“WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I FELT DRAWN TO THE PATH OF SCIENCE, WHERE IT SEEMED THAT EVERYONE GENUINELY ADMIRED AND VALUED SCIENTISTS AND THE WORK THEY DO.”
Societal Culture: In his statement, the word “everyone” embraces all the important people in Professor Park Yong-Ha’s life—his parents, his teachers, and many respected elders in Korean society at the time—each of whom lovingly placed their hopes and expectations on his shoulders.
Within the longstanding customs and beliefs of Korea, a boy was once seen as having only two honorable paths: he could devote himself to government service, helping to shape the future of his country, or he could pursue the life of a great scholar or scientist, earning lifelong respect through wisdom and meaningful discoveries.
For this young boy, their beliefs and the scientific future they imagined for him did not simply guide his choices; they settled deeply into his heart and mind, shaping who he was and who he would become.
“MY TEACHERS’ GUIDANCE AND INSPIRATION TRANSFORMED THAT PAIN INTO A POWERFUL MOTIVATION—TO SEEK DEEPER UNDERSTANDING, TO CARE MORE PROFOUNDLY, AND TO SERVE OTHERS WITH COMPASSION.”
Education: Life in colonized Korea under Japanese rule was unbearably harsh, and people endured an incredibly low quality of life.
Learning about this painful history in class was difficult, but it changed the way Professor Park understood the world and his role in it.
His teachers showed him that even in the darkest chapters of history, human courage, and empathy can still shine through. Inspired by their example, he is determined to make his own life part of that light, carrying hope, understanding, and compassion forward for others.
“I FEEL AN ADMIRATION FOR THOSE WHO REACH OUT TO LIFT THE POOR, BECAUSE THEIR COMPASSION BECOMES A LIGHT OF HOPE AND A REMINDER OF HOW EACH OF US CAN HELP CHANGE THE WORLD FOR THE BETTER.”
Philosophy: Professor Park was deeply moved by the stories of Dr. Ilhan New, whose courage lit a warm, enduring flame in his young heart.
A brief background of Dr. New:
“New” comes from a Korean pronunciation of the Chinese pictograph for “willow tree.” “Il” means “first,” marking his status as the first-born son, and “Han” is the shared generational name for the boys in the New family, also evoking Seoul’s Han River.
Born in Pyongyang into a family that valued learning, he was sent to the United States and entered the University of Michigan in 1916 to study commerce. Far from home, he supported himself by selling Eastern medicine to Chinese students.
When the March First Movement erupted in 1919, he went to Philadelphia for the First Korean Congress and chaired a committee that drafted a resolution later influential in shaping South Korea’s Constitution.
In 1922, drawing on his experience, he founded La Choy Foods, focusing on mung bean sprouts, a staple in East Asian cooking. With strong support from the Chinese American community, the company grew rapidly, and by 1926 he had saved hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In the United States, he supported the Korean Provisional Government through Korean American organizations. Recruited by the OSS as an advisor, he wrote “Korea and the Pacific War” in 1943. From January 1945, he worked on Project NAPKO, training as unit commander for a planned infiltration of Japanese-occupied Korea, but the mission was canceled after the atomic bombings and Japan’s surrender.
After liberation, he returned to Korea in July 1946 and resumed leadership of Yuhan Corporation, becoming the first chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He enrolled at Stanford Law School in 1948, graduated in 1953, and Yuhan survived the Korean War relatively unscathed.
He also devoted himself to philanthropy. In 1953, he founded Korea Technical High School and covered tuition and living expenses for its students.
In 1925, during a business trip to China to purchase mung bean sprouts, Dr. New took a detour to visit Korea.
There, he was shaken by the poor health conditions on the peninsula. Faced with this reality, he made a life-altering decision: he would close his thriving business in the United States and return to Korea to make a difference.
In October 1926, Dr. New came back to Korea with $500,000 in savings. Just a few months later, in December, he founded Yuhan Corporation, a pharmaceutical company born not out of a desire for profit, but from a deep commitment to improving healthcare in Korea.
“He always opened his door to the poor who truly needed help, whether they lacked medication or financial support,” Professor said. His unwavering devotion to the oppressed stirred something profound in Professor Park. Quietly, a seed was planted.
Guided by Dr. New’s inspiring example, Professor Park, too, felt a calling to dedicate his life to serving those in need and to making a meaningful contribution to society.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
When your heart is open, when your intuition is alive, and when you are willing to receive subtle intimations, what you are seeking will appear before you.
It will become part of your life, enrich your journey, and allow you to keep expanding who you are and what your life can be.
Author’s Note:
Happy 26th birthday, Probionic!
In this special month, Probionic wishes to celebrate in a way that sparks a renewed sense of life and possibility in your heart.
With this spirit, we invite you to join us on an inspiring journey through the life and dedication of the man behind the scenes, Professor Park Yong-Ha.
Each Monday during your lunch break, we’ll share one of three powerful stories that bring our founder’s passion, perseverance, and vision to life.
These stories are meant not only to honor the legacy of his work, but also to ignite your own sense of purpose and possibility as a leader, encouraging you to face challenges with courage and lead with conviction on your own path forward.
This is Part I: Intimations from Juvenile Reminiscences, from the series titled Mondays with Professor Park.
Ma-sit-ge deu-se-yo!
Read more: Part II | Part III |