Colma Chairman Draws Leadership Lessons from Admiral Yi Sun-sin
Creatrip Team
a month ago
Yun Dong-han, chairman of Korea Kolmar (한국콜마), released a management essay titled "The Great Management of Yi Sun-sin," describing how he applied the 16th-century admiral Yi Sun-sin’s (a Korean naval commander) principles to build a global beauty and healthcare company over 36 years. Yun—who earned Korea’s first PhD in 'Yi Sun-sin studies'—highlights Yi’s self-reliance (e.g., producing ships, food supplies, and weapons independently), emphasis on R&D (likened to modifying Panokseon into the Turtle Ship), preparedness, and listening to frontline voices. He founded the Seoul Yehae Foundation (여해재단) to teach Yi Sun-sin leadership to small and mid-sized company employees and has published several related books. Yun hopes his book will inspire “small heroes” who carry on Yi’s management spirit.
