Otoki's late founder remembered 10 years after death

On Friday, Otoki held a memorial ceremony at Ham Tai-ho Hall in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the founder and honorary chairman, Ham Tai-ho's death. The event paid tribute to Ham's pioneering role in Korea's food industry and emphasized his management philosophy of emphasizing product quality and enhancing people's diets.

Ham, born in Wonsan, South Hamgyong Province in what is now part of North Korea in 1930, served in the military during the Korean War. Upon returning, he envisioned contributing to people's lives through the food industry. Ham gained valuable management experience at a food ingredient manufacturer before establishing Poonglim Trading, the predecessor to Otoki, in 1969.

The company introduced its first instant curry mix that same year, followed by a range of products such as soups, ketchup, mayonnaise, and vinegar. In 1973, Poonglim Trading was renamed Otoki. Through convenience foods, including its popular 3-Minute Sauce lineup, Otoki played a significant role in shaping Korea's evolving food culture. Ham's management philosophy was to prioritize quality products and improve people's diets.