OTOKI(007310) said on the 14th that it held a memorial service at Ham Tae-ho Hall in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, on the 11th to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of founder and honorary chairman Ham Tae-ho. OTOKI reflected on the founding philosophy emphasized by Honorary Chairman Ham, including a commitment to top quality, "serving the nation through food (食品輔國)," and the spirit of sharing.
Honorary Chairman Ham, born in 1930 in Wonsan, South Hamgyong Province, volunteered to enlist during the Korean War and, after completing military service, worked in the food industry. In 1969, he went independent by establishing Punglim Trading, the predecessor of OTOKI, and a small factory in Mullae-dong, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul. In May of the same year, he launched the first product, "OTOKI Curry," and began full-fledged operations in the food business.
He went on to introduce, one after another, products that were still unfamiliar on Korean tables at the time, such as soup, ketchup, mayonnaise, and vinegar. In 1981, he launched "3-Minute Curry," the nation's first retort pouch product, pioneering the instant food market that could be eaten simply by heating without separate cooking. As curry, ketchup, and mayonnaise became popular foods, OTOKI's business scope expanded into a comprehensive food company.
One of the values Honorary Chairman Ham emphasized most in management was quality. He said, "We must make products with the mindset that our family will eat them," prioritizing taste and safety. OTOKI's corporate philosophy—"Contribute to improving human diets with better quality, higher nutrition, and more advanced foods"—also began with this founding spirit.
"Serving the nation through food," which means contributing to national development by improving the quality of food, was also a pillar of Honorary Chairman Ham's management philosophy. Under the belief that "corporations must contribute to the nation," a corporate culture took root in which OTOKI plants across the country flew the national flag and sang all four verses of the national anthem at monthly in-house assemblies and major events.
He also moved early to engage in social contribution activities. In 1992, he began supporting children with congenital heart disease through the Korea Heart Foundation, and in 1996, he laid the groundwork for the OTOKI Ham Tae-ho Foundation to expand into scholarships and academic support.
Support for children with heart disease began by assisting five children each month and helped 4,265 children receive surgery up to just before Honorary Chairman Ham's death. OTOKI has continued the effort since, bringing the cumulative number supported to 6,783 as of August this year.
This year, the company set aside a separate space to preserve the founder's management philosophy and the company's history. OTOKI opened "Ham Tae-ho Hall" in June by repurposing old production facilities at its Anyang plant. The space preserves the frame and traces of Anyang Plant No. 1, built in 1972 and used to produce powdered curry and soup until 2009, and, across a total floor area of about 8,700 square meters, offers exhibition and experiential facilities introducing the life of Honorary Chairman Ham and the history of OTOKI products and food culture.
OTOKI Chairman Ham Young-joon said, "Carrying on and advancing founder Ham Tae-ho's founding spirit and management philosophy so that OTOKI remains a sustainable company no matter who leads it is an important task," adding, "We will uphold the meaning of 'Punglim (豊林)' that the founder envisioned to contribute to improving human diets, and we will strive harder to move forward rather than resting on past achievements."