Buhmwoo Group Chairman Kim Myung-won.

Buhmwoo Group became the subject of much attention after a humidifier disinfectant was confirmed to be linked to the deaths of 142 Koreans.

“I watch our staff sell the VegeAQUA, an eco-friendly cleaning agent. But I’ve decided to take up the issue of using chemicals in household items to get rid of things that do harm to humans,” Chairman Kim Myung-won said. 

Kim is hyping the benefits of the VegeAQUA, saying the clearing agent is effective in eradicating residual pesticides and bacteria in vegetables and fruits. He said the VegeAQUA does not contain any chemicals since functions of a negative ion work in killing viruses and cleaning. He has presented several track records to prove bacterial eradication, cleansing and safety. One of the documents, is the outcomes of a content analysis by the Japan Food Research Laboratories, which states that the product is proved to be effective in eliminating most bacteria as E. Coli157 and salmonellas. The Shuster Laboratory, a certification institute of the U.S. Food Drug Administration, has issued a certificate that backs up VegeAQUA’s bacterial eradication and safety.

Even Whole Foods Market, a U.S. major organic farm product distribution chain, gave the “green” classification mark to the VegeAQUA. Whole Foods Market implements strict control on as many as 360 chemicals.

VegeAQUA was developed by the Bumhwoo Institute of Technology Research, an affiliate of Bumhwoo Group. The research institute is manned by 70-odd researchers, about 30 percent of which are doctorate and master’s degree holders. 

President Park In-ha, who has obtained a doctorate degree in chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin, heads the research institute. 

Bex-Inter Corp., an affiliate of Bumhwoo Group, produces the VegeAQUA. 

VegeAQUA has sales space in such outlets as the ORGA Whole Foods, a Korean online organic farming food shopping site, the Shinsaegye Departments Store and other major department stores. 

Chairman Park studied in Germany after graduating from Seoul Tech High School and Hanyang University Chemistry Department. He launched a business in Chungmuro in May 1973. His role model was the late Yoo Il-han, the founder of Yuhan Corp., with whom Park met while attending high school. Park set his company’s management tenets before launching his business: a company respecting human beings and contributing to society. 

Bumhwoo has hit many bumps along the way. Chairman Park rejected his executives’ proposal to cut manpower while undergoing hard times during the Asian financial crisis. Bumhwoo has grown into a mid-size superstar with a 780 employees. The company posted about 320 billion won in sales in the 43 years since its founding. 

Bumhwoo produces specialized lubricants, including rolling oil and cutting oil. The company makes about 1,500 items and has the capability to become one of the world’s top three specialized lubricant makers. 

Bumhwoo has six overseas locally corporate outfits in eight countries, including Germany, Japan and the United States. 

Bumhwoo plans to release VegeAQUA in China in the second half of this year. 

“China is now struggling to address such pollution and environmental woes. Residents in such rich cities as Shanghai are forecast to have more demand on eco-friendly cleaning agents than elsewhere,” Chairman Park said.

VegeAQUA, Buhmwoo’s eco-friendly cleaning agent, enjoys popularity due to safety misgivings, fueled by deaths linked with a humidifier disinfectant.(Photos:Buhmwoo)