Starting July 5th, I'm kicking off Hanghae Plus (항해플러스) Frontend Cohort 6!
Before the program officially begins, I attended the pre-networking event — a chance to meet my fellow cohort members, learning mates, and mentor coaches in person.
Getting to see everyone face-to-face before the real work starts made the anticipation for the program that much more real.
First Impressions — An Unfamiliar Space, Unfamiliar Faces
When I arrived at the venue, walking into an unfamiliar space full of people I'd never met — the nerves hit immediately.
At the entrance, I picked up a name tag and an ice-breaker question card, and my mouth was so dry I grabbed a drink right away.
The snacks they'd prepared did help me loosen up a little though!
We each picked a question card we liked. I went with "What's the most memorable trip you've ever taken?" — figured it was a safe, universally approachable question that anyone could answer easily.
Walk around with your card, ask fellow cohort members the question, then write their name and answer on the back!
They mentioned the top three people who collected the most answers would win a small prize — I wonder who it ended up being?
Event Schedule
⏰ Timetable
20:00 – 20:20 Staff Session (Hanghae Plus education system overview — Manager Hyemin Kim)
20:20 – 20:40 Coach Session (The origin story of the Hanghae Plus Frontend course — Coach Theo)
20:40 – 21:00 Alumni Session (The 10-week voyage ahead — Learning Mate Wonpyo Kim)
21:00 – 22:00 Dinner & Networking
After three presentation sessions, we had time for dinner with everyone and open networking!
Presentation Time — Stories That Chart the Course
There were three presentation sessions in total:
- Staff Session: The Hanghae Plus Education System
- Coach Session: The Origin Story of the Hanghae Plus Frontend Course
- Alumni Session: The 10-Week Voyage Ahead
1. Staff Session — The Hanghae Plus Education System
Manager Hyemin Kim introduced what the Hanghae Plus educational framework looks like in practice, and the direction the program aims to take us.
2. Coach Session — The Origin Story of the Frontend Course
Coach Theo took the stage! ✨
He's a well-known figure in the Korean frontend scene, so seeing him in person was genuinely exciting and memorable.
Just like his writing, his presentation had a clear logical flow, and he explained everything in a way that was easy to follow — clearly with the audience in mind.
What stood out most was his in-depth advice on what direction frontend developers should be moving in the age of AI, and what kind of study habits and attitudes are essential going forward.
3. Alumni Session — The 10-Week Voyage Ahead
This session was led by Wonpyo Kim, a learning mate from a previous cohort. It was great to hear a first-hand account of what those 10 weeks are actually like.
One thing that stuck with me — a friend of mine from a previous cohort apparently showed up in every single photo: every class, networking event, run, hike, team dinner... all of them. 😂
Dinner & Networking — Nice to Meet You All :)
After the presentations, the moment we'd all been waiting for — networking time!
Pizza, fried chicken, and beer were ready to go. 🍕🍗🍺
I sat down with the people in my group and we started chatting, and then we discovered something remarkable:
All four of us in the group were INTJ.
I think I saw more INTJs in that one moment than I had in my entire life up to that point lol.
I don't even remember there being a field to write your MBTI on the registration form — how did we end up together like this? Must be fate…?
Everyone in the group also turned out to have incredibly deep passion for their own interests and pursuits.
It made me think, "Wow, I've been pretty ordinary by comparison..." and honestly lit a fire under me to step it up.
Before I knew it, it was 10:30 PM.
The networking time flew by way too fast — I left wanting so much more.
It's Almost Time. Excitement All Around!
Through the presentations and the networking, I started to get a real sense of what the next 10 weeks will actually look like.
Pulling all-nighters together to finish assignments. Maybe some late-night drinks too (?).
It feels like it's going to be a genuinely intense, immersive experience.
More than anything, I'm already excited about the idea of being surrounded by such a diverse group of people —
inspiring each other and growing together.
My biggest worry, though, is…
having to balance this with my full-time job. 🥲
But!
That's exactly why I feel even more motivated to use my time wisely and see this through to the end.
Three Commitments Before Day One
Here's what I'm promising myself before the program starts:
1. Work ahead on assignments.
Leave room to receive feedback and actually act on it.
2. Don't give up, even when it gets hard.
When the tough moments come — and they will — keep going anyway.
3. Track progress, don't compare.
Measure myself against who I was yesterday, not against everyone else.
Closing Thoughts
Hanghae Plus isn't just another bootcamp to me —
I genuinely believe it will be an important turning point in my journey as a developer.
It's a little scary, but the excitement is bigger.
To everyone in Hanghae Plus Frontend Cohort 6 — I'm looking forward to the voyage together! 💪