Ottogi Holds Memorial Service Marking the 10th Anniversary of Honorary Chairman Ham Tae-ho's Passing

A Life Devoted to Good Deeds:
Supporting Children with Heart Disease and Scholarship Initiatives
Ham Youngjun: "We Will Strive Even Harder to Move Forward"

At the memorial ceremony for the late Hahm Taeho, Honorary Chairman of Ottogi, held on the 10th anniversary of his passing at Hahm Taeho Hall in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, on the 11th, Hahm Youngjoon, Chairman of Ottogi Co., Ltd. (front row left), Hwang Seongman, President of Ottogi Co., Ltd., and other executives and employees are seen offering flowers and observing a moment of silence. Provided by Ottogi.

Ottogi held a memorial service to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the passing of Honorary Chairman Ham Tae-ho. The purpose of this ceremony was to reflect on the life and achievements of Honorary Chairman Ham, who founded Ottogi and led the development of Korea’s food industry, and to reaffirm the founder's management philosophy, which emphasized a commitment to quality, the improvement of dietary culture, and a spirit of sharing.

Ottogi announced on the 14th that the memorial service took place on September 11th at the Ham Tae-ho Hall in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. During the service, Ham Young-jun, Chairman of Ottogi Co., Ltd., stated, "It is a key challenge for us to inherit and advance the founding spirit and management philosophy of our founder, ensuring that Ottogi remains a sustainable company, no matter who leads it." He added, "We will continue to carry on the meaning of 'Pungnim' dreamed of by the founder, contribute to the improvement of the human diet, and work even harder to move forward without settling for our past achievements."

Honorary Chairman Ham was born in 1930 in Wonsan, South Hamgyong Province. After voluntarily enlisting and completing his military service during the Korean War, he aspired to contribute to people's lives through the food industry. He gained management experience at a food ingredient manufacturing company, and in 1969, established Poongnim Trading Company—Ottogi’s predecessor. That same year, he launched Ottogi Curry, followed by a series of products including soup, ketchup, mayonnaise, and vinegar. Later, through instant foods such as "Ottogi 3-Minute Curry," he played a pivotal role in advancing Korea’s culinary culture.

Honorary Chairman Ham consistently stressed, "We must make products as if our own families are eating them," and made 'quality' the company’s top priority in all aspects of management. He also practiced the philosophy of “food for the nation,” contributing to national development by improving the quality of food, and firmly believed that "a corporation must contribute to the country." This management philosophy was reflected in traditions such as raising the national flag at all Ottogi factories and singing all four verses of the national anthem during monthly company meetings and major events.

Rather than seeking recognition, Honorary Chairman Ham lived as a quiet benefactor, dedicating himself to philanthropic work. He began supporting children with congenital heart disease through the Korea Heart Foundation in 1992, and in 1996, laid the foundation for the Ottogi Ham Tae-ho Foundation to promote scholarship programs and academic support. What began as support for five children per month has continued to the present day, giving new life to a cumulative total of 6,783 children as of August this year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.