In the book
The opening account links Im’s ability to judge ginseng with years of exposure to his father’s trade. His judgement does not emerge from a single inspirational speech. Read this alongside the moment when he asks to inspect the root in better light: familiarity becomes useful when it directs attention to differences. The episode suggests a distinction between time spent near a craft and learning how to make a defensible judgement within it.
Analysis
Build a small collection of examples: one acceptable item, one obvious defect and one borderline case. Ask a learner to sort them and explain the feature that changed the decision. Reveal the expert assessment afterwards, then discuss disagreement. A useful checklist records observable properties rather than “looks right.” Revisit a sample later without its label to see whether the learner can still explain the choice. This hypothetical method makes tacit expertise easier to examine; it does not replace specialist certification or guarantee that a novice can detect every defect.
- Experience becomes learning when you compare, explain and receive feedback.
- Teach what to look for, not only what answer to give.
Samsung: build a repeatable reading method
Source-grounded facts
On 31 January 2024, Samsung reported FY2023 revenue of KRW 258.94 trillion and operating profit of KRW 6.57 trillion. For Q4 alone, the group reported KRW 2.82 trillion operating profit, while Device Solutions reported a KRW 2.18 trillion operating loss.
Case analysis
Expertise starts with distinctions that a beginner can learn. Put Samsung’s annual figures and quarterly figures in separate columns, then label group and segment. The DS loss is already included within the group result; adding it again would double-count it. This is the market equivalent of teaching an apprentice exactly which feature to inspect. A repeatable worksheet reduces avoidable errors without pretending to remove uncertainty. Hypothetical exercise: a trainee mixes annual revenue with quarterly profit to calculate a margin. Explain why the periods must match before doing the division. A tidy calculation cannot rescue mismatched inputs.
Here is a worked calculation using matching annual figures. Divide FY2023 operating profit of KRW 6.57 trillion by revenue of KRW 258.94 trillion, then multiply by 100: the result is approximately 2.54%. This is a calculated operating margin from the rounded figures in the release. It is not a shareholder’s return, a forecast, or the margin of the DS division. The arithmetic is simple; the skill lies in selecting numbers that belong together and naming the result accurately.
Now turn the calculation into a method someone else can repeat. Give a learner a worksheet with five fields: reporting period, business scope, unit, source, and calculation. Ask them to explain each field before pressing the calculator. A second reader should be able to trace the inputs back to the announcement and reproduce the answer. If two readers disagree, first check definitions rather than assuming one cannot calculate. This mirrors the apprentice’s task in Sangdo: experience becomes teachable when an expert makes the sequence of observation and checking visible.
Case exercise
Why is 2.54% not the return earned by someone holding Samsung shares?
Analysis guide
It compares operating profit with company revenue. A shareholder’s return depends on purchase and sale prices and distributions, with currency and costs also relevant.
Limits of the comparison
This is our later comparison with Sangdo, not an episode from the book. Historical reports and policy announcements do not establish a fair share price or prove subsequent investment returns.
Reflection
Choose one task you do well. What three examples would help someone else learn your judgement?