His motto: Try to realize the dream of good health, extension of life span.
By Managing Editor Ms. Kim Jung-mi
With Reporter Kim Sung-min
Driving for about an hour and half northward from Seoul, one comes to the Cheorwon County of the Gangwon Province, some 48 miles northeast of Seoul, where is located the Glami Co., Ltd. which was established by Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Nam Jong-hyun 61 years ago in 1996.
Built on a large estate sprawling over some 16 acres of clean land, the ‘Glami Health Kingdom’ (as is called by well-meaning local residents) is truly unique in many respects.
Offhand, the entire production facilities at the four different plants are almost entirely automated with few people operating the large production facilities that turn out US$40 million worth of health-promoting products per year.
The annual turnover and the size of the property may not impress many people. However, when it comes to the outstanding achievements made by Glami, one is simply astonished at the rare feat accomplished by the company.
Glami has won dozens of much-coveted awards and prizes since the inception of the company in 1996, which, in fact, started in the year right after the inauguration.
They include the much-coveted Order of Industrial Service Merit Medals offered by the President of the Republic of Korea, which is really hard to come by—in particular the Order of Industrial Service Merit Gold Tower won by Chairman Nam on May 19, 2008, which is the top government honor offered by the President of the Republic of Korea to a top industrialist in the particular year.
What is meaningful about this citation is the fact that the rating was based on that which was done during the government of the late President Roh Moon-hyun when incumbent President Moon Jae-win was the Presidential chief of staff at Cheong Wa Dae. Former President Lee Myung-bak who actually presented the medal was less than three months old, which suggests that selection was done
based on the achievements made during the preceding administration of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, the mentor of President Moon. Earlier on May 19, 1999 during the administration of the famed President Kim Dae-jung, Chairman Nam won the Order of Industrial Service Merit Iron Tower offered by the President of the Republic of Korea.
Chairman Nam and his company, Glami Co., Ltd., thus fully merited an extensive interview by any prestigious media organization and The Korea Post was no exception.
“Mister chairman, what is your motto in operating and managing Glami,” asked by Publisher-Chairman Lee Kyung-sik of The Korea Post media, publisher of 3 English and 2 Korean-language news organs, at a recent interview with him at his plant in Cheorwon.
His answer was instant. He said: “Glami strives to realize the dream of the people wishing to extend their life span of through promotion of good health.” Here are questions and answers at the brief interview at his office in Cheolwon:
Question: When was your company first established?
Answer: We established the company in 1996 to contribute to the
establishment of a world-class health system based on differentiated technology and internationally approved patents.
It is my fixed conviction that a business corporation should try to fulfill its social responsibilities and attend to the needs of the customers.
Q: We understand that you have won many prestigious awards and citations.
A: We have consecutively won a Grand Prize and a Gold Award at the International Invention Exhibition on a total of 16 different occasions. We also have a large number of international invention patent rights. On the strength of thus accumulated knowhow and technology, we continue our research and development efforts to invent and turnout products that would deeply impress our customers and consumers in general. We are trying to stand tall in the world on the strength of the products invented and developed at the company.
From within Korea, we have won the Order of Industrial Service Merit Gold Tower and also the Silver Tower offered by the government of the Republic of Korea.
Q: Competition is becoming keener everyday among the different producers. What is your position on this?
A: Yes, competition will continue to become keener every day among the different food producing companies in Korea and among the different countries of the world. Our products are tested in the wide, wide arena of competition in the outside world as well as in Korea.
Q: Your company is largely told apart from your peers for the unique business management philosophy. Would you please elaborate on the topic?
A: Glami vows to maintain its uncontested competitiveness over other companies. Competition in the food industry will continue to be intense.
We have been and will continue to increase our investment in research and development to serve our customers and clientele better.
We will continue to increase such investments in research and development efforts to favorably compete with our peers around the world.
Records of the company were seen to speak more eloquently than any remarks made at the interview. Here are the details concerning the history of the company and the achievements made by Chairman Nam in person and also by the personnel of the company:
Company history:
2008 to 2015:
2015: The Nam Jong Hyun Center dedicated (housing Sports Beverage Production Plant and Residential Hall).
2012: Ground broken for the construction of the Alkali Sports Beverage and Residence Hall.
2011: The Nam Jong Hyun Invention History Museum expanded and relocated.
2010: Production Factory 2 extended.
2009: The Nam Jong Hyun Invention History Museum dedicated.
2008: The front edge of automated production facilities extended and expanded.
2002 to 2007:
2007: Training Institute of Glam expanded.
2006: Patent Research & Development Center expanded.
2005: Production of “Dawn808 Masterpiece” health-promoting beverage starts.
2004: “Dawn808” production facilities extended and expanded.
2002: Liquor production facilities expanded.
2002: The US Corporation (GLAMI USA Corp) inaugurated in the United States.
1996-2001:
2001: Production Factory #1 extended and expanded.
1999: Purchased Dawn808 Production Plant (located in Galmal-eup, Cheorwon-gun)
1999: Logistics Center in Jincheon dedicated (located in Deoksan-myeon, Jincheon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do Province).
1998: Production and marketing of 100% Natural Herbal Tea for Hangover “Dawn808” started.
1996: Started production of Natural Seasoning Powder “GLAMI.”
1996: Established “GLAMI FOOD”
Awards and citations:
2017: Receives Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Archimedes Invention Exhibition in Moscow, Russia.
2017: Wins the Grand Prix from the Archimedes Invention Exhibition in Moscow, Russia.
April 16, 2015: Wins the Korea Best Brand Award for the eighth consecutive year from IMBC, Dong-A Ilbo and Hankuk Kyungje.
April 3, 2015: Wins the National Brands Award for the sixth consecutive year from Joong-Ang Ilbo and the Economist.
March 24, 2015: Wins Korea Brand Star Award for the eighth consecutive year from Korea Economy newspaper.
January 27, 2015: Wins the Korea First Brand Award for the seventh consecutive year from Korea Economy.
January 20, 2015: Wins The 2015 Trusted Brand Award for Customers for the 6th consecutive year from Digital Chosun Ilbo.
December 19, 2014: Wins 2014 Korea Lohas Certification for the 9th consecutive year awarded by the Korea Standard Association.
September 30, 2014: Wins 2014 Brand Award for the 6th consecutive year from the Korea Customer Council.
September 18, 2014: Wins the 2014 Korea Customer-Trust Best Brand Award for the fifth consecutive year from the Korea Brand Management Association.
August 21, 2014: Wins the 2014 Korea Consumers Wellbeing Index No.1 for the 10th consecutive year from the Korea Standard Association.
December 27, 2011: Wins the 2011 Small-Medium Business Green Management Award for the 8th consecutive year from the Korea Standard Association.
2009-2014: Wins the Best Genius Product Prize from the World Genius Convention in Tokyo, Japan.
October 28, 2008: Wins the 2008 Korea Best Brand Award presented by Korea Journalists Federation.
May 19, 2008: Wins the Order of Industrial Service Merit Gold Tower offered by the President of the Republic of Korea.
Also wins a Special Product Prize from the 22nd World Genius Convention in Tokyo, Japan.
Wins the 2007 Best Contribution Award from the 21st World Genius Convention in Tokyo, Japan.
January 12, 2006: Wins the 2006 Grand Prize for the 100 Excellent Patent Products presented by Hankook Ilbo (Korean-language daily) and The Korean Intellectual Property Office of the government.
December 15, 2005: Wins the 2005 Pride of Inventors Award.
December 1, 2004: Wins the Pride of Korea Grand Prix for 2004 by Korea Journalists Federation.
May 11, 2004: Wins the 2004 New Technology Best Award from the Korea Management Association.
Wins the 2003 Great grand Prix from the International Inventions Exhibition Archimedes 2003 in Moscow, Russia.
2002: Wins the International Award from the 23rd France International Invention Competition.
Wins the Gold Prize from International Invention Exhibition in Africa.
2001: Wins the First Prize from the International Invention Exhibition ‘GAST 2001’ in Austria (food & beverage category).
April 17, 2000: Wins the Great Grand Prix in the 2nd Chang Young Shil Science Technology Award.
2000: Wins the Eureka Popular Award of Gold Prize in Brussels, Belgium.
Wins the Eureka Public Award in Brussels, Belgium.
Wins Gold Prize from the 14th World Genius Convention in Tokyo, Japan.
Wins Great Grand Prix from the International Invention Exhibition in Bulgaria
International Invention Exhibition in Bulgaria.
May 19, 1999: Wins the Order of Industrial Service Merit Iron tower from the President of the Republic of Korea.
Wins the 1999 Gold Prize from the 15th Pittsburgh International Invention Exhibition in the USA. Wins the 1999 Best Invention of the Far East from the 15th Pittsburgh International Invention Exhibition in the United States.
Wins the 1999 Great Grand Prix from the 15th Pittsburgh International Invention Exhibition in the United States.
Wins the 1998 Gold Prize from the International New Technology Invention Exhibition in Germany.
1997-1997: Wins the Gold, Silver and Bronze prizes from the 25th International Invention Exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland (food & beverage category).