Hong Wan-pyo, Chairman of Bugok Stainless, Donates 10 Million KRW to Dong-A University Development Fund

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] Hong Wan-pyo (75), chairman of Bugok Stainless and a graduate of the Department of Intellectual Property Service Management at Dong-A University Business School this year, donated 10 million KRW as a development fund.

On the 22nd, Chairman Hong visited the president's office at Dong-A University Seunghak Campus with his son, CEO Hong Seong-bak, to deliver the development fund.

Chairman Hong said, "When I enrolled in March 2019, I never thought I would be able to attend the graduation ceremony, but thanks to the help and guidance of professors and classmates, I am truly overwhelmed to graduate like this. I am very happy to be able to present the development fund as a small token of my heart, and I will strive to contribute more to the development of my alma mater starting from this."

He added, "My son, Hong Seong-bak, CEO of Bugok Stainless, also graduated from Dong-A University Graduate School with a master's degree in Metallurgical Engineering and an MBA from the Business School, so I am even happier thinking that we are both Dong-A people."

President Lee said, "Alumni entrepreneurs must all succeed for our alma mater to gain strength and develop further. With the completion of Dong-A University's ‘L 2M Platform (Lab to Market Platform)’ scheduled for this year, we will put more effort into industry-academia cooperation so that the school and companies can win-win."

(From left) Hong Wan-pyo, Chairman of Bugok Stainless, Lee Hae-woo, President of Dong-A University, and Hong Seong-bak, CEO of Bugok Stainless, are taking a commemorative photo after delivering the development fund.

Chairman Hong, who is from Gunwi, Gyeongbuk, came to Busan at the age of 18 with his older brother and started as a hardware store clerk. In 1983, he established his first company, ‘Bugok Stainless Trading Company,’ and grew it into the current Bugok Stainless.

He has received several awards including the ‘Minister of SMEs and Startups Commendation’ on Inno-Biz Day 2022, the ‘Minister of Education Commendation’ in the technical talent category at the 2021 SME Technology Innovation Fair, the ‘Prime Minister’s Commendation’ on Export Day 2020, and the Busan SME Entrepreneur Award in 2019. He also served as the chairman of the Geumjeong District Council in Busan.

Bugok Stainless, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, has continuously developed without wavering by improving processes and working environments through new technological innovations despite numerous crises such as the IMF foreign exchange crisis, industry structural changes, and Chairman Hong’s health difficulties. It is fulfilling its responsibility as a ‘self-reliant global small giant company in heat treatment processing.’