A Farewell Message from the 'High School Graduate Legend' Hanssem Man Leaving the Company

Honggwang Kim, Director of Hanssem Life Environment Technology Research Institute
Promoted to Executive Director after 30 Years at the Company... "Regretful There Is No Place to Share My Know-How"
"Must Consider Hanssem's Responsibility and Position" Advice to Company and Juniors

Kim Hong-kwang, Director (Executive Director) of Hanssem Living Environment Technology Research Institute.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] He joined Hanssem at the age of twenty-two in 1983. The ‘Hanssem man,’ who will mark 40 years next August, is about to leave the company soon (this June). This is the story of Kim Hong-kwang, head of the Hanssem Living Environment Technology Research Institute.

After being discharged from the military, the bookstore he opened closed down within six months. While he was in despair, his girlfriend happened to bring him a Hanssem job application form. That’s how his connection with Hanssem began. Nine of his new hires went to the Anseong factory. He was assigned as a quality control inspector within the factory. Kim recalled, "It turned out that because I was a high school graduate with a poor attitude, they neglected me, thinking I would quit after a few days, and left me at the outgoing product inspection office."

Being treated as a discarded pawn, no one taught him about the duties of a quality control inspector. As he was left alone more often, he started disassembling and reassembling furniture parts, gradually finding more interest in the work. To avoid being caught by seniors, he delved into everything about the products, including materials, process development, production, quality control, and certification, eventually becoming an expert.

Former Chairman Choi Yang-ha (CEO of Hanssem from 1994 to 2019) left a particularly strong impression. He was a superior who recognized Kim’s potential and gave him opportunities to fully demonstrate his capabilities. "Chairman Choi guaranteed autonomy in work and worked very hard himself. He was involved in everything from developing various products, improving quality and design, to the computer system," Kim recalled. Thanks to this, after 30 years of working, he was promoted to deputy director in 2013, creating a ‘high school graduate myth.’ At the end of 2016, he dropped the ‘deputy’ title and became a director, and last year he was promoted to managing director.

Kim will remain as an advisor to Hanssem for one year after retirement. When asked if he felt regret for not completing 40 years, he said it was "regrettable" that there was no place left to pour out his capabilities beyond the length of service. There is a bittersweet feeling that there is no longer a place to share the numerous skills and know-how he learned and mastered at Hanssem.

He also did not hold back advice for the company and the juniors left behind. To the company, he urged, "You need to consider Hanssem’s position, responsibility, and image." To the juniors, he advised, "You need an attitude of trying to learn everything. If you work with that attitude, you will develop affection for the company. Try to cultivate that affection." This is heartfelt advice from a Hanssem man of 40 years to those he leaves behind.

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