Ottogi Opens 'Ham Tae-ho Hall' Reflecting Founder’s Management Philosophy

View of 'Ham Tae-ho Hall' established within Ottogi's Anyang Plant in Gyeonggi Province [Photo: Ottogi]

Ottogi has inaugurated 'Ham Tae-ho Hall,' a cultural space that embodies the management philosophy of its late founder, Ham Tae-ho, and the history of South Korean food culture.

On June 15, Ottogi held the opening ceremony for Ham Tae-ho Hall at its Anyang Plant in Gyeonggi Province. The event was attended by Chairman Ham Young-jun, President Hwang Seong-man, and over 200 current and former employees.

Ham Tae-ho Hall is a heritage space dedicated to honoring the life and management philosophy of Ham Tae-ho, the founder of Ottogi, while showcasing the company’s history and brand assets. The hall was constructed using the framework of the Anyang Plant, which was completed in 1972 and produced powdered curry and soup until 2009.

Spanning 8,700 square meters across two basement levels and five above-ground floors, Ham Tae-ho Hall focuses on modern reinterpretations of the old factory's image. Its triangular roof symbolizes the former plant, and the exterior features mesh panels in Ottogi's signature color, 'Ottogi Yellow,' reflecting the company's identity.

The interior is designed to allow visitors to experience the founder's life and philosophy, the growth of Ottogi, and food culture content. The first floor includes 'O-Mart,' which sells Ottogi products, and 'Rolly Polly Ham Tae-ho Hall Branch,' which offers menu items made with Ottogi products. The second floor features a lounge, conference room, and food culture center.

Notably, the lounge preserves 11 columns from the 1975 expansion of the Anyang Plant, allowing visitors to connect with Ottogi's growth history. The food culture center will house approximately 18,500 specialized books on food-related topics, serving as a knowledge space to promote healthy food culture values in the future.

The 'Ham Tae-ho Archive,' located on the third to fifth floors, is an exhibition and experience space that connects the life and management philosophy of Ham Tae-ho with Ottogi products, brands, and food culture content. Ottogi plans to showcase how the founding spirit of quality, trust, and improved dietary habits continues to influence its products and brand today.

An Ottogi representative stated, "Ham Tae-ho Hall is a space created to reflect on the company’s history and philosophy at the place where Ottogi first took root. We hope it becomes a meaningful heritage space for employees and visitors to share in Ottogi's beginnings and food culture."

Ham Tae-ho was the founder and first chairman of Ottogi. He established the company’s predecessor, Poonglim Sangsa, in 1969, introducing various products such as curry, soup, and mayonnaise, contributing to the development of the domestic food industry. His management philosophy centered on 'quality first' and 'improving the dietary habits of the people,' which helped Ottogi grow into a leading food company in South Korea.

* This article has been translated by AI.