KOREA WHO

Profile

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  • Chairman of JB Financial Group

    Kim Ki-hong

    Kim Ki-hong is CEO and Chairman of JB Financial Group. Under the vision of being a "small but strong financial group," he focuses on quality growth centered on profitability and proactive risk management. Born on January 10, 1957, in Seoul, Kim graduated from Kyungdong High School and earned a degree in Business Administration from Barat College in the United States. He later obtained his MBA from the University of Missouri and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Georgia. Throughout his career, he has worked in academia, private research institutes, the Financial Supervisory Service, and KB Kookmin Bank. He served as a specialist at the Korea Institute of Taxation, director of research coordination at the Korea Insurance Development Institute, and deputy superintendent of the Financial Supervisory Service. While working as a professor in the International Business Department at Chungbuk National University, he held roles as a director at the Korea Economic Institute (KorEI), outside director at KB Kookmin Bank, and outside director at LG Insurance (now KB Insurance). He later moved to KB Kookmin Bank as senior vice president and strategy group vice president, where he was in charge of planning the establishment of the KB Kookmin Bank holding company. After serving as CEO of JB Asset Management, he was appointed as chairperson and CEO of JB Financial Group, where he has been re-elected. His management style is characterized by determination; he is known for his aggressive work style, often referred to as a "bulldozer," while also being adept at communication. #KimKiHong #JBFinancialGroup #financialmanagement #Koreanbanking #leadership #businessadministration #riskmanagement #qualitygrowth #KookminBank #bulldozermanagement

    NEWS

    • • JB Financial’s Longest-Serving CEO Thrives on Earnings, But Lacks Diversification
    • • JB Financial's Kim Ki-hong Secures Third Term; Regulatory Pressure and Internal Opposition Remain Hurdles
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  • CEO of Hanwha Aerospace

    Son Jae-il

    Son Jae-il is the CEO of Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems. He is leading the integration of Hanwha Group’s land, sea, and air defense businesses. He is focusing on securing defense export contracts and building local production facilities to expand global sales. He was born in Daegu on March 5, 1965. He graduated from Yeongjin High School in Daegu and majored in Business Administration at Korea University. He began his career at Korea Explosives (now Hanwha) and has since worked exclusively within the Hanwha Group. He served as Executive Director of Hanwha’s Explosives Division and Managing Director of Hanwha Techwin’s Defense Business Division before being appointed CEO of Hanwha Land Systems in 2017. In 2020, he became CEO of Hanwha Defense, the unit overseeing Hanwha Group’s entire defense business, solidifying his reputation as a defense industry expert. He was appointed CEO of Hanwha Aerospace in 2022 and CEO of Hanwha Systems in 2024. He also serves as President of the Korea Space Technology Promotion Association. #SonJaeil #HanwhaAerospace #HanwhaSystems #HanwhaGroup #defenseindustry #Koreandefense #spacetechnology #KoreanCEOs #armsintegration #defenseexports

    NEWS

    • • Hanwha Aerospace Hires Pentagon Veterans, Speeds U.S. Entry With Wheeled K9
    • • Hanwha Aerospace Set to Surpass KRW 1 Trillion in Operating Profit as CEO Son Jae-il Accelerates Defense Growth
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  • Executive Director of the Management Sup

    Dam Seo-won

    Dam Seo-won is Executive Director of the Management Support Team at Orion. He is gaining experience as a successor to the company’s leadership by overseeing practical tasks across Orion Group’s operations, including business strategy planning and management, global business support, and new growth initiatives. Born in 1989, he is the younger of two children of Orion Group Chairman Dam Chul-gon and Vice Chairwoman Lee Hwa-kyung. He earned a degree in Communications from New York University and completed an MBA at Peking University’s Guanghua School of Management. Seo-won began his career at Kakao Enterprise before joining Orion in July 2021 as Senior Manager of the Management Control Division. He rose quickly through the ranks, becoming Senior Vice President of the Management Support Team in December 2022 and Executive Director in December 2024. As a board member of Orion’s biotech affiliate, Ligachem Bio, he is directly involved in major decision-making. He is known for his down-to-earth personality and open communication with employees, although he rarely appears at external events. #Orion #DamSeowon #heirs #succession #leadership #businessstrategy #globalbusiness #biotech #familybusiness #SouthKorea

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  • CEO of Kakao Mobility

    Ryu Geung-seon

    Ryu Geung-seon is the CEO of Kakao Mobility. He is focusing on strengthening the competitiveness of the taxi platform business for an initial public offering (IPO) by expanding various mobility services based on the Kakao T mobile app. He was born in 1977. He graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in computer science. He began his career at Danal, where he became Head of the Development Division and later served as CEO in 2011. After joining Kakao Mobility, he was appointed co-CEO in 2019. He developed the world’s first mobile phone payment system. During the company’s expansion, he faced controversies over workplace bullying and allegations of algorithm manipulation. Despite a dismissal recommendation from the Financial Supervisory Service over suspected accounting fraud, he was reappointed. #KakaoMobility #RyuGeungseon #IPO #mobility #KakaoT #SouthKorea #ridesharing #technology #fintech #transportation

    NEWS

    • • Accounting Fraud Penalties Loom for Kakao Mobility Ahead of IPO, Ryu Geung-seon's Fate Hinges on 'Intent'
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  • CEO & President of SK Chemicals

    Ahn Jae-hyun

    Ahn Jae-hyun ("안재현" in Korean) is the President and CEO of SK Chemicals. He leads SK Chemicals jointly with CEO Kim Cheol. He is accelerating SK Chemicals’ transition toward “green chemicals.” He was born on February 2, 1966. He graduated from Yeouido High School in Seoul and studied Applied Statistics at Yonsei University. He later earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. He began his career at Daewoo Group, where he headed the New York office of Daewoo Securities for four years until the firm was sold off during the IMF financial crisis. He later joined SK Group, where he served as project leader at the SK Restructuring Headquarters. In 2004, he was appointed CEO of SK D&D. He held key leadership roles in SK E&C (now SK Ecoplant), including Head of Global Marketing, and in SK Gas as Head of Management Support. He went on to serve as CEO of Global Biz, overseeing SK E&C’s overseas business. In 2019, he was appointed President and CEO of SK E&C and was reappointed to the position. In 2022, he became CEO of SK Discovery, and in 2023, he was appointed President and CEO of SK Chemicals. He is known for his bold personality and decisiveness. He is friendly and approachable with junior staff, even offering cigarettes in casual conversation. #SKChemicals #AhnJaehyun #greenchemicals #SKgroup #leadership #WhartonMBA #corporatereform #SKDiscovery #SKDND #SKecoplant

    NEWS

    • • SK Chemicals Taps Subsidiary Stake to Fund Green Transition
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  • Chairman of L&F

    Heo Jae-hong

    Heo Jae-hong is the Chairman of the Board at L&F. He was born on November 24, 1976, to Heo Jeon-su, who was then Chairman of Saeronix. He graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in chemical engineering and earned a master’s in the same field from the University of Southern California (USC). He worked at the LG Philips LCD Research Center before joining the research division of L&F. He later moved to Saeronix and was appointed CEO in 2010 after his father’s passing. In 2018, he became CEO of L&F. In 2021, after L&F adopted a professional management system, he took on the roles of executive director and Chairman of the Board. He also serves as CEO of affiliates such as Wuxi Guangming Future Materials Co., Ltd. and JH Materials (formerly Sanko Korea). A fourth-generation member of the GS family, he rarely makes public appearances.

    NEWS

    • • L&F’s Expanding Investments Deepen Heo Jae-hong’s Control Dilemma
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  • CEO of LG Energy Solution

    Kim Dong-myung

    I’ve refined the text to improve flow, grammar, and style while keeping all the details intact. Here’s the corrected version: Kim Dong-myung is the President and CEO of LG Energy Solution. He was born on June 30, 1969. He graduated from Wooshin High School in Seoul and earned a degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Yonsei University. He went on to receive both his master’s and doctoral degrees in Materials Engineering from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). Kim began his career at LG Chem as a researcher at the Battery Research Institute, where he served as Head of the Assembly Technology Team, Head of the New Battery Applications Project Team, and Head of Polymer and Reliability Development at the Small Battery Development Center. He later became Head of Small Battery Product Planning and Head of the Small Battery Business Unit. In 2020, he was promoted to Executive Vice President and Head of the Automotive Battery Business Unit, after which he moved to LG Energy Solution following its spin-off. In March 2024, he was appointed President and CEO of LG Energy Solution. With a background as a researcher, Kim is recognized as an expert who has gained extensive experience not only in development but also in production, product planning, and all other aspects of the battery business. He also serves as Chairman of the Korea Battery Industry Association. #LG #LGEnergySolution #battery #EVbattery #SouthKorea #KAIST #YonseiUniversity #energystorage #automotiveindustry #KoreaBatteryIndustryAssociation

    NEWS

    • • LG Energy Solution Bets on Kim Dong-myung to Revive K-Batteries
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  • Vice Chairman and CEO of HD Hyundai

    Chung Ki-sun

    Chung Ki-sun is the Vice Chairman and CEO of HD Hyundai and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering. He is leading efforts to respond to the shipping industry’s green transformation by securing technologies for decarbonized vessels, while striving to maintain a technological edge over Chinese shipbuilders. In the construction equipment sector, he is aiming to elevate the company to one of the top global players. He was born on May 3, 1982, in Seoul, the eldest son among two sons and two daughters of Chung Mong-joon, Chairman of the Asan Foundation. He graduated from Daewon Foreign Language High School and studied economics at Yonsei University. He later completed an MBA program at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. After joining Hyundai Heavy Industries, he went to study in the U.S. and later worked at the Korean office of Boston Consulting Group (BCG). He rejoined Hyundai Heavy Industries, where he served as head of the finance division and then as head of shipbuilding and offshore sales. In 2017, he became CEO of Hyundai Global Service. He also served as head of global shipbuilding and offshore sales at Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, and in 2022, he was appointed CEO of both HD Hyundai and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering. In 2024, he was promoted to Vice Chairman. As a third-generation owner-CEO who rose quickly through the ranks to top leadership at a young age, his management and operational style is drawing close attention. #ChungKiSun #HDHyundai #shipbuilding #decarbonization #greenshipping #constructionequipment #StanfordMBA #HyundaiHeavyIndustries #SouthKoreaBusiness #youngCEOs

    NEWS

    • • HD Hyundai Bets Big with Unified Shipbuilding Push Against China
    • • Chung Ki-sun Nears Final Hurdle in HD Hyundai Succession — More Than a Golden Spoon?
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  • Executive Director of Hyundai Insurance

    Chung Kyung-sun

    Chung Kyung-sun is the Executive Director at Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance. He has been involved in supporting social enterprises and social ventures, and it is expected that he will accelerate the management succession process at Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance while strengthening its ESG activities, based on his prior experiences. Born on August 28, 1986, in Seoul, Chung graduated from Kyungbock High School and earned a degree in Business Administration from Korea University. He later completed an MBA at Columbia Business School in the United States. In 2012, leveraging his experience working at the Asan Nanum Foundation, a public welfare organization, he founded Root Impact, which supports social enterprises, nonprofit foundations, and social ventures. In 2014, he established the impact investment firm HGI. Since 2020, he has been a co-founder and managing partner at Silvan Group. In December 2023, Chung joined Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance as Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) and Executive Director. In August 2024, he also took on the role of Chief Risk Officer. As of 2024, Chung serves on the advisory board of Rockefeller Asset Management, is the Chair of the Board at Communitas America, and is also a board member at the Resilient Cities Network. Though known for his introverted personality, he is also praised for his strong drive and determination. #ChungKyungSun #HyundaiMarine #ESG #RootImpact #HGI #ColumbiaMBA #socialventure #impactinvestment #corporatesustainability #resilientcities #managementsuccession

    NEWS

    • • Hyundai CSO Chung Kyung-sun Champions Social Value, Unveils Child Support Plan
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  • President and CEO of SK Inc. and Head of

    Jang Yong-ho

    Jang Yong-ho is the President and CEO of SK Inc., and concurrently serves as the Head of SK Innovation. He has played a central role in leading the rebalancing efforts of both SK Group and SK Innovation, focusing on improving the financial structure and enhancing core competitiveness. He was born on April 19, 1964. After graduating from Simin High School in Daegu, he earned a degree in economics from Seoul National University. Jang began his career at Yukong, the predecessor of SK Innovation, and built most of his professional experience within SK Group’s holding company. After serving as Head of the PM2 Division at SK Inc., he was appointed President and CEO of SK Materials in 2018. In 2020, he became President and CEO of SK Siltron, and in 2024, he was appointed President and CEO of SK Inc. Jang played a leading role in SK Group’s acquisition of OCI Materials (now SK Materials), laying the groundwork for the group’s entry into the materials business. Following the acquisition, he was appointed CEO, contributing to the successful integration and stabilization of the company. He now also serves as the Head of SK Innovation and Chairman of the Board of SK On, working closely with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to oversee the group’s overall rebalancing strategy. #SK #JangYongHo #SKInnovation #SKInc #corporateleadership #businessstrategy #SKOn #mergersandacquisitions #materialsindustry

    NEWS

    • • SK Innovation Powers Ahead with Rebalancing Amid Market Confidence