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

- President of Seoul National University Hospital
  Paik Nam-jong
  
  Paik Nam-jong is the president of Seoul National University Hospital. He is focusing on strengthening Seoul National University Hospital’s status as the nation’s central hospital and on medical innovation, including digital healthcare. He was born on January 9, 1966, in Seoul. He graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine and earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in medicine from Seoul National University Graduate School. In 2001, he was appointed professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Seoul National University College of Medicine. He worked as head of the Medical Data Information Center, chief of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, and head of the Medical Cooperation Center at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. He later served as head of public relations, head of planning and coordination, and head of the public healthcare project group before becoming president of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. In May 2026, he was appointed president of Seoul National University Hospital. He is an authority in the field of neurorehabilitation who has devoted himself to research on rehabilitation treatment for functional recovery in stroke patients and the development of neuromodulation technology. He is a full member of the National Academy of Medicine of Korea. He served as president of the Asia-Oceanian Society for NeuroRehabilitation and chairperson of the Korean Society for NeuroRehabilitation. He is serving as president of the World Federation for NeuroRehabilitation. #PaikNamjong #SeoulNationalUniversityHospital #SNUH #digitalhealthcare #medicalinnovation #neurorehabilitation #strokerehabilitation #rehabilitationmedicine #neuromodulation #NationalAcademyofMedicineofKorea
- CEO of Semifive
  Cho Brandon
  
  Cho Myung-hyun, also known as Cho Brandon, is CEO of Semifive. He is focusing on strengthening the company’s design house capabilities by internalizing technology and securing design talent through mergers and acquisitions (M&A). He was born in August 1980. He graduated from Seoul National University’s Department of Electrical Engineering. He earned master’s and doctoral degrees in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. He worked for the Boston Consulting Group in the United States for six years, handling corporate consulting. After serving as head of the Korean branch of U.S. semiconductor fabless company SiFive, he returned to Korea and co-founded Semifive with SiFive through an equity investment. He has both engineering and strategic consulting capabilities. He has a sharp eye for the market and a strong sense for investment. #ChoMyungHyun #ChoBrandon #Semifive #semiconductor #designhouse #M&A #SiFive #MIT #BostonConsultingGroup #fabless
- Chairman of Taewoong.
  Huh Yong-do
  
  Huh Yong-do is chairman of Taewoong. He is focusing on securing an early lead in the special forging market for next-generation energy sectors such as offshore wind power and SMR. He was born on January 19, 1948, in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from Jinju Agricultural and Forestry High School and Chinju National University of Education. He transferred to Dong-A University and graduated from the Department of Economics. He worked as a teacher before entering the forging business. In 1981, he founded Taewoong, which produces energy and industrial forged products based on open-die forging technology. He stepped down as CEO in 2016 and has since served as chairman. He is preparing succession for his eldest son, President Huh Wook, and his second son, Director Huh Wan. He served as chairman of the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, chairman of the Busan Automobile Parts Industry Cooperative, vice chairman of the Korea Wind Energy Industry Association, and vice chairman of the KOSDAQ Listed Companies Association. #HuhYongdo #Taewoong #forging #offshorewind #SMR #specialforging #energyindustry #openDieForging #BusanChamber #succession계획
- CEO and President of SeAH Steel Holdings
  Lee Joo-sung
  
  Lee Joo-sung is CEO and president of SeAH Steel Holdings. Together with Lee Tae-sung, CEO and president of SeAH Holdings, he leads SeAH Group through “cousin management.” He was born on October 23, 1978, as the eldest son among the one son and one daughter of Lee Soon-hyung, chairman of SeAH Group. He graduated from Aiglon College in Switzerland and the University of Chicago in the United States, where he studied economics and East Asian studies. He completed an MBA program at Columbia Business School. He worked at consulting firm Accenture and Merrill Lynch Securities. He joined SeAH Holdings as head of the strategy team. After serving as head of planning at SeAH Besteel and vice president and head of planning at SeAH Steel, he became CEO and president of SeAH Steel Holdings in 2022. Beyond its existing business centered on steel pipes, he has worked to find eco-friendly future growth engines such as offshore wind power and to push through global trade barriers. He faces the task of quickly stabilizing SeAH Wind, the U.K. offshore wind power unit that has recently raised concerns due to a series of large contract cancellations, and turning it profitable. Managing financial risks is also seen as an urgent task. #LeeJoo-sung #SeAHSteelHoldings #SeAHGroup #SeAHSteel #SeAHBesteel #SeAHWind #offshorewind #steelpipes #cousinmanagement #financialrisk
- CEO and President of POSCO Future M
  Eom Gi-chen
  
  Eom Gi-chen is CEO and president of POSCO Future M. He is moving in earnest into the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials business to respond to the expanding energy storage system (ESS) market, while also focusing on securing customers and developing technology in the anode materials sector. He was born in January 1966. He graduated from Sungkyunkwan University with a degree in mechanical design. He joined POSCO and worked in the New Business Management Office, and served as head of POSCO’s subsidiaries in China and Vietnam, head of the Steel Planning Office and head of the Marketing Strategy Office. He moved to POSCO Future M, where he served as vice president and head of the Energy Materials Business Division. In March 2025, he was appointed CEO and president of POSCO Future M. He is also serving as chairman of the Korea Battery Industry Association. #EomGiChen #POSCOFutureM #LFP #cathodematerials #anodematerials #ESS #batteryindustry #POSCO #KoreaBatteryIndustryAssociation #energymaterials
- President of the Constitutional Court of Korea
  Kim Sung-hwan
  
  Kim Sung-hwan is the President of the Constitutional Court of Korea. He faces the tasks of restoring public trust in the Constitutional Court and strengthening the independence of judicial decision-making. He was born on January 27, 1966, in Daejeon. He graduated from Bomoon High School and Seoul National University College of Law. He passed the 30th National Bar Examination and completed the Judicial Research and Training Institute's 20th class. In 1994, he began his judicial career as a judge at the Busan District Court. He later served as a warrant judge at the Seoul Central District Court, a research judge at the Supreme Court, a presiding judge at the Seoul High Court, Chief Judge of the Suwon District Court, a Supreme Court Justice, and Minister of the National Court Administration. He was seconded twice to the Constitutional Court as a Constitutional Research Officer, first in 2002 while serving as an associate judge and again in 2008 while serving as a presiding judge, working there for a total of about four years. During his tenure as a warrant judge, he drew attention for his principled rulings, including issuing arrest warrants for former National Intelligence Service Director Won Sei-hoon and former Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Shin Jae-min. He is regarded as a scholarly judge who devoted many years to constitutional studies and was a member of the International Human Rights Law Research Society, a judicial organization known for its progressive leanings. Having served in both the judiciary and the Constitutional Court, he is considered a traditional career judge with extensive experience in both judicial practice and constitutional theory. #KimSunghwan #ConstitutionalCourt #ConstitutionalCourtPresident #KoreanJudiciary #SupremeCourtJustice #ConstitutionalLaw #JudicialIndependence #LegalScholar #HumanRightsLaw #KoreaLegalSystem
- Vice Chairman and CEO of Dongkuk Holdings.
  Jang Sae-wook
  
  Jang Sae-wook is the CEO and Vice Chairman of Dongkuk Holdings. He is focusing on discovering future growth engines while strengthening the competitiveness of the main steel business and expanding profitability. He was born on December 15, 1962, in Seoul as the second son of Chang Sang-tae, former Honorary Chairman of Dongkuk Steel. After graduating from Hwanil High School, he entered the Korea Military Academy, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army as a member of the 41st class, and was discharged as a major. He completed MBA programs at Chonnam National University Graduate School of Business and the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. He joined Dongkuk Steel as a manager in the business management team of the Planning and Coordination Office and later worked at the company’s Los Angeles branch in the United States. After returning to Korea, he worked at Dongkuk Steel as head of the support office at the Pohang Steelworks, executive director in charge of quality, and head of the Strategic Management Office. He served concurrently as CEO of Union Steel and CEO and head of Dongkuk Steel’s Strategic Management Office. In 2015, he became CEO and Vice Chairman of the integrated Dongkuk Steel, which was created through the merger of Dongkuk Steel and Union Steel. Since 2023, he has served as CEO and Vice Chairman of Dongkuk Holdings, the holding company launched after Dongkuk Steel was spun off through a personnel split. #JangSae-wook #DongkukHoldings #DongkukSteel #UnionSteel #steelindustry #Koreanbusiness #CEO #vicechairman #corporategrowth #steelbusiness
- President and CEO of F&F and Chairman of F&F Holdings
  Kim Chang-soo
  
  Kim Chang-soo is President and CEO of F&F and Chairman of F&F Holdings. He faces the challenge of strengthening the competitiveness of the company’s own brands beyond its license-based business structure. He was born on April 18, 1961, in Seoul as the second son of Kim Bong-kyu, the founder of Samsung Publishing. He graduated from Dongseong High School in Seoul and earned a degree in Business Administration from Yonsei University. He began his career at Samsung Publishing, his father’s company. In 1992, he became President and CEO of affiliate Artbox and established F&F to enter the fashion business. He successfully introduced and distributed international fashion brands such as Benetton, Renoma Sports, and Sisley in the Korean market. He has earned nicknames such as “a marketing genius” and “the Midas touch of the fashion industry” for his ability to identify and capitalize on fashion trends. He enjoys change and innovation and is known for making decisions quickly. #F&F #KimChangSoo #FFHoldings #FashionIndustry #Benetton #RenomaSports #Sisley #BrandStrategy #MarketingGenius #KoreanBusinessLeader
- Kang Hae-cheol is CEO of Gigavis
  Kang Hae-cheol
  
  Kang Hae-cheol is CEO and President of Gigavis. He is solidifying the company’s dominant position in the market for FC-BGA substrate inspection and repair equipment, while also responding to efforts to take the lead in the next-generation packaging market and rising demand for AI semiconductors. He was born on Sept. 1, 1963. He graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in biomedical engineering. He joined Samsung Electro-Mechanics and worked as a principal researcher at its Production Technology Research Institute. In 2004, he co-founded Gigavis with fellow researchers from Samsung Electro-Mechanics. At Gigavis, he served as executive director, senior executive director and vice president in charge of technology and management before becoming CEO in 2017. #KangHaecheol #Gigavis #CEO #FCBGA #substrateinspection #semiconductorequipment #nextgenerationpackaging #AIsemiconductors #SamsungElectroMechanics #YonseiUniversity
- Chairman of Genesis BBQ Group
  Yoon Hong-Geun
  
  Yoon Hong-geun is Chairman of Genesis BBQ Group. He is focusing on overseas expansion and business diversification with the goal of opening 50,000 franchise stores in Korea and abroad by 2030. He was born on July 17, 1955, in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province. He graduated from Suncheon High School and earned a degree in Trade from Chosun University. He joined Miwon (now Daesang) and worked as Sales Manager at Cheonho Maniker, a company engaged in the chicken business. In 1995, he founded BBQ and launched a chicken franchise business. Within four years, he secured 1,000 franchise stores and began expanding overseas in 2003, starting with China. After selling bhc, which had been a subsidiary, to a private equity fund, he became involved in a legal dispute with bhc. He was investigated by prosecutors over controversies involving alleged verbal abuse of franchise owners and alleged embezzlement of his children's overseas education expenses. Although he was cleared of all charges, the controversies damaged his public image. #BBQ #GenesisBBQ #YoonHonggeun #ChickenFranchise #KoreanFood #FranchiseBusiness #GlobalExpansion #bhc #FoodServiceIndustry #Entrepreneurship

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