KoreaWho - Biographical and news service about individuals who have a significant impact on the Korean economy

- CEO of Rznomics
  Lee Seong-wook
  
  Lee Seong-wook is the CEO of Rznomics. He is accelerating the commercialization of the “RNA replacement enzyme platform” and the clinical development of key pipelines. He was born on February 8, 1963. He graduated from the Department of Microbiology at Seoul National University and earned a master’s degree in microbiology from Seoul National University Graduate School. He received a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Cornell University in the United States. He worked as a researcher at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Duke University Medical Center in the United States. In 1997, he joined Dankook University as a professor of molecular biology. He later served as director of the Nano Sensor Biotech Research Institute within the university and then as director of the Next-Generation Omics Research Institute. In 2017, he founded Rznomics as a university-affiliated company and has since served concurrently as its CEO. In May 2025, he drew attention by signing a US$1.3 billion joint research and technology transfer agreement with Eli Lilly for a hereditary hearing loss treatment. He previously served as president of the Korean Society for Nucleic Acid Research and is currently serving as president of the Korean Society of Gene and Cell Therapy. #LeeSeongwook #Rznomics #RNAreplacementenzyme #RNAtechnology #biotechnology #geneandcelltherapy #hereditaryhearingloss #EliLilly #omics #Koreanbiotech
- CEO of LX Semicon
  Lee Yun-tae
  
  Lee Yun-tae is the CEO of LX Semicon. He is working to expand new businesses such as heat dissipation substrates and microcontroller units (MCUs) in order to restructure a business portfolio that has been heavily focused on display driver ICs (DDIs). He was born on July 19, 1960, in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from Pohang High School in North Gyeongsang Province and the Department of Electrical Engineering at Seoul National University. He earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). He joined Samsung Electronics and held several key positions in the S.LSI Division, including Head of the Mobile Design P/J Group, Head of the Product Planning Team (Executive Vice President), Head of the Image Development Team (Executive Vice President), and Head of the LSI Development Office (Executive Vice President). He later moved to Samsung Display, where he served as Head of the LCD Development Office (Senior Vice President). In 2014, he was appointed CEO of Samsung Electro-Mechanics. In November 2023, he joined LX Semicon as CEO, and in March 2024, he was appointed CEO of LX Semicon. During his six years as CEO of Samsung Electro-Mechanics, he led the company to its best-ever performance through business structure restructuring and bold investment in new businesses, earning him the reputation of a “restructuring expert.” #LeeYunTae #LXSemicon #semiconductor #DDI #MCU #heatdissipationsubstrate #SamsungElectronics #SamsungElectroMechanics #corporaterestructuring #CEO
- CEO of NH NongHyup Bank
  Kang Tae-young
  
  Kang Tae-young is the CEO of NH NongHyup Bank. He is focusing his capabilities on productive finance and the transition to artificial intelligence (AI), while also working to establish internal control systems to prevent financial accidents. He was born on December 20, 1966, in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from Jinju Daea High School and the Department of Animal Science at Konkuk University. He earned a master’s degree in Convergence Information Technology from Konkuk University Graduate School. He joined the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and began his career at NongHyup Bank. He served as Head of the Human Resources Team, Head of the Strategic Planning Group at the General Planning Division, Head of the All One Bank Business Division, Head of the Digital Strategy Division, and Head of the Gangbuk Business Division. While serving as Head of the DT Division, he also held the position of Vice President in charge of Digital Finance at NH Financial Group. In 2024, he was appointed CEO of NH NongHyup Bank. He is leading the digital transformation of NongHyup Bank. #KangTaeYoung #NHNongHyupBank #NongHyupBank #KoreanBanking #DigitalTransformation #AIinFinance #ProductiveFinance #FinancialControl #BankingLeadership #KoreaFinance
  NEWS
  - • NH NongHyup Bank’s Kang Tae-young Enters 4th Internet Bank Race, Targeting Regional Growth and Digital Innovation
- CEO of HVM
  Moon Seung-ho
  
  Moon Seung-ho is the CEO of HVM. Based on advanced metal manufacturing technologies for the space and aerospace industries, he aims to position the company as a core supplier in the space and aerospace ecosystem. He was born in June 1967. He graduated from the Department of Metallurgical Engineering at Inha University. He earned both a master’s degree and a doctoral degree in metallurgical engineering from Seoul National University’s graduate school. He worked as a researcher and later as a research institute director at the Seoul National University Inter-University Research Center for Advanced Materials and at Kista, a Korea–Sweden joint venture robotics research institute. In 2003, he founded Korea Vacuum Metallurgy, now known as HVM. The company is a partner supplying ultra-high-purity special metal materials to Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Its related technologies were also used in Korea’s space launch vehicle, Nuri. Coming from a research background, he focuses on technology-driven management. #MoonSeungho #HVM #advancedmetals #aerospaceindustry #spaceindustry #specialmetals #SpaceXsupplier #NuriRocket #technologydriven #Koreanaerospace
- Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea
  Han Byung-do
  
  Han Byung-do is the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Following former floor leader Kim Byung-kee, he is leading the Democratic Party as its parliamentary commander, taking the lead in handling various reform bills and livelihood-related legislation. He was born in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, in 1967. He graduated from the Department of Journalism and Broadcasting at Wonkwang University. While serving as president of the student council at Wonkwang University, he took part in activities of the National Council of University Student Representatives (NCDUSR), together with Lim Jong-seok, who was then president of the student council at Hanyang University and later served as Chief of Staff to the President. After serving as a member of the 17th National Assembly, he worked as an advisory member of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation and as a member of the Party Affairs Committee of the Democratic United Party. Based on his experience working in Moon Jae-in’s presidential campaign during the 18th and 19th presidential elections, he entered the Blue House as a political secretary. He was later appointed Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, succeeding Jun Byung-hun. In 2024, he was elected to the 22nd National Assembly, achieving his third term. Despite his name, he cannot drink even a single bottle of alcohol, but he maintains wide and close personal relationships with many people. He is also known to be a skilled soccer player. He is widely regarded as having a humble and rational personality. #HanByungdo #DemocraticPartyofKorea #floorleader #NationalAssembly #Koreanpolitics #progressivepolitics #legislation #parliamentaryleadership #politicalprofile #SouthKorea
- CEO of the Construction Division at Samsung C&T
  Oh Se-chul
  
  Oh Se-chul is CEO of the Construction Division at Samsung C&T. In Korea, he is expanding urban redevelopment projects led by the residential brand “Raemian,” while overseas he is working to secure future growth engines by diversifying the portfolio into areas such as solar power and small modular reactors (SMRs). He was born on November 4, 1962, in Busan. He graduated from Busan Haedong High School and the Department of Architecture at Seoul National University. He completed a joint MBA program run by Sungkyunkwan University and Indiana University in the United States. After joining Samsung C&T, he worked as a site manager at overseas projects in Malaysia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. He later served as Head of the Global Procurement Office, Head of the Plant PM Division, and Head of the Plant Business Division, before being appointed CEO of the Construction Division in 2021. In 2024, he became Chairman of Samsung C&T’s Management Committee. He is actively expanding reconstruction and redevelopment projects, focusing on key areas such as Yeouido, Apgujeong-dong, Mok-dong, and Seongsu in Seoul. He is the first CEO with a technical background since the merger with Cheil Industries. He emphasizes communication with on-site workers. He is a regular member of the Construction and Environmental Engineering Division of the Korean Academy of Engineering. #OhSechul #SamsungCT #construction #Raemian #urbanredevelopment #SMR #solarenergy #Koreanexecutive #engineering #infrastructure
  NEWS
  - • Samsung C&T's Urban Redevelopment Wins Near Last Year's Total—Oh Se-chul Aims for 'Raemian' Dominance
  - • Samsung C&T Expands Into Energy, Oh Se-chul Reduces Reliance on Samsung Electronics
- President of Sangmyung University
  Kim Chong-hee
  
  Kim Chong-hee is the president of Sangmyung University. She is the maternal granddaughter of founder Bae Sang-myeong. Her husband is Lee Jun-bang, former chairman of the board of Sangmyung University. She was born in Seoul in 1955. She graduated from Seoul Yaeil Girls’ High School and from the Department of Physical Education at Sangmyung Women’s Teachers College (the predecessor of Sangmyung University). She earned a master’s degree in physical education from the graduate school of Sangmyung Women’s University (now Sangmyung University) and a doctoral degree in physical education from the graduate school of Hanyang University. She joined Sangmyung University as a professor in the Department of Sports and Health Management. She served as head of the Sangmyung Training Institute, vice president for external cooperation, vice president for administration, chair of the University Innovation Committee, and head of the Management Innovation Institute. In September 2025, she was inaugurated as president of Sangmyung University. She is the first president in the university’s history to be an alumna of Sangmyung University. She is focusing on establishing the university’s mid- to long-term development plan, promoting educational innovation, strengthening industry-academia cooperation linked with local communities, and building AI- and data-based administrative systems. She has been actively involved in the sports and cultural sectors, serving as president of the Korea Women’s Shooting Federation, president of the Korea Women’s Football Federation, and president of the Korean Society of Leisure and Sports. #KimChonghee #SangmyungUniversity #UniversityPresident #KoreanHigherEducation #WomenLeadership #SportsAdministration #UniversityInnovation #AIAdministration #IndustryAcademiaCooperation #KoreanUniversities
- CEO of Doosan Robotics
  Park In-won
  
  Park In-won is the CEO of Doosan Robotics. Alongside Kim Min-pyo, CSO (Chief Strategy Officer) and CEO, and Jo Gil-seong, CFO (Chief Financial Officer) and CEO, he leads Doosan Robotics under a three-pronged co-CEO management structure. Leaving behind the failed merger with Doosan Bobcat, the company is pushing to transform itself into an “artificial intelligence (AI)-based intelligent robot solutions company.” He was born as the youngest of three sons of Park Yong-hyun, Chairman of the Doosan Yonkang Foundation, who previously served as president of Seoul National University Hospital and chairman of Doosan Group, on June 1, 1973. He graduated from the Department of East Asian History at Seoul National University and completed an MBA program at Harvard Business School in the United States. After joining Doosan, he worked at Doosan Engine and then at Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction (Doosan Enerbility), where he served as Executive Vice President in charge of Water Planning, EPC Marketing, and EPC Sales. He was later promoted to Senior Vice President and held positions including Head of the Water Business Group, Head of Plant EPC Sales and Marketing, Head of the Plant Business Group, and Head of the Plant EPC Business Group. In December 2022, he was appointed CEO of Doosan Robotics, which serves as the core of the group’s future growth businesses. He is a fourth-generation owner of Doosan Group. He faces the task of recovering from revenue that has fallen back to levels seen four years ago and cumulative losses that have grown to KRW 130 billion (US$ 93.5 million). #DoosanRobotics #ParkInwon #DoosanGroup #AIrobotics #industrialrobots #corporateleadership #coCEO #futuregrowth #roboticsstrategy #Koreanbusiness
- President of the Discount Store and Supermarket Divisions at Lotte Shopping
  Cha Woo-chul
  
  Cha Woo-chul is President of the Discount Store Division and the Supermarket Division at Lotte Shopping. He was born on January 17, 1968. He graduated from Whimoon High School in Seoul and the Department of Food Processing at Kyung Hee University. He joined Lotte Confectionery. While working at Lotte Holdings, he served in the Improvement Office of the Lotte Policy Headquarters and later as head of the Management Improvement Team 1, where he focused on improving work systems across all group affiliates. In 2020, he was appointed CEO of Lotte GRS. In 2022, he was reappointed as CEO of Lotte GRS. In 2025, he was appointed President of the Discount Store Division and the Supermarket Division at Lotte Shopping. He is regarded as a traditional “Lotte man” and is credited with working to drive change at Lotte GRS through bold rebranding and active communication at worksites. #ChaWoochul #LotteShopping #LotteGRS #LotteGroup #retailexecutive #discountstore #supermarketbusiness #Koreacorporate #managementprofile #rebranding
- CEO of Hyundai Elevator
  Cho Jae-cheon
  
  Cho Jae-cheon is the CEO of Hyundai Elevator. He is focusing on expanding production based on smart factories and growing digital and overseas businesses. He was born on February 7, 1964. He graduated from the Department of English Language and Literature at Yonsei University. He joined Hyundai Elevator and worked in the domestic sales department and the domestic elevator business division, and later served as an executive director of the elevator business division and as a head of a business division. In 2022, he was appointed CEO of Hyundai Elevator. He is a sales expert who has worked at Hyundai Elevator for more than 30 years. He places importance on communication and safety. He is serving as the chairman of the Korea Elevator Association. #HyundaiElevator #ChoJaecheon #elevatorindustry #smartfactory #digitalbusiness #overseasbusiness #manufacturing #industrialleadership #corporateprofile

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