Koo In-hwoi's Parenting Method

LG Founder Who Led Electronics and Telecommunications

South Korea has become a global leader in the electronics industry. One of the key companies that helped South Korea succeed is LG. From the first radio to televisions, there was a time when Samsung aimed to catch up with LG. LG's founder, Koo In-hwoi, played a leading role in the chemical, electronics, and telecommunications industries. Although he was not as well-known as Samsung’s Lee Byung-chul or Hyundai’s Chung Ju-yung, his management style was unique. Coming from a noble family, he valued Confucian education. Even after his passing, his descendants smoothly inherited the business without disputes. Let’s take a look at Koo In-hwoi’s approach to educating his children.

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Establishing Mochundang to Teach Family Values

Koo In-hwoi’s grandfather, Koo Yeon-ho, served as a scholar in Hongmungwan during the late Joseon Dynasty under Emperor Gojong. Hongmungwan was responsible for managing books, lecturing the king, and educating princes. After Hongmungwan was abolished, Koo Yeon-ho returned to his hometown and focused on teaching his children. Koo In-hwoi received a strict Confucian upbringing from his grandfather from a young age. Later, he built Mochundang in his birthplace, where he educated his children and strengthened family values. When his children got married, he made sure to spend time with their spouses once a year, instilling respect for the family tradition. As a result, the LG Group successfully passed down leadership to the fourth generation, including current chairman Koo Kwang-mo, without internal conflicts.

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"Even If You Part Ways, Never Become Enemies"

"Never break ties with someone once you build a relationship. If you must part ways, do not become enemies." This was an important lesson Koo In-hwoi taught his children. Thanks to this philosophy, LG maintained strong relationships, even in business partnerships with the Heo family. While the saying goes, "A tree with many branches is never free from the wind," LG separated from GS Group without conflicts. Koo In-hwoi put harmony first, preventing unnecessary disputes. His Confucian-based management style helped LG grow rapidly. Even later leaders at LG avoided scolding or personally attacking employees for mistakes. LG’s tradition of respecting people and talent comes from Koo In-hwoi’s founding principles of harmony.

 

Koo In-hwoi, the honorary chairman of LG Group, led South Korea’s chemical, electronics, and telecommunications industries. Educated in Confucian values by his grandfather, a former scholar of Hongmungwan, he built Mochundang to educate his children and establish strict family traditions. He also taught them, "If you form a relationship, do not break it. If you must part ways, do not create enemies." LG’s tradition of respecting people and talent comes from Koo In-hwoi’s founding principle of putting harmony first.

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