22. 08. 29 Hankyung Business

"Since I was a salary man, I worked with 'the mindset of boss'...Absolute quality and absolute price are the driving force for global growth"   

‘Pleasant gentleman.’

It came across my mind as soon as I met Atomy CEO, Han-Gill Park. On the interview day, Chairman Park had an hours-long video conference with branch directors across the globe. During the afternoon interview, he was likely to be exhausted, but as time passed, he got more excited, brimming with energy. By the end of the interview, the future he envisions was pictured more clearly: "Everyone lives a happy life". 

All businessmen would have different business goals such as money, fame, and power. However, Chairman Park was dreaming even bigger beyond such goals. And he seemed excited about the path toward that dream. I met Chairman Park at Atomy Park in Gongju, Chungnam. 

-What is 'Atomy's ultimate goal? 

“Success of customers. Atomy's customers include its members, consumers, executives and employees, and partnering companies. In other words, to ensure all people who are connected to the inside, outside, front, and back of Atomy benefit from Atomy". 

-The term 'partnering company' sounds unfamiliar.

“It is the term Atomy uses. Companies that are trading with us are not in superior-subordinate relations. They are partners we have to 'join forces'."  

-How can other shareholders succeed? 

“Consumers get benefits by purchasing goods of higher quality at a lower price. Members get benefits by introducing Atomy products around and receiving an allowance. Executives and employees get benefits as they can pursue their own happiness through Atomy while partnering companies are able to be benefitted from securing appropriate margins and stable sales channels. Furthermore, local communities and neighbors in need get the benefit of improving their lives through Atomy's sharing practices. Likewise, the very existence of Atomy, itself benefits all, that is the success of customers that Atomy speaks of, and the ultimate goal Atomy pursues.”

-Then, a series of sharing is also in line with your ultimate goal. 

“Yes, it is. We have a long way to go, but, I believe Atomy has become a 'sustainable enterprise' to some extent as we achieved sales revenue of 2 trillion won. It became possible that consumers, executives and employees, members, and partnering companies can 'survive' within Atomy's boundaries/the fence of Atomy/the domain of Atomy. So, now, it's time to improve the lives of local communities and neighbors in need. We continue to share for children as well, and that is because children are 'too precious beings' who will lead the future of mankind".

-Atomy is selling multiple products. Please tell us the criteria for developing or selecting products to sell.

“Basically, we consider 'whether this is a daily necessity that consumers need', and then, 'absolute quality, absolute price'. ‘Is the quality an absolute quality that no one can match, or is the price an absolute price that no one can sell below this price?', etc”.

-I wonder why you decided to found Atomy.

“The principle of network marketing is in line with the nature of distribution business. So, I wanted to prove that we can compete with any distribution companies provided that we comply with the principle. Network marketing is a distribution in which marketing expenses can be compensated by using a product with good quality and reasonable price in person and then sharing the good experience with acquaintances, friends, and relatives. I founded Atomy, thinking that I wanted to do real network marketing where producers, consumers, and salespersons, and no one else would make a loss but make a profit".

-The company name ‘Atomy' sounds unique. 

“Atomy is a combination of 'atom' meaning atom and 'my(美)' which means beauty. The reason that Atom and beauty are connected is that Atomy's main products, HemoHIM, and cosmetics are mainly made of ingredients developed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. We added 'my(美)' as products include cosmetics and healthy food, and personally, I consider beauty the most important among truth, goodness, and beauty. I believe words such as the harmony of the universe, vitality, light, self-purification, and the hope for eternal life are contained in beauty."

-What differentiates Atomy's cosmetics and health functional food from other competitors?

“Atomy always believes that the interests of consumers are the interests of Atomy. In other words, selling a good product at a low price is the best marketing. This is Atomy's competitive edge." 

-What kind of employee were you before starting your business?

“It would be desirable, but in some ways, I might have been a nuisance, and that's because even in my junior year, I worked with a management mindset. I happened to take orders from large customers that we didn't expect, and I set up our own production lines after receiving orders for new products that the company didn't even have plans to develop. And, once I undertake a task, I push ahead with it until it gets done. In a way, I can say I'm a workaholic. So, my boss kind of forced me to learn golf to make me take a rest while working.”

-Was there a special reason that led you to target the global market beyond Korea? 

“I cannot say there was a special reason, but I just wanted to make the company that generates more revenue overseas than in Korea from the beginning. If you sell a good product at a low price, you can compete in any country in the world. No consumer would refuse if they can buy the products they use all the time at a lower price but with better quality. Atomy will not hesitate to go to any place in the world if there is a consumer looking for Atomy products. My undergraduate major is trade while I have a business administration doctoral degree in international marketing (he smiled)." 

-When was the most difficult time in your business and how did you overcome?

“I think life itself is hard. It is a penance. It's even hard to idle away as you have no job. So, you give up on comfort and just manage to live. To be honest, the most difficult time was when I first started Atomy. I lost all including my health, property, and people due to the aftereffect of the failure of an internet shopping mall called imkorea.com. After being given a limited time to live, I emptied my mind and stayed at God's side. Even if it was hard, I was okay to have God by my side. Looking back, I am surprised even now to see how I was able to plan Atomy in such a difficult situation. I think today was made possible since there was no resentment and anger in my mind."

-I wonder about your upcoming plans.

“So far, we have focused on making a system that earns well, but from now on, we want to make a system that is well used. The well-used system is about how efficiently sharing can be practiced. In that regard, we have donated 14 billion won to Compassion as Compassion uses the donation efficiently. The Bible says "unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.". Likewise, the system that is used well is a system that can produce more results by being used and disappearing. However, it should not end up giving away fish to temporarily relieve hunger, rather we need to establish and sponsor schools to teach how to catch fish, creating a community where you can build a social safety net on your own. That would be a truly well-used system."