HOAM THE HO-AM FOUNDATION

"The Giant I Met in a Small Country in the East"

Ho-Am was a charismatic business leader, as well as a very charming person. Above all, I remember him as an extremely warm-hearted man. He was very kind even to those who were not familiar with managing a business or had little experience, like myself. When I later heard that many Koreans found Ho-Am intimidating, I was very much puzzled. While he may outwardly seem a bit reserved and stern, he was actually a person with a heart of gold. I hope he would be recognized not only as an excellent businessman, but also as someone who holds deeply human qualities.

Most people think business management is all about earning money. But in my opinion, Ho-Am was an exceptional business leader who was beyond having any desire for material comforts in life.
What impressed me the most when meeting Ho-Am was his extraordinary affection for his country and people. While Korea's unique historical circumstances may have shaped him into a patriot, there was clearly something special about his management philosophy. Most people think business management is all about earning money, and I know that Ho-Am had an extraordinary gift in that regard as well. But in my opinion, Ho-Am was an exceptional business leader who was beyond having any desire for material comforts in life.

I think there are first-rate entrepreneurs and second-rate ones. To become the first-rate entrepreneur, one must rise above personal greed. In that sense, Ho-Am was first-rate. One day, I heard him say in an informal meeting that “business management is there basically to serve the nation and its people, and to contribute to the prosperity of not only the nation but of all humanity.” As the owner of a global newspaper, I too have always strived for responsible journalism that contributes to humanity, and while I have met many executives at the helm of the world's leading corporations, I have never encountered anyone with such an unwavering commitment to human prosperity as Ho-Am.

"Remembering Ho-Am"

It is a well-known fact that Ho-Am was an outstanding businessman. With his meticulous judgment and keen insight, he built the Samsung conglomerate and laid the foundation for it to expand beyond Korea’s borders onto the global stage.

Ho-Am understood well that business is fundamentally all about people. His passion for talent has cultivated a distinct corporate culture within Korea’s business world.

In the business world, success is not determined by how much capital you have. Regardless of what anyone says, business is a human endeavor, and its success or failure depends on the relentless efforts of the business leader and all those around him. Therefore, these efforts by all individuals, including the entrepreneur, must be properly recognized.

Ho-Am deeply understood well that business is fundamentally all about people. His business philosophy can be summed up in the phrase ‘People First.’ His enthusiasm for talent development was so profound that the term ‘Samsung Academy’ became widely used, shaping a distinct corporation culture in Korea’s business landscape.

"A low-pitched voice with powerful ambition"

I met Ho-Am for the first time when he visited General Electric Company in the U.S. There was something very special about him as if he was shielded by an aurora. I had the impression that he was a very wonderful person. Americans generally tend to have loud voices, but even among them, Ho-Am spoke in a low voice, almost whispering, until the very end. So in order to hear him, we had to focus intently. Perhaps that is why I felt as if he were surrounded by an aurora. Just imagine us all leaning in to catch every word he spoke. At that moment, I felt as if I was being magically drawn in.

Ho-Am had tremendous ambition. I met him when he was already in his later years but even then, his energy and motivation surpassed that of someone much younger.

I had several occasions to meet Ho-Am in person concerning a joint-ventures between our companies, and during those times, I had a feeling that he and I shared a lot in common. I believe the four most essential qualities for a business leader are a sense of responsibility, people-centered management, the ability to place the right people in the right positions, and having a clear vision. Ho-Am was a business leader who possessed all these traits in equal measure. I especially agree with his principle of ‘People First.’ I was deeply moved when he once remarked that he pursued rationality in management not through working with robots, but through working with talented people. Even though Eastern and Western cultures differ, it is a common principle for both to seek talented people and consider them as family when managing a business.

"A Golden Statue"

When I was an editorial writer at JoongAng Ilbo, I occasionally had the chance to meet Ho-Am, not in a formal setting, but at a Korean restaurant behind the Hankook Ilbo building that he visited regularly. One day after a meal, he invited me to ride in his car. It was pouring rain that day, so I could hardly decline.

It wasn’t merely about statues made out of copper and stone. He undertook a great endeavor to instill Korea’s intangible, enduring culture into the hearts of the entire nation.

As we drove past Sejong Street, Ho-Am gazed at the landscape outside and uttered “Oh my,” followed by a deep sigh. At the time, the military government had hastily installed makeshift plaster statues of the nation’s historical figures, but they were crumbling in the rain. Even to my eyes, it was a shameful scene. “That is the very image of our history and culture. While others erect statues that last for centuries, we create plaster figures that cannot even withstand a drizzle.” He spoke as if to himself, and I, listening beside him, boldly interjected: “Why not erect a magnificent statue instead? When visiting cities in Europe, what I envy most are their impressive statues.” My words carried a double meaning, as the words ‘statue’ (彫像) and ‘ancestor’ (祖上) are homophones in Korean. Ho-Am then looked at me with a serious expression and asked: “Please help me find a symbolic Korean cultural figure. The Japanese succeeded in modernization partly because they created statues of figures like Ninomiya Sontoku and made them role models for the nation. Not kings, politicians, or generals, but cultural figures who transcend our everyday lives.” Ho-Am’s words and proposals were deeply sincere. He stressed that the economy, politics and welfare of every family in a nation will only prosper on the basis of culture and morality, therefore, a model to be understood and respected by everyone is necessary.

"The beautiful aura of Ho-Am formed by an exceptional sense of beauty"

Following decades of friendship, ever since my dear friend Ho-Am, who sometimes felt like a stranger and sometimes like myself, passed away first, I have a feeling of persistent loneliness. Where could one easily find another like him? Although it has been ten years since he passed away, my longing for him has not faded but has instead deepened over time.

Ho-Am’s style likely stemmed from his exceptional aesthetic sensibility, which recognized the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Ho-Am was a man of refined taste. You can understand every facet of his lifelong business pursuits was extraordinary, but the subtle fragrance he exuded as a human being was something that charmed every one of us. It was no secret that Ho-Am was quite the connoisseur of style. From the clothes he wore to accessories like fountain pens and belts, he insisted on only the very best. But his notion of the best was entirely different from the price tags or luxury brands that people often obsess over today. Before and after Ho-Am achieved financial success, Ho-Am had his suits tailored exclusively at a small, unassuming tailor shop in Tokyo called Baromon. Though the suits were inexpensive, the tailor was a diligent Chinese immigrant whose skills were anything but ordinary. Ho-Am was just as impressed by the tailor's way of life as he was by his craftsmanship. Ho-Am's sense of style likely stemmed from his exceptional aesthetic sensibility, which recognized the extraordinary in the ordinary. With such discernment, how could he not be particular about ordinary things?