A.I.F. Family
Meet Some of Our Family Members
A.I.F. Family Interview
- Germany(FRA) Branch
- David Cho Branch manager
From the Franksfurt airport train station (train = S-BAHN), go south one stop and there is a train station called RAUNHEIM. Our office is located about 10 minute by foot from this station.There are several logistics/automotive/trading companies around the office.
Additionally, there are several restaurants within walking distance, as well as a supermarket,making this a great location for employees to shop or dine during lunch or after work.
Notably, the restaurant CORNER Steak offers a superb menu where you can grill high-qualitybeef directly at your table and people from all over Germany dine here for their specialty.
Our office consists of following four teams. the Air Export Team, handling exports to Korea and China; the Import Team (air & sea) for all imports from China and Korea; the Management Support Team for all accounting and administrative duties, and the Warehouse team that handles cargo directly in the warehouse.
Each team has a distinct role and dynamic. The Air Export Team, with 14 members, is the largest team in the branch and is divided into Korean CS, Chinese CS, OP, and DOCS parts. This is the team that actively participates in many company events and sets the tone for our office.
The Import Team is the youngest team created by combining air & sea into a single team in the second quarter of 2021. Consisting of four members, including the team leader, this team works together seamlessly, with a friendly competition to outperform the Export team.
The Management Support Team provide administrative support so that the operator can focus on their work.
The Warehouse Team is led by experienced members. Since warehouse operations are the final steps in the logistics process, any mistake here has a significant impact on other teams. With 0% error rate as their goal, the team members encourage each other, working in three shifts to minimize any possibility of mistakes.
What I value the most as the leader of the Frankfurt office is cooperation amongst team members.
Due to the nature of the logistics brokerage business, ability of each respective team member to do his/her best work based on their professional knowledge and through collaboration with each other is key.
I believe that we will be able to achieve A.I.F. Company's primary goals, including exceptional customer service, great performance, and business expansion, with our team members and their hard work. Thus, providing an environment where everyone can do their best and finding a way to motivate them is my top priority.
Internally, my goal is to make A.I.F. a company you never want to leave. Externally, I would like to make A.I.F. Frankfurt the best air logistics team in the industry.
I am also planning to achieve external growth grounded in solid internal foundations. Starting warehouse operations directly at the end of 2023 marked our first phase of growth, and our next goal is to open additional branches within Germany beyond Frankfurt.
- France Branch
- Celine Kim Branch manager
The French branch is located 10 minutes (8 km) by car from the Charles de Gaulle Cargo Terminal and 36 minutes (25 km) from the city center of Paris, so it is very accessible.
We operate our own warehouse, so we can work directly on AIR & OCEAN consol and provide high-quality consol service.
In addition, 24/7 Guardian service is provided for all employees and security cameras are placed in various places in the warehouse for safety and security.
In terms of nearby attractions, there is a large shopping mall ‘Aeroville’ close by and a golf course ‘Golf de Gonesse’ within a 10-minute drive.
Currently, there are a total of 28 employees, consisting of 20 operators in the aviation/sea/export/import team, 7 warehouse workers, and 1 accounting team member.
The warehouse is located on the first floor and our office is on the second floor of the same building, so the communication between the warehouse staff and the operators is effortless.
Our branch has a casual atmosphere, with employees working with background music. More importantly, we have a diverse group of people working with us, and everyone respects each other and communicates effectively.
I believe that the most important values are teamwork and communication. What's more important than sharing your thoughts freely and collaborating?
I am confident that the combination of productive collaboration along with effective communication will bring the best results.
In 2025, we plan to operate a bonded warehouse utilizing our expanded warehouse capacity and to develop new products leveraging the recently obtained GDP PHARMA certification.
Finally, we are planning to establish an education program that can further develop the expertise of each employee.
Until the day when all our employees are able to provide a high-quality service based on their expertise, let’s go
- Germany(HAM) Branch
- Hyeyoun Nam Branch manager
The Hamburg branch is located about 7 minutes on foot from Hamburg Central Station and about 30 minutes by car from Hamburg Airport.
Our current office, since April 2023, is located in the center of Hamburg city. The Alster Lake, the luxury shopping street, and other notable attractions are all within a 10-minute walk.
Since our office is at the center of the city, there are many recommendable restaurants nearby. I would like to personally recommend introduce, Das Parlament located in Hamburg City Hall.
Das Parlament means “parliament” and there, you can enjoy Hamburg style food in a city hall with the world's only ''two'' parliaments.
In the summer when the weather is nice, I recommend a glass of Alsterwasser (a beer mixed with Sprite, called Alster Lake water located in Hamburg) while enjoying the warm sunlight in the square inside the city hall.
Our branch is a specialized branch that handles only ocean freight exports, and currently 10 employees in total work together under the name of ONE TEAM.
We are from Korea, Germany and Indonesia with diverse backgrounds, but we have one thing in common: we are doing logistics and do enjoy it.
Under the leadership of the branch manager and the team leader with extensive ocean freight experience, we actively communicate with each other and do our work with passion.
The most important value for me is sincerity. No matter when, where, or what you do, it is not about doing it half heartedly, but putting in your best effort. I think that if you put your heart into what you do, then each of us will thrive and grow, and in return, our branch as a whole will reach our full potential.
As an ocean freight branch leading the change in the logistics industry, our goal is to expand our business area to cover not only Asia but also the Americas.
To achieve this, it is essential that we understand the unique characteristics of each region and have the knowledge in our work. And our goal is to provide high-quality services to our clients and make our A.I.F. Hamburg branch the best in terms of business satisfaction.
I will continue to do my best to make this a place where we can work with passion and joy until we retire.
- Italy Branch
- Maurizio Sonzogni Branch manager
Our office and warehouse are located in the main logistics area of Milan, 30 minutes from the city center and 10 minutes by car from Linate subway station.
From a business perspective, this area is strategic for freight forwarding, as it is very close to Linate Airport, an hour from MXP Airport, and two hours from the port of Genoa.
Equally important for our employees, the area offers convenient amenities such as supermarkets, gyms, and post offices. Additionally, we enjoy plenty of green space and have access to some excellent restaurants, including Antico Albergo and Asina Luna, both of which are recognized by the Michelin Guide.
Our branch consists of 22 employees, divided into 4 teams.
The Management Support Team, made up of 3 members, plays a fundamental role in ensuring that our operations teams have the tools and the best possible environment to perform at their best.
We wouldn’t last a day without their exceptional support!
The Air Team is the largest, with 8 members, a well-balanced mix of experienced and junior staff.
They stand out for their proactive approach, as required by air shipments.
The Ocean Team has 5 highly experienced members. Since ocean cargo moves more slowly than air shipments, they tend to be very precise and excel in mid-term planning.
Lastly, our Consol Team, made up of 4 members, works behind the scenes.
They are the youngest in terms of experience, which makes them a very active team, focused on taking good care of our cargo from the moment it enters the warehouse until departure.
Our strength still lies in our diversity, with a good mix of Korean and local employees.
In past years, I mentioned the Italy branch's casual yet professional atmosphere, driven by our team's averagely young age, which we still maintain...just slightly less young now. ^^
Our company is built on people, and I believe our employees are our greatest value. Even though the logistics industry is increasingly driven by a rate-oriented mindset, we still believe that providing good, professional, and reliable service makes all the difference.
I feel that A.I.F. and its entire organization share this value and fully support this approach, prioritizing employee well-being and satisfaction by creating the best possible working environment.
The perfect Company does not exist, but A.I.F. strives to be the best version of itself which also set an example for employees to follow.
In our line of business, there has always been a continuous turnover of personnel due to the nature of the industry, which constantly offers new job opportunities.
Taking this into account, my goal for the Italy branch is stability.
Over the years, I feel that our ups and downs have been more related to personnel changes than market conditions. Therefore, I believe that having a stable HR situation is the foundation for our growth and future success.
On a broader level, our company is highly focused on digital innovation, which is becoming increasingly fundamental not only in the workplace but also in everyday life.
From this perspective, our goal is to be a pioneer in digital innovation, which we see as an essential tool for becoming a leader in logistics services.
- Japan Branch
- Hyoungjin Cho Branch manager
A.I.F. Company Japan was established in 2005 and operates the Tokyo office (Minatoku/区//Minato-Ku) and the Osaka office (Chuoku/中区//Chou-Ku).
Both offices are located in downtown, the center of Japan's economic activities.
The Tokyo office is a five minute walk from Onarimon Station, adjacent to the Tokyo Tower, and the Osaka office is a five minute walk from the Honmachi Station.
A famous restaurant I would like to recommend is Tofuya Ukai, a tofu restaurant, located under the Tokyo Tower.
This restaurant has a traditional Japanese garden attached to it, so it is an ideal place to experience both the Japanese food and culture.
Near the Osaka office, there is also a restaurant called Kaname, where you can taste wagyu (Japanese beef dish) and motsunabe (Japanese tripe hot pot), and you can experience the atmosphere of a 1970s traditional home in Japan.
The Tokyo office consists of an air export team, an import team, and a management support team. The Osaka office consists of an ocean export team.
Each team is led by a team leader who has worked in the logistics industry for more than 10 years and is able to handle multitude of tasks and support other operators.
Our Japan offices have a number of employees who can speak several languages including Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, and Chinese.
We are trying to cultivate professionals who understand both the logistics systems of Korea and of Japan.
To achieve this goal, I feel that the most important values are the passion for your work and the willingness to face new challenges through collaboration.
Since its establishment, A.I.F. Company Japan has achieved steady growth with the help of our customers and the efforts of its headquarters and the branch employees.
The logistics industry has been evolving continuously, and the needs of our customers are diversifying.
Thus,I believe now is the time when a stimulus for continuous growth is needed.
We aim to improve efficiency and differentiate ourselves through digital innovation so that we can keep up with the changing times and lead the logistics industry.
We believe that we will be able to achieve better quality service through evolving ourselves.
Therefore, I ask for your continued interest in A.I.F. Company Japan, and I promise to be a partner who can grow together as a professional.
- U.S.A. Branch
- Charles Kim COO
The A.I.F. Americas branch holds significant value as the company’s first branch office.
Starting with Los Angeles in 1990, the company expanded to New York in 1994 and Chicago in 1996.
Each office in LA, Chicago, and New York is strategically located just 15 minutes from the airport, making them highly optimized for air freight operations.
The U.S. branch consists of the Air Export, Ocean Export, Import, and Management Support teams.
With LA, Chicago, and New York at the core, the branch provides comprehensive logistics services across the U.S.
Through A.I.F.’s advanced internal system, the headquarters and branch offices actively share tasks without limitations of time or location, ensuring stable service delivery.
All our employees are enthusiastic and motivated, creating a bright and lively atmosphere. The office is always filled with good music, keeping the work environment energetic and vibrant.
Sincerity and respect are two qualities that I value the most. Whether with seniors, juniors, colleagues, vendors or clients, I believe in working and living with authenticity and treating others with respect.
This is the core value I aspire to build in both my professional and personal life.
My dream is to create a place of work where good people come together and grow together. And by doing so, I hope that A.I.F becomes a company that is constantly innovating and evolving, a place where colleagues can support each other to achieve mutual growth.
- Netherlands Branch
- Orion Beack Branch manager
The Amsterdam office is located in the Schiphol Rijk logistics complex, a 10-minute drive from the Schiphol Airport.
Similar to the rest of the Netherlands, there are many small rivers around our office and we often see Dutch people boating in the waterways on a warm sunny day.
The Netherlands branch has a matrix organization structure, and currently employs one operator for each department.
Despite their busy work schedule, every employee has the passion and the enthusiasm for our brand new Netherland office and the new market potential this represents for our company.
It may vary depending on the situation of the branch, but I believe in the idea that one learns best by doing it himself/herself.
I believe in the saying that there is no free lunch.
Since this office is located at the logistics hub of the Western Europe, we put an emphasis on collaborating with our other Europe offices to provide synergy effect.
I believe that through this synergy, A.I.F. will provide our clients with superior service.
- Italy Branch
- Christian Kim Branch manager
Located in the heart of northern Italy, Milan, the center of industry and commerce, is just a 15-minute drive away.
Milan Malpensa Airport is approximately 1 hour away, while Milan Linate Airport is just 10 minutes away.
As befits the country known for its pizza, pasta, coffee, and wine, there are numerous restaurants and cafes in the vicinity of the office.
The branch is divided into three main parts: Air, Ocean, and Management, comprising a total of six teams.
The Air division consists of three teams: Air CS 1 team responsible for handling Air Export shipment to Korea, Air CS 2 team responsible for Air Export shipment to China, and Air Consol team handling Consol operations and customs clearance for air freight.
The Sea division is composed of the FCL team and the LCL team, providing Consol services. Lastly, there is an Accounting team responsible for financial and administrative matters.
The Air freight department provides Consol services through direct BUP operations, while the Sea freight department conducts Consol Container operations through direct Stuffing.
As of the first half of 2023, there are a total of 24 employees, with a roughly 50:50 ratio of Italian and Korean staff members.
The team includes young newcomers in their 20s as well as seasoned veterans with nearly 20 years of experience in the logistics industry, creating a harmonious blend of fresh talent and experienced professionals.
Furthermore, many Italian employees are proficient in Korean, enabling them to handle customer interactions entirely in Korean.
The core value of A.I.F. is 'Teamwork.
The A.I.F. believes that collaboration and teamwork are the key elements to success in the company.
My goal is to make A.I.F. instantly synonymous with \"Italian logistics\" for our customers.
In the rapidly evolving market of digital logistics, I aspire for A.I.F. ITALY to be the most responsive and agile, adapting quickly to changes.
Through this commitment, we aim to repay the trust our valued customers place in us by providing them with the finest service possible when they entrust us with their business.
- Denmark Branch
- Manuel Park Branch manager
The Denmark branch is located in the heart of Copenhagen, right by the river. The office is easily accessible, only a 15-minute drive from the Copenhagen Airport.
On sunny summer days, it’s not uncommon to see even office workers enjoying a quick swim in the river during lunch, which really captures the Danish spirit of happiness! The surrounding area is full of popular tourist attractions and Michelin-starred restaurants, not to mention a variety of spots for excellent seafood a natural highlight of this coastal city.
The Denmark branch has a single team of four members, with each team member handling air, sea export and import operations, respectively. Although we’re currently one of the smaller branches within A.I.F., we work together with strong teamwork and a lively, open atmosphere.
Teamwork based on mutual trust and respect is what I value most.
As the saying goes, “Two heads are better than one.” I strive to build a positive work environment where every team members is ready to support each other, whether it's a small ordinary task or a complex challenging one. As a team, we aim to support and celebrate each other's successes.
As the only Korean logistics forwarder in Northern Europe, we take pride in our presence here in Denmark. However, we aim to go beyond and become a “must-return-to” logistics hub known for outstanding service!
We have been steadily growing since our establishment, but as the logistics landscape evolves, we recognize the need for expertise and a genuine customer-focused mindset. Embracing a forward-thinking approach, we aspire to expand into a branch that manages its own warehouses and trucks, meeting the challenges ahead with a proactive spirit.
- EU PJT Lab
- Gunhee Kim Lab manager
EU PJT Lab provides customized transport solutions tailored to meet client needs. It is staffed by professional employees with extensive experience and expertise, and thus able to offer services in the following project industry areas.
- - Mobility
- - Oil & Gas
- - Petrochemical
- - Power
- - Sustainable Energy
- - Wind
- - Revamping
The team is composed of the Hamburg Team (3 members) and the Italy Team (2 members). Although the offices are based in Hamburg and Italy, our team is capable of handling projects and special cargo not only in Germany and Italy but also in other European regions.
The values I consider important are the ability to recognize and deliver tailor-made solutions, the belief in "The more we know, we can do better," and the enthusiasm and attitude to tackle challenges.
My goal is to expand our existing service territory. I currently manage the European region, but I aim to broaden our project service scope to include the Americas region in the future.