Kang Suk-Jin, who grew poor during his childhood years, came to Busan and diligently worked and learned carpentry and techniques at a Japanese owned furniture store on Jwacheondong Furniture Street.
He independently opened his own sawmill in Jwacheondong and a small furniture store just over 33 meter squared. He called his store ‘Dongmyeong Sawmill’ and this became the matrix of the famous
Dongmyeong Wood Trading Co. The companys fortune grew day by day, and the company’s affairs grew bigger as years went on.
Kang, Suk-Jin contributed greatly to the decline of the unemployment rate by creating the Dongmyeong Group from Dongmyeong Wood as a parent company.
He had a strong thankfulness and affection for Busan that he made all workers of the companies and groups, including himself, to only reside in Busan.
In 1967, he founded the Palgak Society of Korea and became the president. He pursued the enhancement of ideas in defending the country through the instillation of a firm view of state and a rigorous view of
anticommunism. At the same time, he worked hard with a special interest in a friendship and bond between the Southeast Asian anticommunist countries. His education work gave back to society with the establishment of
the Dongmyeong Culture Institute. In 1978, he opened Dongwon Technical College (currently the University of Dongmyeong) inviting 640 freshmen students with 6 departments.