Nammyung’s Spirit and the entrepreneurship of Muhak Group Chairman Choi, Wiseung

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between Nammyeong’s spirit and the entrepreneurship of Muhak Group founder Choi, Wiseung. Nammyeong’s spirit can be said to be the Confucian thought emphasizing Gyeong(敬) for self-reflection and Ui(義) of practice, and the scholarly spirit of Nammyeong Jo, Shik(1501-1572). Jo is a person who emphasized practice rather than learning and self-reflection, and is mentioned as a pioneer of Silhak, born in the late Joseon Dynasty. Choi(1932-2022) was born in Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do, where Jo's Nammyeong’s spirit is widespread. Choi is an entrepreneur who founded Muhak Co., Ltd. based on his own intuition and insight, and is a person who made efforts to create jobs and nurture talents in the region. From the perspective of Nammyeong’s spirit, the results of examining the entrepreneurship of former chairman Choi of Muhak Group are as follows. First, Choi's insight, intuition, and professional knowledge well reveal Nammyeong's Gyeong for emphasizing self-reflection. Second, Choi always emphasized trust, which shows the Ui of Nammyeong’s spirit. Third, Choi emphasizes the thought of patriotism through business patriotism and national welfare. This is in line with Jo's spirit of patriotism and love for the people. Fourth, it can be said that Jo's spirit of cultivating talented people was realized through Choi's establishment of the Muhak Scholarship Foundation.