Jungwoo Group

Chairman Oh Byung-chul's management philosophy, "The belief in the 寬 of 厚 is beyond the limits of the textile industry."

Jungwoo Vina Is at the Innovation Turnover Point of Global Manufacturing Paradigm

Korea-Vietnam-Guatemala Global Production Three-axis System Strategy

Unrivaled R&D Quality Technology Development Sustainable ESG Management with Global Companies

 

 

Successful entrepreneurs have unique philosophy and behind-the-scenes stories. Jung Woo-bi and Oh Byeong-cheol, chairman of Jung Woo-bi and Jung Woo-cheol, who have been obsessed with the knitwear industry for more than 40 years, have never been disclosed to the industry, but they are powerful figures in the textile industry, which has grown a company with assets close to Cho (兆) level.

 

Born to a farmer in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, the son of a farmer, he played soccer at Hanyang Technical High School during his high school years. Before graduation, he gave up on becoming a soccer player and went on a field trip to S, a large knitwear manufacturer, to get a job.

 

He was appointed as an office worker, but he volunteered to work at the production site to learn the skills. With persistent commitment to development, he constantly developed differentiated fabrics and contributed to increasing the company's competitiveness by increasing productivity.

 

He is an outstanding entrepreneur who started his business by leaving behind the title of "master of knitted dyeing technology" and nurtured a world-class "fabric mill." Relationships that are generous and value recognition and loyalty have given a boost to the success of his business.

 

In the heyday of General Corporation, which played a leading role in the development of the Korean industry, it was designated as a cooperative plant of Samsung C&T and devoted its energy to quality, delivery date, and credit. Even now, he still emphasizes every opportunity that "Samsung C&T's contribution was absolute until today's Jungwoo."

 

He is a strong entrepreneur who has developed his company into a world-class fabric mill by sharing the power of "capitalist flower is a company" while trading with Samsung.

 

He is a principleist who is like a brisket in corporate management, but he is a human-like businessman who takes billions of dollars toward dark places.

 

When the investigator accidentally slandered Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul and made all kinds of gossip while the company was on a roll during the National Tax Service's tax investigation in the middle of its foundation, there is an episode in which the investigator argued greatly with the investigator, asking, "Can you blame the first contributor of the national economy like that?"

 

At that time, the investigator was almost disciplined by the tax authorities for obstructing the execution of public affairs, but it is still famous that he managed to recover it with his personal connections that usually valued a wide range of interpersonal relationships. It is still sometimes talked about by business figures as an aspect of Chairman Oh's conviction and philosophy that he has lived with the belief that "businessmen are patriots."

 

Jungwoo Bina, a company with an unusually large number of long-term employees for more than 30 years on average, provides a working environment where all employees can work like a family for a long time through innovation in governance, which is also the most important virtue in ESG. In particular, Chairman Oh is called an outstanding father manager in this era, who has provided full welfare support to current employees and even their future generations

 

Chairman Oh, who has a strong dislike for the present and rarely wants to go back to work, recently invited reporters specializing in textile fashion to the company to have a luncheon with executives and employees and had a valuable time to chat. It was a special time to present solutions to survive and grow in a complex and unpredictable international market environment beyond simply announcing business plans.

 

The field is a learning textbook. I lived with the belief that a piece of fabric I made with my own hands and an employee who I value more than my children could change the world

 

- Chairman Oh Byung-chul

 

Chairman Oh Byung-chul, the founder of Jungwoo Vina (Jungwoo Textile), who has established himself as a global knitwear company in name and reality after 44 years of walking, grew Jungwoo Vina into a group (兆) company with technology and people-centered management under the belief that "the field is a textbook for learning."

 

He is a rare 匠 manager in the textile industry and is said to be a key player in the global brand beyond simple OEMs.

 

Now that the global textile industry is in the midst of "eco-friendly" and "supply chain reorganization," Korea's leading textile company Jung Woo-bi and Jung Woo-fiber (Chairman Oh Byung-chul, CEO Lee Bok-hwa) are showing examples of innovation in the global manufacturing paradigm with their amazing agility and strategic choice.

 

Jungwoo Bina Global Production Base

44 years of history…global production infrastructure

 

"JungwooVina operates strategic production bases across three continents and three countries, and is moving beyond just OEM providers to become manufacturing partners for global brands."

 

After the establishment of a knitted factory in Korea in 1982, it started with knit fabric production and established overseas factories in Vietnam (2005) and Guatemala (2004) in line with the trend of the global textile market, establishing a solid vertical production system.

 

In particular, the vertical factory, which was completed in Vietnam in 2013, is a system that can handle knitting, dyeing, printing, and post-processing in one place, and has now grown into one of the world's largest single knit factories.

 

Since 2022, it has been expanding its production plant in Guatemala, which has rapidly emerged as a key South American production hub.

 

Guatemala, which has recently attracted attention as a strategic production hub targeting the North American market, which is the biggest concern for exporters due to the U.S.-originated tariff war, is expected to attract U.S. buyers with tariff-free supply based on the free trade agreement (CAFTA) with the U.S.

 

 

Jungwoo Vina Global Production System 

 

 

"JEONG WOOBIN's global production system". -

 

Extraordinary Management Rules, Principles, and Ideology...

 

Jungwoo Vina is responding efficiently to customers around the world based on regionally optimized production.

 

Chairman Oh Byung-chul has been investing in facilities and technology to become competitive by actively expanding the global market according to market needs from Korea to Vietnam and Guatemala and to create the best quality. With the aim of creating the best quality that customers and buyers can satisfy, it is continuing its growth by focusing on active R&D development.

 

 Global Production System: Three-Country Three-axis Strategy

 

Korea is a base for R&D and high value-added small-scale production, and Vietnam has completed a vertical integrated production system centered on the world's largest knit plant. On top of that, Guatemala's North American strategic base is added to provide the benefits of lead-time innovation and tariff-free supply.

 

Korea is a high-tech R&D center with a small number of varieties and can produce 1 million pounds per month. It is a strong point that can respond to technology-oriented development as it digests various knit organizations including double jacquard and leads the development of fabrics of various organizations and materials

 

Vietnam is the main base for the entire process, with a monthly capacity of 11 million pounds of knitting, 7 million pounds of dyeing and 3 million yards of printing.

 

Guatemala is a strategic base in North America and has a knitted production capacity of 3.3 million pounds per month and uses CAFTA Yarn. In particular, it has the geographical advantage of being able to deliver quickly to the US market, enabling efficient logistics for the North American market.

 

Chairman Oh Byung-chul is not satisfied with the stable structure of Vietnam's first and second factories and will establish a knit production system worth a total of 7.2 million pounds over the next two stages at the Guatemalan plant following investment 20 years ago. The "Vertical Factory," Guatemala's second plant, which will be fully operational in the fourth quarter of 2025, will complete a total vertical system that can produce more than 5.5 million pounds, including dyeing and post-processing, and is expected to be a boon, such as price competitiveness targeting the North American market and shortening delivery date.

 

Through this, Jungubina's total knit production capacity reaches 15.3 million pounds per month, a structure suitable for global buyers' lead time needs and customization responses.

 

It is noteworthy that the three bases of Korea, Vietnam, and Guatemala each play specialized roles and operate organically with each other.

 

 

As the tariff issue has recently emerged as a major risk in the global market, Guatemalan factories can enjoy free trade benefits with the United States based on the CAFTA agreement and minimize the burden of tariffs when supplying products, which is a major strength in supply strategies targeting the North American market.

 

In response, Chairman Oh Byung-chul said, "Factors in each region of Korea, Vietnam, and Guatemala are operating organically while sharing different roles, and have a global production system that can respond quickly and flexibly to various customer needs." "In particular, the Guatemalan plant will serve as an important factor for Jung Woo-Vina to quickly deliver to the U.S. market at a competitive price."

 

When the entire setup of Jungwoo's Guatemala plant is completed in the future, it is expected that its responsiveness to North American demand will be further strengthened.

 

 

Jungwoo Vina's Sustainable New Facility Production System

 

 

Global Big Buyers Maximum Satisfaction Eco-friendly Certification Quality Trust

 

Sustainable management such as self-test lab certification and digital color matching

 

 

Jungwoo Vina has a number of global certifications such as OEKO-TEX, GRS, and HIGHG. It is also active in investing in eco-friendly facilities such as solar power, biomass fuel conversion, and water use reduction.

 

In particular, Jungwoo Bina Test Lab has a test system that has been officially certified by major global brands, and has been certified by global brands such as GAP, VS&CO, Walmart, and Target.

 

In recent years, all buyers are aiming for speed models and demanding fast delivery, which is considered a big strength of Jungwoo.

It is quickly responding to buyers' needs by enabling rapid market response and efficient quality management.

 

Jungwoo Vina meets quality and sustainability standards through various global certifications.

It has secured a number of eco-friendly certificates that meet international standards, operates eco-friendly throughout the process, and proves that no harmful substances are used.

 

It also meets the customer needs for sustainable fabrics such as recycled fabrics and organic fabrics, which are trends these days. Through these certifications, it is not just making them, but giving trust as a sustainable production partner.

 

In addition, Jung Woo-Bina's extraordinary investment and technology development efforts, which have excellent technology in color implementation by building digital color matching systems such as X-RITE, DATACOLOR, and NATIFIC, are Jung Woo's competitiveness most recognized by global buyers.

 

Efforts to quickly introduce a 'heat exchange system' to reduce carbon emissions through 'energy saving', a global move, and reduce water use by 14% with a new dyeing machine are setting an example for late domestic and foreign industries. Target is working on the CbD+ project and VS&Co is working on the Carbon Leadership Program together.

 

In particular, efforts toward carbon neutrality stand out.

 

JUNGWOOVINA completes solar installation (by 2025) and is on the verge of biomass fuel conversion

 

Span bobbin, plastic, and box recycling for resource recycling are also leading the way.

 

In addition, various efforts are being made to realize sustainable development in line with global trends. First of all, in order to improve working conditions and increase the sustainability of production, a two- to three-shift operation system was introduced from 2023.

 

In addition, the production efficiency was further strengthened by introducing rotary printing machines and NEW CCM machines in 2024. In addition, it led the knit market by developing eco-cell thickening products and introducing sandwash facilities, and succeeded in developing items considering the environment.

 

This system has become a key foundation for building the quality and delivery trust of customers, and is also in line with the advanced ESG management birthplace of sustainable companies.

 

Social Responsibility and Warm Leadership

For more than 20 years, Oh has supported children with heart disease, participated in the Mekong River Ecological Restoration Project, and has continued to support orphanages and nursing homes in Vietnam. Jungwoo Vina's brand value is based on sustainability and humanity.

 

In particular, Chairman Oh's extraordinary commitment and management philosophy, which have been making great efforts over the past 44 years to establish a virtuous cycle structure that returns corporate profits to employees, which are the basis of social return, have been persistently proved by the number of long-term employees in the company.

 

 

For about 20 years, Jungwoo Vina has been working with Asan Medical Center to carry out various social contribution activities to fulfill its corporate social responsibilities, including sponsoring treatment for children with heart disease, welfare projects to support orphanages and nursing homes in Vietnam, and sponsoring projects to improve the Mekong River ecosystem after cooperation with WWF.  

 

 

Reporter Cho Jung-hee. 

 

Source: International Textile Newspaper (https://www.itnk.co.kr ) 25/05/26