Biography of the founding chairman, Choi Jong-kun

Video of founding chairman Choi Jong-kun
On January 30th 1926, born as the eldest son in the family of four sons and four daughters of Choi Hak-bae and Lee Dong-dae

Chairman Choi was born at Pyeong-dong 7, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do Province on January 30th, 1926. His father, who taught him to have great morale, and his mother, who always embraced him with a warm heart, raised him to have a challenging spirit and passion in his heart.
In March 1942, graduated Shinpoong Elementary School in Suwon

Graduation group picture taken when he was a Shinpoong Elementary School student.
Episode 1 - Bravery to fight against injustice

When Chairman Choi Jong-kun was in fourth grade, Korea was still under the Japanese colonial rule. In his classroom, there was a Japanese student who habitually assaulted and harassed other Korean students, but no one could come out to stop him because he was a son of a Japanese police officer in Suwon city. One day, Chairman Choi had a fist fight with the Japanese student. Several Japanese policemen came to the school the next day to question him, but he opposed them with no fear and said, “He wouldn’t assault other innocent students anymore when he realizes how it feels like to be harassed, so I just taught him.” The police investigation concluded it was the Japanese student’s fault and the case appeared to be appeased, but Chairman Choi ended up being suspended. Even though he had to suffer the humiliation of the unfair suspension, he won many people’s trust, which later gave him unconditional support from his friends when he began to run his own business.
In March 1944, Chairman Choi riding a horse when he was a student at Gyeongseong Vocational High School

Chairman Choi loved dismantling and reassembling machines since his childhood. He chose to enter Gyeongsung Vocational School of his own volition and passionately learned mechanical skills. It was a starting point for him to grow into an entrepreneur with an engineering background.
In April 1944, entered Sunkyong Textiles operated by Japan

Chairman Choi started his first job as an engineering apprentice at Sunkyong Textiles in April, 1944. Chairman Choi, in the commemorative group photo with his colleagues, is standing far left in the second line.
Episode 2 - Affection shared with a bucket of beans

Choi Jong-kun was nick-named ‘Bull Fist’ for his big body in his youth, but contrary to his appearance he was inherently a warm-hearted person. Especially, he knew the power of an act of kindness. Even though he was only an 18-year-old boy, Chairman Choi, who was already the team leader of the production department of the textile factory, spent all of his salary on food for the workers who were hungry. Every time the factory workers reached out to him to ask for some beans during the break time, he never hesitated to take out a large bag of roasted beans to hand out to them.
“You can easily trip over if you walk on a rough road full of grass and stones. But, once you pave the way, you can run at a full speed.”
In October 1953, started up a business from scratch

In April 1953, after the Korean War, the founding chairman Choi Jong-kun bought the war-torn textile factory and decided to rebuild it. While working hand-in-hand with his colleagues, he collected the bricks and nails scattered in the ruins and reassembled and fixed the broken weaving machines by himself. After all the reconstruction work, he could start his own business as Sunkyong Textiles again with 15 weaving machines in October 1953.
Episode 3 - Evening class

After the Korean War, factories in Korea were frequently forced to shut down due to the shortage of electric power. However, the founding chairman Choi Jong-kun utilized the power outage time to nurture talents. He suggested, “How about teaching illiterate employees Hangul (Korean Alphabet) whenever the plant stops operating?” He began to light the candles to teach employees Hangul every time power cuts off, turning the factory into a classroom. He didn’t want people to be disrespected for not knowing Hangul, so he continuously opened the Hangul class in the factory until all employees, who were not even able to receive primary education due to poverty, escaped from illiteracy.
Episode 4 - Consumers’ trust is the best priority

After the Korean War, anything, even poorly-made products, sold very well in Korea because consumer goods were absolutely lacking in the market. Many textile companies could skip heat-setting, an integral part of producing lining for suits, to save on production costs because it wasn’t discernable to the naked eye. However, Choi Jong-kun didn’t allow such tricks. He always put priority on maintaining excellence, quality of product, and trust with consumers before anything else, even if it could cost a lot more and bring in less profit. His strong faith on the 'Best Product Quality Principle' brought the 'Rooster-designed lining' to the world which became the best selling product that allowed little room for stockpiling. Chairman Choi, who paid a special attention to the heat-setting process, was frequently asked by a lot of vendors— "Mr. Choi, please save some lining for me before it goes sold out".
In October 1955, received a Minister’s prize from Minister of Commerce and Industry at the industrial expo commemorating the 10th anniversary of the liberation from Japanese rule (Rooster-designed lining)

Since 1954, Chairman Choi started using Rooster design into the lining rayon produced at Sunkyong Textiles. The design of the Rooster, which symbolized the dignified spirit and indomitable will of the founding chairman Choi Jong-kun and represented his ‘Quality First Principle’, gained huge traction at the industrial expo commemorating the 10-year anniversary of Korea’s liberation held in October 1955.
In August 1956, elected as a member of the Suwon City Council

In August 1956, when the second Suwon City Council member election was held, Chairman Choi Jong-kun ran for the third district seat after his father, Choi Hak-bae, who was the first member of the council. He won by a landslide with 1,630 votes, and consecutively served as a chairman of the industry subcommittee and the interior subcommittee of the Suwon City Council.
The success and failure of a company hinges on breaking away from stereotypes and securing talents. One of the most important responsibilities that entrepreneurs should have is human resource development.
Episode 5 - A true mind caring for talents

Chairman Choi, who knew the importance of having right people next to him, did all he could do to secure talents and encouraged them to use their abilities in the right place at the right time. When he was struggling with sluggish sales during the business’s infancy, he was looking to hire Cho Yong-Kwang, who was then a famous fabric pattern designer in Dongdaemun Market, to improve the patterns and designs of the fabric. However, it wasn’t easy to bring him into his company. Chairman Choi Jong-kun persistently visited and persuaded him to work together, revealing his willingness to wait even one year until Mr. Cho accepts the job offer. After the constant love calls, Mr. Cho finally accepted the offer. “His passion for business convinced me to work for his company,” he explained when asked why he said yes to the offering. He was touched by the strong passion that the founding chairman Choi had for his company, which led Mr. Cho to finally make up his mind. Working as a factory manager, Cho Yong-kwang later made a great contribution to the development of the hit product of Sunkyong Textiles, ‘Phoenix-designed Blanket.’
In May 1958, Phoenix Blanket

As soon as the Phoenix-designed blankets were released to the market, they became so popular that they sold like hot cakes as a must-have item for many brides to take when they got married.
Chairman Choi participating in the 1958 Junior Chamber International (JCI) World Congress

Chairman Choi participated in the JCI World Congress held in Minneapolis in 1958. He also met his younger brother Choi Jong-hyon, who was studying in the U.S., to share their views on the present and the future of Sunkyong Textiles.
If you make a decision to do something, you must act on it immediately. The sooner, the better. You must aim for your goals like an arrow flying straight to the target.
Episode 6 - A fearless pioneer

There were two big events that overshadowed the Korean economy in 1959. One was a ban on trade with Japan, and the other was a devastating hurricane ‘Saraho’ that swept the country early in the fall. The Korean economy suffered a great contraction, and the recession in textiles industry was further exacerbating day by day. It also impacted Sunkyong Textiles. However, he told his employees, “Sighing and doing nothing can’t make things better, you know? We should think of a breakthrough innovation!” Instead of just waiting for the booming cycle to come naturally, he worked on developing a new type of product made of polyester to boost demand. The new polyester product went into production in December 1959, and gained popularity in the market, saving the company from recession.
In September 1961, met with Park Chung-hee, the then chairman of Supreme Council for National Reconstruction

On September 28, 1961, Park Chung-hee, the then chairman of the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction, in military uniform made an unexpected visit to the factory of Sunkyong Textiles. “Please try exporting your products in the future,” he told Chairman Choi and visited Sunkyong Textiles several more times.
Episode 7 - Entrepreneurship contributed to society

It was a sense of mission that penetrated the business philosophy of chairman Choi Jong-kun. He said his generation carries a heavy responsibility to determine the future of the Korean people. At that time, Korea, in its developmental stage, needed enough foreign exchange to further facilitate its economic growth. Founding Chairman Choi Jong-kun thought entrepreneurs’ responsibility and patriotism can be presented by bringing in more foreign currency to the nation while localizing the production of imported items and expanding export. He used to say often to his employees to “work like your job represents the image of our nation,” showing his perception of business management as a way of social contribution. His continued emphasis on technological development and export not only was for his business growth but also proved his patriotic spirit that allowed for achieving social contribution through businesses.
In April 1962, entering global market

Sunkyong Textiles, which had sought export opportunities since late 1961, succeeded in exporting rayon taffeta to Hong Kong in April of the following year and become the first rayon textiles exporter in Korea. Judging that "exporting is the only way to survive," Chairman Choi established Sunkyong Industrial Co., Ltd., a trade company, in August 1962 and entered the global market.
In August 1963, received the first Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit since the national foundation at the 13th National Liberation Day ceremony

Chairman Choi was awarded the Gold Tower Industrial Medal of the industrial sector at the 18th Liberation Day ceremony by the government for his contribution to the development of the nation’s textile industry and his achievement of the first textile export.
In April 1964, elected as the President of the Korea Federation of Textile Industry Cooperatives

Small and medium-sized textile industry figures still vividly remember when then the President of the Korea Federation of Textile Cooperatives solved problems regarding raw materials using his extraordinary business negotiation skills to make deals with the cotton and chemical fiber industry. - from September edition of 「 Somyugye 」
In November 1966, won the Presidential Certificate of Industrial Service Medal of Honor for his contribution to the export
In June 1967, Sunkyong Chemical Fiber‘s groundbreaking ceremony of acetate plant

The establishment of the chemical fiber plant drew keen attention in that it can produce acetate yarn, which Korea relied on importing, for the first time in Korea.
In July 1967, appointed as the Chairman of the Suwon Chamber of Commerce

On July 25th in 1967, Choi Jong-kun, who ran for the fourth term, was elected as the chairman of the Suwon Chamber of Commerce at its second extraordinary general meeting. His rise as the chairman had a profound impact on the transformation and development of the Suwon Chamber of Commerce, and on raising the Commerce’s reputation in Korea as well as in the local community. –by 「 90 Year’s History of Suwon 」
In March 1968, vice president of Teijin visited Sunkyong Textiles

Sunkyong Chemical Fiber and Teijin signed the ‘Basic Agreement on Polyester Business Investment’ on March 18th in 1968. In the picture above, Choi Jong-kun is guiding the vice president of Teijin who visited Sunkyong Textiles to discuss a joint business.
In February 1969, opening ceremony of the polyester thread plant

On February 10th 1969, construction of the polyester thread plant was completed six months earlier than originally planned. Along with the acetate plant, the newly built polyester thread plant enabled production of polyester thread allowing Sunkyong Textiles to rise as Korea’s No.1 thread maker.
A dream grows like a tree. Just as a tree grows from planting seeds to sprouting and to a big tree, all big dreams start from small dreams.
In December 1970, Inaugurated as the Chairman of Sunkyong Group

On November 13th 1970, Choi Jong-kun implemented a business reorganization in a surprise move. He integrated Sunkyong Industrial Co. and the overseas textile division, and appointed Choi Jong-hyon as the president.
In February 1971, completed research course of the Graduate School of Social Development at Chung-ang University
In November 1971, the North Korea's representative to the inter-Korean Red Cross Peace Talks, Kim Tae-hee, and his delegation visited Sunkyong Synthetic Fiber Co., Ltd.

On November 23rd 1972, a group of North Korean representatives of inter-Korean Red Cross Peace Talks visited Sunkyong Synthetic Fiber Co., Ltd. which left them with a deep impression.
In November 1971, Chairman Choi received the Presidential Citation on the 8th Day of Export

On November 30th 1971, Chairman Choi was awarded the Presidential Citation on the 8th Day of Export for his contribution to the supply of raw materials for export, the improvement of foreign-exchange earning rate, and the export of expensive products.
In March 1973, acquired Walkerhill Hotel & Resort

“Chairman Choi does everything with sincerity, so I will sell the hotel to his company with only one condition to make this hotel the world’s best.” Ratified by the former president Park Chung-hee, the Sunkyong’s acquisition of Walkerhill Hotel & Resort was finalized; triggering Sunkyong Textiles’ business diversification.
In May 1973, President of Teijin visited Sunkyong Synthetic Fiber Co., Ltd.

After looking around the company, President Oya of Teijin marveled at Chairman’s passion and bravery, saying “No textile company can have such a huge and perfect facility than this company.”
In September 1973, established Sunkyong Petroleum Co., Ltd.

In 1973, Sunkyong Group was putting everything it had to work on establishing an oil refining business and a DMT factory to produce raw materials for polyester fiber, signaling the start of the vertical integration of his businesses from oil to fiber.
Episode 8 - Last sharing

A package was delivered to the Seoul National University Hospital. Inside the box was a fiber scope, then the high-tech medical device, which had never been introduced to Korea. It was the gift Chairman Choi sent to his family doctor when he was given a few months to live due to lung cancer.
In November 1973, eternal sleep

Chairman Choi Jong-kun passed away at Seoul National University Hospital on November 15th, 1973, at the age of 48, while his family was at his deathbed. After a brief leaving ceremony at his home, his body was transported to Sunkyong Synthetic Fiber in Suwon for the funeral ceremony on November 19th.