From last February 22 until March 27, the exhibition of [Golden Days of Erasers] planned by the Design Studio ‘OIMU’ was held at Celeb Shop Object located at Hongik University. The Design Studio ‘OIMU’ which planned this exhibition deeply cast light upon erasers as a supporting role in stationery industry. ‘OIMU’ related a story about erasers which includes the fashion and social transitions in that era by recalling the memories of erasers during the ‘80s and ’90s. In the exhibition, ‘OIMU’ introduced that Hodori eraser in the 1988 Seoul Olympic, which coincides with the era marking the golden days of the eraser industry, is the fruit of the golden day of erasers.”

The erasers of Hwarang Rubber, which has the biggest scale eraser factory in Korea, is being exported to all parts of the world. In 1980, Hwarang once exported to 34 countries of the world. In addition, the largest market is China where Hwarang erasers are recognized as the highest brand-name eraser. In spite of the days when low-priced Chinese products are overflowing, Hwarang erasers rather play a role as a profitable product which is exported to China to such an extent as to amount to about 100 million pieces in annual sales volume! Supposing that the Chinese market situation has come this far, it might be difficult to find a student who has not used Hwarang erasers in China. Even now, when looking for good erasers at Chinese stationery stores, it is said that the store clerk recommends Hwarang erasers first. It is way too obvious, yet Hwarang Rubber Co., Ltd has walked a single path for 65 years focusing on the ‘eraser working nicely on erasing’ in that everyone thought it easy. The steadfastness of Hwarang Rubber has given birth to the citizen’s eraser, and makes it possible to gain the reputation for ‘Brand-name Eraser’ which has been sold to China, amounting to 1.6 billion pcs in cumulative sales volume until today.

Hwarang Rubber is located at Sangyeok 2-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu-si. Hwarang Rubber, which was established in1950, is the sixth-oldest enterprise in Daegu. Hwarang is Korea’s first enterprise to manufacture an eraser so called, ‘JUMBO Eraser’ which deserved to be called as ‘Citizen’s Eraser’ At present, Hwarang Rubber is led by the CEO, Choi, Bong-in(aged 75, a son of the founder) in succession to the founder, the late president Choi, Se-jeong. The CEO Choi, Bong-in is also a prime mover who created Korean Industrial Standard (KS) for erasers. The erasers he made are being exported to all parts of the world and are recognized as the best brand-name product in China. Persistence and commitment are the strength of Hwarang Rubber as mentioned by the CEO, Choi, Bong-in; the persistence in commercial name, blood line and item and the commitment in which he pours out everything on the enterprise he succeeded to. Hwarang Rubber celebrates the 64th anniversary of its foundation this year and intends to carry on 100 years’ Hwarang history on the basis of such strength. At present, the CEO Choi, Bong-in is devoting his effort for the 3rd generation succession. The CEO Choi’s only daughter, the director Choi, Jeong-eun(aged 45) is receiving an education for family business succession. She is in the middle of putting an important steppingstone of a 100-year history.

The small & medium businesses’ activity for family business succession is continuing in Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. Hwarang Rubber Co., Ltd. who is manufacturing plastic erasers and ST One Chang Co., Ltd. who is manufacturing super-functional thin fabric are also famous enterprises for the 2nd generation management. In particular, ST One Chang is boasting of its unrivalled position in the area of main products such as it was selected as the ‘World Class 300’ which cultivates 300 global companies under the supervision of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy after Chae, Young-baek took office as CEO

The Korea Federation of Small & Medium-sized Businesses published the collection of excellent success cases in family business succession (subtitle: ‘People dreaming of 1,000 years’) on the 30th. The purpose of the publication is to discover excellent successful cases in family business succession, suggest action plans, and to induce benchmarking of SMEs which are preparing for family business succession. The stories about family business succession of the nation’s 10 representative long-lived companies are vividly described. This collection introduces Hwarang Rubber Co., Ltd.(In 1950/the 2nd Generation/Choi, Bong-in) who makes a brand-name product in the area of an eraser from the level of making an eraser out of military tires in early days to the level that even the Chinese can read Korean word ‘Hwarang’.

The local oldest enterprises which have been active in business for over 50 years was found to be Gyeongbukgwangyu(1927) with 85 years of history, followed by ▷’79 Punggukmyeon(1933) ▷’68 Daegu Department Store(1944) ▷’67 Daecheol(1945, auto parts) ▷’65 Namseon Aluminum(1947, Aluminum) ▷’62 Hwarang Rubber(1950, Rubber). Hwarang Rubber has consistently devoted to the production of erasers since its foundation in1950 and retained 30 eraser brands such as ‘Jumbo’ and ‘Nemona’ which anyone might use at least once.

In the 24th Small Business Week, the Small & Medium Business Administration, the Federation of Small & Medium-sized Businesses, and the Korea Economic Daily held the ceremony of ‘the 4th Prestigious Long-lived Enterprise Awards’ jointly with the SMEs & Startups Agency, and Industrial Bank of Korea at the Korea Federation of Small & Medium-sized Businesses Building. The Prestigious Long-lived Enterprise Awards are given to the enterprises who have greatly contributed to job creation and economic development through their excellent management competency and technological know-how among SMEs of more than 30 years of business careers. In the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium-sized Businesses, Hwarang Rubber Co., Ltd is one of the 22 award winning businesses who have overcome adversities and built up business history of more than 30 years.

Since its foundation in 1950, Hwarang Rubber has consistently devoted to the production of ‘Eraser’ and listed its business name on the list of long-lived enterprises of more than 50 years as the 6th long-lived enterprise among 117 long-lived companies who have run businesses for more than 30 years including large companies and SMEs in Daegu region.

In recognition of the authenticity retention through the production of one single item ‘Eraser’ for 60 years and the contribution to the pioneering of overseas markets, the CEO Choi, Bong-in of Hwarang Rubber Co., Ltd was honored to receive the Presidential Citation at the National Convention of Small & Medium Business Entrepreneurs which was held at the Blue House Nokjiwon on last May 6.