[비즈한국] Yuhan Corporation000100 and Dong Wha Pharm000020, both fixtures in the domestic pharmaceutical industry for over 100 years, have renovated spaces dedicated to their respective histories. These memorial halls feature displays of the founders' management philosophies, records of their involvement in the independence movement during the Japanese colonial period, and the evolution of their representative medicinal products. The history of these long-standing companies is being utilized not merely for historical reflection, but as an asset to define their modern identity and social responsibility.
Yuhan Corporation Opens 'Willow House' to Mark 100th Anniversary
As the 11th company among domestic listed firms to celebrate its 100th anniversary, Yuhan Corporation held an opening ceremony for its complex cultural space, 'Willow House,' in Daebang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the 20th. Named after the company's symbol, the willow tree, this space preserves the original frame of the old headquarters building where Yuhan Corporation grew for 35 years starting in 1962, while adding a modern touch.
At the opening ceremony, Cho Wook-je, CEO of Yuhan Corporation, explained the significance of Willow House: "By preserving the old exterior walls and building this new space dedicated to the next 100 years upon every brick that bears the marks of the past 35 years, we have created a place that embraces both yesterday and tomorrow, reinterpreting the founding spirit in the language of today."
Willow House is open to citizens and the local community, embodying the philosophy of its founder, the late Dr. Ilhan New. Dr. New, who established Yuhan Corporation in 1926, was driven by the conviction to "create the best products to help the nation and its compatriots" and dedicated his life to improving public health. In 1933, he introduced Antiphlamine, the company's first self-developed anti-inflammatory pain reliever, which remains a household staple today. Visitors to Willow House can view various medicines launched by Yuhan throughout its history, including the original Antiphlamine.
Dr. New's contributions extended beyond business; he was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation in 1995 for his direct involvement in the independence movement. At age 50, he volunteered for the 'NAPKO Project,' a secret infiltration operation into the Korean Peninsula run by the US Office of Strategic Services (OSS), where he trained under the codename 'A'. CEO Cho explained, "This is a small practice intended to carry on Dr. New's teaching that the profits earned by a company should be returned to the society that helped it grow."
Willow House operates on a pre-booking system via Naver. With sessions limited to 8 participants and professional docent commentary, the immersive experience is heightened. Visitors can view media art of a willow forest in the 1st-floor experiential exhibition hall before participating in a healing program where they receive personalized tea based on psychological diagnosis results. In the 2nd-floor Memorial Hall, visitors can have virtual conversations with an AI-realized Dr. New via touchscreen or try their hand at designing past medicine advertisements.
Yuhan Corporation plans to use this 100-year heritage as a compass for global growth. CEO Cho emphasized, "The two values of 'Progress,' which constantly opens up new possibilities, and 'Integrity,' which upholds principles and enhances dignity, will lead Yuhan's next 100 years. We will add a 100-year legacy of promises to our 100-year legacy of trust."
Following the 2024 FDA approval of Leclaza, Yuhan Corporation is accelerating the expansion of its pipeline, including next-generation lung cancer treatments and allergy therapies.
'Dong Wha 1897 Lounge' Embraces 129 Years of Dong Wha Pharm's History
Celebrating its 129th anniversary this year, Dong Wha Pharm established the 'Dong Wha 1897 Lounge' on the first floor when it completed its new headquarters last July. Having never moved from its original location since its founding in 1897, the company decorated this lounge with wooden pillars reminiscent of traditional hanok pharmacies and walls of hanji (Korean paper) shaped like opened fans, the company's emblem.
Inside, the site of the old well used to manufacture Hwal-Myung-Su has been preserved as a white triangular pyramid sculpture.
The lounge displays artifacts from the past, such as traditional herb cutters and grinding tools, alongside four Guinness World Records certificates: Korea's oldest manufacturing company, Korea's oldest pharmaceutical company, the first registered product 'Hwal-Myung-Su,' and the first trademark 'Fan Mark.' The lounge connects naturally with the cafe 'Onseonjae,' providing a relaxing urban sanctuary for nearby office workers and visitors to enjoy while reflecting on 120-plus years of history.
Dong Wha Pharm traces its roots to Dongwha-yakbang, founded to popularize 'Hwal-Myung-Su,' developed in 1897 by Min Byung-ho, a former royal court pharmacist, as the nation's first Western-style medicine. At the time, when many people lost their lives to acute indigestion and abdominal pain, Hwal-Myung-Su was called "water that saves lives" and was treated as a panacea.
Like Yuhan Corporation, Dong Wha Pharm holds a history linked to the independence movement during the Japanese occupation. Shortly after the March 1st Movement in 1919, the then-president Min Gang operated the Seoul Liaison Office, a domestic secret communication network for the Shanghai Provisional Government, and used profits from Hwal-Myung-Su to fund the independence movement. A stele erected by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, marking the 'Site of the Seoul Liaison Office of the Korean Provisional Government,' is also located on the premises.
In 1937, when management became difficult due to external pressure related to the independence movement, Bodang Yoon Chang-sik acquired the company to preserve its legacy. Chairman Yoon Do-joon of Dong Wha Pharm is also active in inheriting this heritage, conducting Namsan history tours since 2017 to explore historical sites of the Japanese colonial period with people from various walks of life.
The philosophy of the "Fan Mark," which symbolizes the spirit of national salvation and harmony, is carried on today through Dong Wha Pharm's ESG management. The company not only promotes campaigns to provide clean water to children worldwide, leveraging the value of Hwal-Myung-Su, but also supports the development of medicine and talent cultivation through the Gasong Foundation.
Beyond Hwal-Myung-Su, Dong Wha Pharm holds the cold medicine 'Pancold' and is strengthening its competitiveness in the medical device sector through the spinal implant specialist Medyssey, while expanding into the global healthcare market based on the Vietnamese pharmacy chain Trung Son Pharma.
A Dong Wha Pharm representative stated, "The 129 years we have spent in the daily lives of the people, starting from the days when Hwal-Myung-Su was used to raise independence funds, are our greatest asset. We will remain steadfast in our commitment to making people's daily lives healthier."