Contribute to the National Prosperity
Ho-Am began his business career amid the ruins of war following colonial rule, leading to his resolve to contribute to society and the nation’s economic development. Throughout his life, when deciding on a business venture, his foremost consideration was not whether it would be profitable, but what could be produced to benefit the nation and its people. This became the cornerstone of Samsung's management philosophy. The sugar refining business, the woolen textile business, the fertilizer business, land development, the electronics business, the shipbuilding, chemical, and aviation businesses, and the semiconductor business—all were rooted in the spirit of ‘Contribute to the National Prosperity’.
"What I learned and confirmed through my lifelong business activities is that the foundation for a company's existence is the nation, and therefore, a company must contribute to the development of the nation and society. That is why I have advocated to ‘Contribute to the National Prosperity’ over the past 40 years. I believe the highest virtue in human society is ‘service’. Therefore, the mission of a business run by people must undoubtedly be to serve the nation, its people, and humanity." (April 2, 1982, Commemorative lecture at Boston University Honorary Doctorate Degree conferment ceremony)
People First
The spirit of ‘People First’ is in respecting people and encouraging each individual to demonstrate their utmost potential and to make them the driving force of society. Ho-Am always emphasized that “a company is its people.” In other words, outstanding management principles and philosophy require people to put them into practice. This is why Ho-Am put ‘People First’ and ‘Contribute to the National Prosperity’ as the two most important managerial philosophy.
“There is an East Asian saying: A plan for one year lies in planting grain; a plan for 10 years lies in planting trees; a plan for 100 years lies in planting people. This means that the success or failure of a company depends on its people, and that outstanding talent is what determines whether a company prospers or not.” (April 2, 1982, Commemorative lecture at Boston University Honorary Doctorate Degree conferment ceremony)
As a poor country nation with no national resources, capital, or technology, Korea’s only resource was its people. Ho-Am cultivated talent for the future of Samsung and the nation with the mindset of planting trees and looking 100 years ahead.
Ho-Am believed in the power of education. He devoted his greatest energy to nurturing talent by establishing Korea's first independent corporate education system and building human resources centers. He cherished and loved talent so deeply that he often said, “I have devoted 80% of my life to nurturing talent.” Samsung's growth story was also the story of its people's growth. The talent Samsung cultivated became the nation's core experts and professionals who played a pivotal role in economic development.
Persuit of Rationality
Ho-Am understood well that no matter how noble the ideals of ‘Contribute to the National Prosperity’ and ‘People First’ might be, if they were not grounded in rationality, their very essence could be compromised. He therefore emphasized that all management activities must pursue rationality consistent with reason.
"The scientific and rational management of business is the most urgent and critical issue facing the corporate environment in our country. We must swiftly adopt the new management techniques and methods of advanced nations to rationalize our own management system. The path to winning in global competition lies in management rationalization." (January 12, 1970, Seoul Economic Daily interview)
In particular, Ho-Am believed that only the development of cutting-edge technology could guarantee a second leap forward, holding the conviction that ‘those who dominate technology will rule the world’. His choice of the electronics industry as the sector that would ‘support and sustain’ Korea's future, and the establishment of the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, as well as dedicating his final years to the semiconductor industry were all manifestations of this conviction.
"Today, science and technology are the source of civilization. They are the driving force behind humanity's progress and prosperity, and the beacon of courage and hope. Science and technology are the union of knowledge and power, the realm of ‘infinite exploration’ that pushes humanity toward uncharted territories and higher peaks. Constant technological innovation and bold challenges to develop cutting-edge technologies are the only path for our resource-poor nation to survive. They promise the prosperity of our nation and people." (June 27, 1986. Commemorative address at the groundbreaking ceremony for Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology)
