Korean Adventist Health Food Company Builds Wells and Schools Worldwide

A Seventh-day Adventist health food company in South Korea, Sahmyook Foods, recently shared a report on its mission to serve beyond its nation’s borders. The report was shared during the church’s 2024 Annual Council, held at the denomination’s headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, on October 14.

Social Responsibility

Sahmyook Foods has become an example of “how to prioritize and integrate social responsibility into [the church’s] activities,” Korean Union Conference president Soon Gi Kang said in the report.

Company leaders shared how a mission focus can be implemented even outside of traditional church settings. Among them, Sahmyook international sales manager Minhyung Kim reported that company leaders “believe that by providing nutritious food, [they’re] not just feeding bodies, but supporting overall well-being.” Their main goal is to “take health to the world,” he said, recognizing that physical well-being can be a pathway to overall wellness, including spiritual growth.

As South Korea’s second-largest soymilk producer, the company sees nutrition as only one aspect of its work, Kim said. He explained that businesses can create meaningful social impact by prioritizing community service and education alongside profitability. “Most companies seek large profits, but Sahmyook has [another] purpose that drives us,” Kim said. “We work to support education in South Korea and spread a message of wholistic health. This is our mission.”

Sahmyook and ‘I Will Go’

With this focus, Sahmyook Foods has ensured that its far-reaching mission integrates the Adventist Church’s “I Will Go” strategic focus, especially as the company seeks to support vulnerable communities.

In the area of education, Sahmyook’s support extends to 27 institutions across South Korea, including schools, universities, and other learning centers. By directing profits toward these institutions, Sahmyook Foods seeks to uphold a tangible commitment to improving educational access and quality, company leaders said.

Living the Mission

In an effort to foster a corporate culture that aligns with its spiritual values, Sahmyook encourages its employees to see their work not just as a job but as a calling — an opportunity to make a positive difference in the world. 

“Our employees understand that their work goes beyond producing food,” Kim said. “They’re part of a larger mission to improve lives and spread hope. This sense of purpose energizes our team and infuses everything we do with meaning.”

Currently, more than 350 employees are engaged in community service initiatives, leaders reported. In South Korea, employees participate in local projects, such as conducting home repairs for vulnerable groups and serving meals to seniors. Internationally, volunteer teams from Sahmyook Foods travel to countries including Cambodia, Mongolia, and Kenya, where they undertake projects such as constructing school facilities, building fences, and installing wells and toilets. 

Additionally, Sahmyook Foods plays a significant role in disaster relief across Asia and other continents, providing aid when natural disasters strike, its leaders reported. The company offers both immediate relief and long-term support to affected communities, delivering assistance to those in need regardless of their background or beliefs.

About Sahmyook Foods

Founded in 1982 in Seoul, Sahmyook Foods (Sahmyook Sikpoom) produces a variety of soy milk and vegetarian products. The company bases its performance on seeking “the realization of love for humanity through health all over the world.” According to company leaders, by prioritizing health, education, and community service, Sahmyook Foods offers a model of corporate responsibility that resonates with universal values of compassion, service, and whole-person well-being.

The original version of this story was posted on Adventist News Network.