[Edaily Reporter YU JIN-HEE ] “The great journey of ‘Great Yuhan, Global Yuhan’—to leap forward as a global innovative pharmaceutical company and contribute to human health—has just begun anew.”

Cho Wook-je, CEO of Yuhan ( Yuhan(000100) ), made these remarks while attending the 100th-anniversary celebration held on the 19th at “Willow House,” a newly opened multi-purpose cultural space created by renovating the company’s former headquarters in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. He reaffirmed the company’s enduring commitment to human health and happiness.

Yuhan, a living testament to the history of South Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotech industry, has officially declared the “restart of its journey of innovation” toward the next 100 years, building on the trust it has earned over the past century as it marks this historic milestone of its 100th anniversary.

Speaking before a gathering of company-wide employees and stakeholders that day, CEO Cho emphasized, “Building upon the solid foundation of ‘100 Years of Trust’ that we have firmly established with the public since our founding, we will add ‘100 Years of Promise’ that will transform the lives of humanity.”

Progress and

Integrity... The Two Pillars That Have Sustained Us for 100 Years

At the core of Yuhan Corporation’s ability to maintain its position as a leading pharmaceutical company without a single waver amid the extreme ups and downs of modern Korean history lie two core values instilled by the late founder, Dr. Yoo Il-han. CEO Cho also strongly emphasized this point.

He shared his reflections, stating, “The reason Yuhan Corporation has been able to walk this long journey of 100 years and become a respected company representing South Korea is that the values of ‘Progress’—constantly pioneering new paths—and ‘Integrity’—strictly upholding principles to elevate the company’s dignity—have been deeply ingrained in the DNA of all our employees.”

Indeed, since its founding in 1926 by independence activist Dr. Yoo Il-han—who believed that “only a healthy nation can reclaim its lost homeland”—Yuhan Corporation has consistently led the way in practicing progress and integrity. From the introduction of Korea’s first employee stock ownership plan in 1936, to the strict separation of ownership and management (establishment of a professional management system) in 1969—which marked a major turning point in the history of Korean capitalism—and finally to the groundbreaking final will left by Dr. Yoo upon his passing in 1971, his groundbreaking final will to “return all personal assets to society”—every step taken by Yuhan Corporation has become a unique milestone in Korean-style Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) management.

The opening of “Willow House,” where today’s commemorative ceremony took place, is therefore all the more symbolic. The former headquarters, imbued with Yuhan Corporation’s glorious triumphs and hardships, has been extensively renovated and reborn as a multi-purpose cultural space where citizens and employees alike can find respite. Named after the “willow”—the company’s soul—this space is the modern embodiment of Yuhan Corporation’s commitment to mutual prosperity with the community and its founding promise to serve as a haven for the Korean people. The company-wide event that day began with the 100th-anniversary ceremony, followed by the Willow House opening ceremony and an awards ceremony for an essay contest and on-site sketching competition designed to encourage creativity among future generations—a diverse and meaningful program that further enhanced the occasion’s significance.

Lecraza, the first domestically developed new drug to clear the FDA hurdle... Achieved sales of 2.1866 trillion won last year

The reason Yuhan Corporation’s 100th anniversary is receiving acclaim both within and outside the industry is that the founder’s noble philosophy of giving back to society strikes a perfect balance with the company’s advanced research and development (R&D) achievements and overwhelming financial performance. Yuhan Corporation has not merely remained a “good corporate citizen,” but has established itself in the market as a leading innovator expanding the reach of South Korea’s pharmaceutical industry onto the global stage.

At the heart of this innovation lies “Lecraza” (generic name: lazertinib), the 31st domestically developed new drug and a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer. Through combination therapy with “Libravant” from global pharmaceutical giant J&J, Lecraza achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first domestically developed anticancer drug in history to clear the high bar set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This was a symbolic milestone that elevated South Korea’s new drug development capabilities—which had previously remained on the periphery—to the center of global standards.

In particular, the global commercialization of Lecraza is rapidly increasing adoption rates at major hospitals worldwide, driven by the introduction of a subcutaneous (SC) formulation that significantly improves convenience and the benefit of extended dosing intervals. Building on this R&D tenacity and a robust pharmaceutical portfolio, Yuhan Corporation recorded sales of 2.1866 trillion won last year, firmly solidifying its position at the top of the domestic pharmaceutical industry. Yuhan has established an ideal virtuous cycle of R&D by reinvesting these proceeds into its next-generation pipeline, including the allergy treatment “Resigercept” and the Gaucher disease treatment “YH35995.”

Yuhan Corporation’s sights are now set beyond Korea toward the global stage. Earlier, on the 19th, Yuhan Corporation hosted a separate large-scale commemorative event at the Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, inviting a large number of affiliates, global partners, and major investors. The event served as an opportunity to express deep gratitude to the partners who have accompanied Yuhan on its 100-year journey, while also reaffirming a partnership built on trust as they move forward together toward the global market.

Yuhan Corporation has established a sustainable system of giving back, in which the profits earned by the company flow to its major shareholders—the Yuhan Foundation and Yuhan Academy—to nurture countless scholarship recipients, who in turn become key players in the industry. Having perfectly demonstrated the company’s integrity by safeguarding the public’s right to health over the past century, Yuhan is now lacing up its shoes once again to pursue the grand dream of becoming a “Top 50 Global Pharmaceutical Company,” using its all-time record achievements—surpassing 2 trillion won in sales and expanding the global reach of Lecraza—as stepping stones. The journey of integrity that began 100 years ago in Jongno has now embarked on its second voyage to heal the future of humanity worldwide.