Draft:Hyun Sim

Hyun Sim (Kenneth Sim)
Republic of Korea Air Force
Personal details
Born	Hyun Sim (2002-01-12) January 12, 2002 Daejeon, South Korea
Citizenship	South Korea
Education	Rift Valley Academy (HS) Calvin University (BCS)
Profession	Cloud Security Engineer Network Engineer Penetration Tester Software Engineer
Portfolio	Founder & CEO - 0x0
Website	https://0x0.kr/
Military service
Allegiance	South Korea
Branch/service	Republic of Korea Air Force
Years of service	2022–2024
Rank	Staff Sergeant
Commands	Cheongju International Airport ROKAF

Hyun Sim, or Ken(Kenneth) Sim (born January 12, 2002) is a Entrepreneur and Cloud Security Engineer. He served as a Staff Sergeant in the Republic of Korea Air Force. Sim is the Founder and CEO of 0x0 and currently works at a Korean IT company. He is also pursuing an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and pre-Law at Calvin University.

Early life and education

Hyun Sim, also known as Ken, was born on January 12, 2002, in Daejeon, South Korea, to his parents, Hun and Eunhee, who were office workers at Hanmin University and GPTI (Global Professionals Training Institute). He has two brothers, named Jin and Min, as well as a sister named Hee.

At the age of 13, Sim relocated to Mozambique, where he lived for three and a half years. He initially attended "Chimoio International School" before transitioning to an American Missionary Boarding School in Kenya called "Rift Valley Academy" for the same duration. Subsequently, he pursued a degree in Computer Science and pre-Law at Calvin University. He served as a Network Engineer in the Republic of Korea Air Force for about two years. Currently, he is working as a Cloud Security Engineer at a Korean IT company.

Mozambique

Sim's father, Hun Sim, had mastered Portuguese while working as a photographer in Brazil many years prior to their move to Mozambique. After being scouted by a Korean company, Hun Sim moved his family to Chimoio, Mozambique, where he became the head of a factory. Upon their arrival, the family initially stayed at a motel before relocating to the factory where Hun Sim worked. Sim then enrolled in Chimoio International School.

When Sim first started attending Chimoio International School, he was the only Asian student, which made him stand out among his peers. At first, he got along well with his classmates, but he faced language barriers as he couldn't speak English or Portuguese fluently. As a result, misunderstandings arose, and he had many fights with other students. Moreover, some of the teachers at the school treated him unfairly and discriminated against him. Despite his strong aptitude for math, he struggled in other subjects and received low grades. Unfortunately, due to these challenges, many people perceived him as a typical bully and troublemaker.

While working at the factory in Chimoio, Mozambique, Hun Sim faced gossip and unclear rumors from other Koreans working at the same factory, which ultimately led to his resignation. He then worked for two different Korean companies in Beira and Maputo, Mozambique, but left each one for various reasons, including conflicts with management and unpaid wages. After returning to Korea, he was ordained as a Protestant minister and began doing missionary work alongside his wife, Eunhee Cho, who had previously been doing missionary work alone. The family moved to their new house to continue their missionary work, but faced significant challenges when they arrived. The house they moved into had no roof, toilet, electricity, or running water due to customs officer illegally occupying their shipping container with building materials from Korea. However, after winning a court case, they completed building their house and started a Sunday School for Kids in Noia town. They now run a church called ‘Igreja Ponto' in Noia Town.

Kenya

Sim in Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Sim at the Banquet 2021 with his friends, RVA

Sim's educational journey took a significant turn after he spent approximately three and a half years in Mozambique. At that juncture, he transitioned to Rift Valley Academy (RVA), an American boarding school located in Kenya. The decision to make this move was primarily influenced by Sim's parents, who believed that his educational and life prospects in Mozambique were limited due to the prevailing environment.

Rift Valley Academy, frequently referred to as RVA, is an institution purposefully designed for Christian Missionary Kids (MK) originating from the United States. It is renowned for providing an exceptional educational setting, distinguishing itself from numerous other institutions throughout the African continent. In fact, RVA garnered recognition as the second-best school in Africa, a testament to its exceptional quality and rigorous standards. Sim's arrival at RVA presented a considerable challenge, as he needed to adapt to a new cultural milieu and accent. Initially, the pronounced differences between American and Mozambican accents made it challenging for him to both speak and comprehend others. Nevertheless, under the guidance of devoted and proficient educators, Sim overcame these linguistic obstacles and flourished in his new academic and social environment.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a temporary return to South Korea for Sim and his family. The Mozambican government had mandated the departure of all foreigners from the country. While Sim and his siblings periodically visited their parents in Kenya from Mozambique during school breaks, they found themselves unable to return to Mozambique as the pandemic persisted. In response to the prolonged impact of COVID-19, RVA made the decision to shift to online learning. Regrettably, this transition had adverse consequences on the academic performances of many students, including Sim and his siblings.

Sim with his classmates in RVA

Sim was a notable figure in the RVA community, particularly for his athletic prowess. He actively participated in sports such as soccer and rugby and earned a reputation for his proficiency in these endeavors. While he tended to maintain a more reserved stance when it came to interacting with female students, his reputation as a well-liked and respected individual among his male peers was evident. Academically, Sim consistently performed above average, while his athletic abilities were among the top tier. His relationships with fellow students were characterized as above average.

Also, Sim had incredible skills on technologies, demonstrated exceptional proficiency in computer science and cybersecurity. During his sophomore year, he excelled in AP Computer Science, where he showcased his skills by developing a hacking tool as his final project. The tool, an arp spoofing application, autonomously targeted wireless networks, identified the MAC address of the specified device, and implemented a seamless mac address spoofing process. Additionally, it engaged in an automatic filtering process through keylogging, capturing ID and password information from HTTP responses. As part of his commitment to educating others about the significance of cybersecurity, Sim imparted awareness about cybersecurity by hacking some of his friend's laptop using Kali Linux and its various tools. By the time Sim graduated from high school, his knowledge and expertise were on par with that of college sophomores in the field of computer science and cybersecurity.

Sim's educational journey also encountered disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic's impact on standardized testing was particularly evident, with Sim being able to take the SAT only once, as COVID-19-related cancellations and capacity constraints in Mozambique and South Korea made further attempts unfeasible. Despite the challenges and disruptions in his educational journey, Sim was well-prepared and poised to move forward, with the potential for successful admission to reputable universities and colleges.

United States

Sim with his Calvin 25's International Orientation

Sim with his Quest 25' members in front of the President Gerald R. Ford Jr. Boyhood Home.

Sim pursued his academic journey at Calvin University in Michigan, USA, with a focus on Computer Science and pre-law. Despite facing challenges in academics and grappling with depression, he courageously decided to take control of his life. Overcoming a difficult period, marked by skipping an entire spring semester, Sim resolved to combat his depression and initiated a transformative journey. Seeking a meaningful change, he chose to enlist in the Korean Military, since all Korean men are mandatory to join the military anyway. He left the USA after his freshman year to prepare to join the Republic of Korea Air Force.

Military Career

Sim awarded by Brigadier General J. Lee

Sim's professional journey commenced when he sought a position as a Cybersecurity Analyst within the Republic of Korea Army, although his application was not successful due to a lack of certifications at the time. Undeterred, he redirected his efforts towards the Republic of Korea Air Force, applying for a role in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Network Engineer, where he successfully secured a position.

Enlisting in October 2022, Sim underwent a comprehensive five-week Basic Military Training before seizing the opportunity to apply for a Network Engineer position. His dedication and skills were duly recognized, leading to his acceptance into the role. Subsequently, he underwent a three-month specialized training program focused on Network Engineering while serving as an ICT Trainee.

Upon the completion of his training, Sim was assigned to the 17th Fighters Wing in Cheongju-si, where he assumed the rank of Ideungbyeong(equivalent to Airman First Class).

Leveraging his extensive knowledge of networking acquired through past experiences in computer essentials, Sim demonstrated exceptional proficiency in his role within the Networking Squadron. His expertise encompassed areas such as Routing, Switching, and Cable Management. Recognizing his outstanding contributions, he earned the distinction of being the top enlisted soldier in his squadron.

As Sim advanced in his military career to the rank of Byeongjang(equivalent to Staff Sergeant), his exemplary performance continued to garner recognition. He was honored with the title of the best enlisted soldier in the ICT Squadron, receiving a citation from Brigadier General J. Lee, the 17th Fighter Wing Commander, in October 2023.

He completed the mandatory 1 year and 9 months of service in the Republic of Korea Air Force and was discharged on July 30, 2024.

Entrepreneurship

0x0

While serving in the Republic of Korea Air Force, Sim participated in several competitions and hackathons related to artificial intelligence, startups, and cybersecurity. Based on these experiences, he decided to start a business with his colleagues focusing on generative AI. He attempted to launch a service that allowed clients to customize LLMs with technologies such as RVC (Real Time Voice Cloning) and VRM (VRoid Studio) using SillyTavern. However, during his service, he was scouted by an IT company in South Korea and began working there immediately after his discharge. Although he continued developing his website, other startups had already developed services similar to his ideas. As a result, he is now pursuing a new IT startup company with a different concept.

Awards and Decorations

Awards Citation by Brigadier General J. Lee

External links

• Hyun Sim on Twitter
• Hyun Sim on Instagram
• Hyun(Kenneth) Sim on LinkedIn