Lee Jongwoo, 'Korean Homer' Chairman, Publishes Book on 20 Years of Joseon Royal Tomb Exploration

"The Royal Tombs of Joseon are places where we can reflect on the past 500 years of history. To me, the Joseon Royal Tombs are more significant historical sites than any other cultural heritage."

It was reported on the 19th that Lee Jongwoo (85), chairman of Korea Homer Co., Ltd., a successful entrepreneur who overcame life's adversities with a passion for learning and has practiced the belief that 'sharing' defines life, has published "In Search of the Joseon Royal Tombs Where History Lies Buried," a book capturing his reflections on 500 years of Joseon history as he explored the royal tombs.

Book cover of "In Search of Joseon Royal Tombs Buried in History".

Chairman Lee Jongwoo said, "Based on my experiences exploring the Joseon Royal Tombs over the past 20 years, I have organized information and my thoughts about 500 years of Joseon history and the royal tombs into this book. Although I am not a professional historian, I created this book out of my passion for the royal tombs," adding, "I hope this will help people take an interest in and learn about the precious cultural heritage of the Joseon Royal Tombs, which are also listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, and that it will serve as a small but meaningful guide for beginners visiting the royal tombs."

In July 2021, Chairman Lee Jongwoo's autobiography "A Pine Tree Rooted in the Rock," which candidly chronicles his 80 years of overcoming crises, hardships, and constant challenges, was published. Born in Japan in 1938, Lee returned to Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province in 1946 after Korea’s liberation, but endured a difficult and impoverished childhood during the Korean War. Despite not receiving formal education, his unyielding passion for learning led him to enroll in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Yeungnam University in 1964 at the late age of 27, while working as a civilian employee after serving in the Air Force. Preparing two lunchboxes by himself every morning, he ate lunch at work and dinner at school, studying day and night to complete his studies in four years.

In 1977, he founded Korea Homer Co., Ltd., a company specializing in lightweight steel frames and partition materials, and began writing his own success story. Through continuous research and technological development, he introduced new technologies not yet adopted in Korea, leading the localization of construction materials and industrial development. In the 1980s, he secured contracts for the construction of the 63 Building, then the tallest building in Asia, and the LG Twin Towers, well-known as the Yeouido Twin Buildings, driving remarkable growth for the company.

While Chairman Lee is strict with himself, he is more generous than anyone when it comes to sharing. In 2019, he donated real estate worth 5 billion KRW to his alma mater, Yeungnam University, drawing significant public attention. As a board member of the Yeungnam Academy Foundation, he witnessed the difficulties in renovating the science library and contributed a large development fund to the renovation costs, resulting in the unveiling of the state-of-the-art "Lee Jongwoo Science Library."

Korean Homer Chairman Jongwoo Lee is signing a book at the publication celebration.

In 2002, Chairman Lee established the Songam Scholarship Foundation at Yeungnam University to support students struggling with their studies, and has since donated more than 1.4 billion KRW in scholarship funds. Not only at Yeungnam University, but also through the Songam Lee Jongwoo Scholarship Foundation, he has provided scholarship funds to high schools and universities nationwide, contributing to the nurturing of talent. In recognition of his contributions to the advancement of education in Korea, Chairman Lee was awarded the Order of Civil Merit, Moran Medal, by the government in 2020.