organizational culture, to the forefront and fusing them with the "ideals and commitment (Axis B)" that have been cherished for many years, a "robust organization" with unique strategic value, unmatched by other domestic organizations, will be built.

Two Specific Proposals for Structural Reform

To build a network of tangible relationships, the Member Engagement Committee proposed the following two interconnected measures:

Proposal 1: Introduction of Attendance Obligation Standards and an Expulsion System Members who are absent for 3 or more of the 12 annual meetings will be mechanically judged for "expulsion" or "transition to supporting member" without a grace period or possibility of reinstatement based on their own will. By setting strict standards, the weight and pride of being a "regular member of the CC" will be restored.

Proposal 2: Establishment of a Supporting Member System (Tentative Name) A new channel will be created for members who find it difficult to attend due to business or family reasons but wish to support the CC's ideals. The annual membership fee will be set at the same amount as regular members, creating a structure where regular membership is overwhelmingly more advantageous for those who can attend, naturally increasing the purity of the regular membership.

Based on the direction of these proposals, a trial application will first begin within the Member Engagement Committee. Subsequently, aiming for formal establishment of the system and expansion to all committees after approval by the Board of Directors, the plan is to concurrently operate study sessions as "Business Exchange Meetings" to establish concrete venues that embody "making money just by participating."

Profile of Seiichi Sakakibara, Representative Director of EMOLVA Inc. ■

【Career】 Born in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Entered Tokyo University of Science, then pursued graduate studies at Tokyo University of Science Graduate School, Department of Mechanical Engineering, conducting research utilizing the web in the field of mechanics of materials. 2009 / Joined CyberAgent as an infrastructure engineer straight out of university. Subsequently experienced roles as a web analyst for social games. Engaged in consulting for corporate SNS management and PR casting for influencers. 2015 / Established EMOLVA Inc., an SNS marketing trading company, and serves as its Representative Director and President.

【Achievements】 ● Active as an influencer with over 500,000 followers, acquiring over 100 leads monthly. ● Provided SNS marketing services to over 500 companies, with clients ranging from venture companies to small and medium-sized enterprises, large corporations, local governments, and even national entities. ● In recruitment, has a track record of attracting over 12,000 job applicants using SNS. ● Focusing on influencer marketing, has partnered with 1.4 million influencers and over 10,000 general monitors, collaborating with various talent agencies and celebrities to conduct comprehensive marketing.

【Activities】 ●2021 / Joined Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry. ・Shibuya Ward Committee PR Manager - Shibuya Ward X Account Management Officer - ・Public Relations Strategy Committee Vice Chairman ・Membership Expansion Committee General Manager ・Tokyo Block Council Public Relations and Branding Committee Vice Chairman ●2024 / Joined Tokyo Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry. ●Appearing as a "Tiger" on the YouTube programs "Annual Income Auction," "Human Resources Edition Reiwa no Tora," "Reiwa no Tora," and "Blue Reiwa no Tora."

【SNS】 ・X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/sakakibara_sns ・Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seiichi_sakakibara ・TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@seiichi_s ・YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@anime-sakakibara

EMOLVA Inc. ■ ・HP: https://emolva.tokyo/ ・Business Description: Provides comprehensive SNS marketing, from strategic planning to execution, including agency services for corporate Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and other SNS accounts, as well as promotions utilizing influencers. ・Seiichi Sakakibara: Request Form for Lectures, Appearances, and PR https://forms.gle/jtTPwg5PfRy3zHAj7