GPTW Atomy - company that cherishes spirit
Atomy Chairman Park Han-gill / Courtesy of Atomy
Learning a lesson from the old axiom that a mother’s love for her baby is unconditional, Atomy, recognized as one of the best workplaces in Korea, upholds a unique corporate philosophy known as the “Cow and Baby Philosophy.”
This philosophy is clearly explained by Chairman Park Han-gill’s remarks.
He said, “A farmer deeply cares for his dairy cow, but this affection is not unconditional. However, a mother cares for her baby not because she expects the child to grow up and earn money. The baby itself is the purpose. Her sole objective is that the child will grow up healthy and well. For Atomy, consumers, business owners, partner companies and employees are not merely tools for growth; they are companions for mutual growth and development.”
Park says people should not be a “means” but an “end.” This core value has been reflected in Atomy’s management, making the company a great place to work and earning the chairman the honor of being named Korea’s most respected CEO for five consecutive years.
One of the company’s mottos is to “cherish the spirit,” based on which Park founded the company. At Atomy, employees are granted authority without being imposed excessive responsibility, told to eliminate unnecessary tasks and encouraged to work when they want to.
Believing that people become genuinely passionate and engaged when they are given the freedom to choose their work, Park created a culture in which all employees can be immersed in their work.
Particularly exemplifying this culture is the adoption of bold policies such as simplified approval processes, salaries paid in advance on the first of every month, self-directed roles, flexible working, open-seating arrangements and corporate cards issued to all employees.
Atomy operates on the belief that systems should be designed around the people who use them and that trust should be given unconditionally from the start. Guided by these principles, the company has expanded to 26 countries, achieved annual revenue of 2.2 trillion won ($1.7 billion), recorded cumulative exports of $1.5 billion and built a global customer base of 15 million members. It also became the first in the industry to obtain Consumer-Centered Management certification.