Former pharmaceutical chairman uses 10 billion won to build Yeoju art museum

Former pharmaceutical chairman Park Hae-ryong, who transitioned to painting at age 70, used 10 billion won of his personal fortune to establish an art museum on 2,000 pyeong of land in Yeoju. Appearing on the EBS program "Seo Jang-hoon's Millionaire Next Door" on the 21st, the 92-year-old revealed his commitment to social contribution despite the museum's deficits.

[EBS Seo Jang-hoon's Millionaire Next Door]

The EBS program "Seo Jang-hoon's Millionaire Next Door" highlighted the turbulent life of 92-year-old Park Hae-ryong, a "millionaire" who grew from a boy who had to give up his dreams due to poverty into a titan of the pharmaceutical industry, and finally reinvented himself as a painter at age 70. His philosophy of wealth—moving beyond personal success to share his accumulated riches with society—left a deep impression.

In the broadcast on the 21st, Park Hae-ryong appeared as the oldest millionaire in the program's history. A former chairman of a pharmaceutical company, Park transitioned to being a painter at age 70 and has completed over 500 works over the past 20 years. During his first solo exhibition, held five years after he began painting, his works sold out within a week, generating 40 million won in profit. However, feeling ashamed because he believed "they weren't sold, but rather bought for me," Park donated the entire profit.

Despite being a renowned painting prodigy in his youth, he abandoned his dream due to poverty. During the Japanese colonial period, his family fled to Manchuria to survive, and even after returning to Seoul at age 9, their circumstances did not improve. At a time when painters were looked down upon as "lowly painters," the young Park saw top-tier artists painting theater signs and decided to give up his dream, thinking that becoming a painter would mean living in poverty.

Instead of painting, Park entered pharmacy school and joined a famous pharmaceutical company after graduation. He climbed the corporate ladder rapidly, starting as a regular employee, becoming an executive in his 30s, and reaching the position of president in his 40s. However, after a one-year study program in the United States, he surprised those around him by suddenly submitting his resignation. His reason was that if he tried to reclaim his position, his juniors would have to make sacrifices. Later, at age 47, he used his entire severance pay to acquire a pharmaceutical company that was struggling with deficits. Eschewing even a formal inauguration ceremony as president, he traveled across the country to pharmacies with his bag in hand, staking everything on saving the company. He won the hearts of his clients by visiting pharmacies that only partially opened during the bitter winter and personally lighting stoves with charcoal briquettes he had purchased. By setting aside his title and pride to work on the ground like a salesperson, the company finally succeeded in turning a profit.

The broadcast also revealed Park's energetic daily life, which belies his 92 years. He wakes up at 5 a.m. every morning to paint for two hours, then maintains his health by preparing his own breakfast. After meals, he builds physical strength at the gym and spends time with friends of 80 years. Contrary to his "millionaire" title, Park's home is extremely modest. The living room features an inexpensive sofa stained with paint, and the kitchen holds a faded freezer that is over 30 years old. A playful argument ensued between Seo Jang-hoon, Jang Ye-won, and Park regarding a 20-year-old shirt Park cherishes. When Seo Jang-hoon suggested he should throw it away after seeing the worn and holey shirt, Park defended it, saying, "It is a shirt I cherish. Even if it is torn, no one can tell if I wear it." Seo Jang-hoon remarked that he thought he was frugal himself, but seeing Park's habits—such as cutting a single tissue in half to use it or washing and reusing toothpicks—he felt he needed to work harder, drawing laughter from the group.

However, there is one area where Park does not skimp on spending. In his eighties, he used 10 billion won of his personal fortune to establish an art museum on 2,000 pyeong of land in Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do. His intention was to contribute to society even as he aged, providing local residents with opportunities to enjoy culture and art, and offering a precious stage for artists to showcase their work. Regarding why he continues to operate the museum despite deficits, Park stated, "It is not something I do to make money. It is for the reward of contributing to society." His willingness to invest generously in sharing for society, while being stingy with spending on himself, prompted reflection on the true meaning of wealth. After hearing Park's life story, Seo Jang-hoon expressed admiration, saying, "It seems the secret to a healthy and happy life is to run hard toward what you want, regardless of your age."

EBS "Seo Jang-hoon's Millionaire Next Door" airs every Wednesday at 9:55 p.m. and can be viewed on OTT platforms such as Netflix and Wavve after the broadcast.

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