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

- CEO of Samyang Foods
  Kim Dong-chan
  
  Kim Dong-chan is CEO and Vice Chairman of Samyang Foods. He serves as co-CEO alongside Kim Jung-soo, Vice Chairman of Samyang Foods. He is accelerating efforts to expand global production capacity while also focusing on securing new core product lines to succeed Buldak Bokkeum Myeon. He was born in July 1968. He graduated from the Department of Food Processing at Kyung Hee University. A former plant manager at Lotte Confectionery, he joined Samyang Foods in 2016. He served as Iksan Plant Manager, Head of the Noodle Snack Division, and Head of the Production Division, before being appointed CEO in August 2023. He also concurrently serves as Head of the Safety and Health Office. He is a production expert who has accumulated broad experience across manufacturing sites. #KimDongchan #SamyangFoods #Buldak #foodindustry #globalproduction #manufacturingexpert #Kfood #noodleindustry #corporateleadership #foodprocessing
- CEO and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of FADU
  Nam Yi-hyun
  
  Nam Yi-hyun is CEO and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of FADU. He is leading FADU as a co-CEO together with CEO Lee Ji-hyo. The company aims to become an integrated storage and power semiconductor solutions provider optimized for the data center and AI era. He was born on July 2, 1974. He graduated from the Department of Electrical Engineering at Seoul National University and earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Seoul National University. He worked as a researcher at the Information and Communication Research Institute of Comtec System, the Technology Research Institute of Future Systems, the Storage Architecture Research Lab at Seoul National University, and the Convergence Technology Institute of SK Telecom, before serving as a research professor at Soongsil University. In 2015, he founded FADU, a semiconductor design company, together with a research team from Seoul National University. He has established a strategy to simultaneously resolve SSD storage bottlenecks and secure “power efficiency and stability.” Following the company’s listing, he is bearing the burden of addressing suspicions of an “inflated IPO” that arose due to weak post-listing performance. #NamYi-hyun #FADU #semiconductor #SSD #datacenter #AIinfrastructure #storagecontroller #powersemiconductor #Koreantech #fabless
- CEO of TSI
  Pyo In-sik
  
  Pyo In-sik is the CEO of TSI. Based on core process technologies in the secondary battery industry, he is focusing on entering the CNT (carbon nanotube) dispersion business. He was born in Seoul on October 12, 1970. After graduating from Seoul Hwanil High School, he took his first step into society at the Hoechst pharmaceutical plant in Ansan, working with German staff on facilities such as equipment and piping. After building his career at Jeil Machinery and Fine Engineering, he became independent and founded Taesung Machinery, now known as TSI. He aims to transform the company from an equipment business into a materials-focused company. #PyoIn-sik #TSI #secondarybattery #CNT #carbonnanotube #batteryprocess #materialsindustry #Koreanceo #manufacturing #energyindustry
- Chairman of SPC Group
  Heo Young-in
  
  Heo Young-in is the Chairman of SPC Group. He led the growth of Paris Baguette through a meticulous on-site management system and research and development focused on quality improvement. By focusing on expanding overseas businesses, he aims to elevate SPC Group into a “Great Food Company.” He was born on May 17, 1949, in Hwanghae Province, as the second son of Heo Chang-seong, Honorary Chairman of Samlip Foods. Seven months after taking charge as CEO of Samlip Foods, he went to Kansas City in the United States to learn baking technology. After completing his studies abroad and returning to Korea, he became CEO of Shany. While Samlip Foods, led by his older brother Chairman Heo Young-seon, suffered management difficulties due to investments in resort businesses, he developed Paris Baguette, Baskin Robbins, and Dunkin’ Donuts into leading domestic franchises. When Samlip Foods went bankrupt and entered court receivership, he acquired Samlip Foods and established SPC Group by combining Samlip Foods, Shany, Paris Croissant, and B.R. Korea. He has been expanding global operations by opening Paris Baguette stores in China and the United States for the first time in the domestic baking industry. By entering the fresh food business through overseas food and beverage franchises such as Pascucci and Shake Shack, he is pushing for expansion into a comprehensive food company. He is carrying out preparatory steps to transfer management control and ownership stakes to his two sons. As production-site worker deaths and other industrial accidents continued, debates over his responsibility intensified, drawing strong criticism from the government and public opinion. #HeoYoungin #SPCGroup #ParisBaguette #KoreanFoodIndustry #GlobalExpansion #BakeryIndustry #FranchiseBusiness #FoodConglomerate #IndustrialAccidents #CorporateSuccession
  NEWS
  - • Why Do SPC Accidents Persist? Heo Young-in’s Denial Undermines KRW 100 Billion Safety Plan
  - • Heo Young-in Acquitted of Breach of Trust, But Key Trial Still Ahead—SPC Struggles with ‘Anti-Labor’ Image
- CEO of Dunamu
  Oh Kyoung-suk
  
  Oh Kyoung-suk is the CEO of Dunamu. Following the comprehensive stock swap with Naver Financial, he is focusing on creating synergies and exploring new sources of revenue. He was born on May 18, 1976, in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province. He graduated from the Department of Business Administration at Korea University. He is a certified public accountant and worked at Samil PwC. After passing the 47th Korean bar exam and completing the Judicial Research and Training Institute, he served as a judge at the Suwon District Court, a research judge at the Supreme Court, and a lawyer at Kim & Chang. In 2016, he joined apparel company Panko and entered the industrial sector. In 2018, he was appointed CEO. After concurrently serving as an auditor for Musinsa and Dunamu, he was recruited as CEO of Dunamu in June 2025. #Dunamu #OhKyoungSuk #cryptocurrency #blockchain #NaverFinancial #corporategovernance #fintech #KoreaBusiness #CEOprofile #stockexchange
- CEO of Timefolio Asset Management
  Hwang Sung-hwan
  
  Hwang Sung-hwan is a co-CEO of Timefolio Asset Management. Together with co-CEO Kim Hong-ki, he leads Timefolio Asset Management. He is focusing his capabilities on expanding the firm’s management scope beyond private equity funds into the public fund market and establishing it as a comprehensive asset management company. He was born on October 23, 1976, in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from the affiliated high school of Chosun University in Gwangju and the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering at Seoul National University. He joined Daewoo Securities and worked in investment operations in the dealing room, and just one year later, in 2006, he founded Timefolio & Company. After acquiring a private equity fund, the company changed its name to the current Timefolio Asset Management. He is known for an investment style that generates returns by investing when fear dominates the market. #HwangSung-hwan #TimefolioAssetManagement #assetmanagement #fundmanagement #Koreafinance #investmentstrategy #privateequity #publicfunds #CEOprofile #Koreanexecutive
- Chairman of the Board and CTO of AimedBio
  Nam Do-hyun
  
  Nam Do-hyun is Chairman of the Board and CTO of AimedBio. He is focusing on expanding technology transfer partnerships while also accelerating research and development of follow-on pipelines. He was born in August 1963. He graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine and earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees in neurosurgery from Seoul National University Graduate School. He previously served as Director of the Cancer Stem Cell Research Center at Samsung Medical Center and Head of the government-designated Leading Project Group for Intractable Cancer Research under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. In 2018, he founded AimedBio, which develops antibody-drug conjugate-based therapeutics. While serving as Chairman of the Board, he stepped down from the CEO position and currently serves as chief technology officer (CT). He is an owner-manager with a background as a neurosurgeon, having accumulated 30 years of experience in the field of brain tumors. He was the first in Korea to establish a method to isolate and culture cancer stem cells from glioblastoma patients. He has worked as a specialist at the Department of Neurosurgery at Samsung Medical Center, Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Professor in the Department of Convergence Medical Science, an advisory member of the PSOC at the U.S. National Cancer Institute, and a full member of the National Academy of Medicine of Korea. He has a strong interest in addressing unmet medical needs. #NamDo-hyun #AimedBio #biotechnology #ADC #cancerresearch #glioblastoma #medicalinnovation #technologytransfer #neurosurgery #unmetmedicalneeds
- CEO of Aptabio
  Lee Soo-jin
  
  Moon Ho-sang-ssi Lee Soo-jin (Lee Soo-jin) is the CEO of Aptabio. She is pursuing scale growth through new businesses such as health functional foods and pet-related businesses. She was born on February 10, 1969. She graduated from the Department of Chemistry at Chungbuk National University and received a master’s degree in organic and biochemistry from the graduate school of Chungbuk National University. She earned a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry from the graduate school of Ajou University. She served as head of the New Drug Research Team at the Central Research Institute of JW Pharmaceutical. In 2009, she founded Aptabio, a platform technology-based company focused on developing first-in-class new drugs within its corporate group. She is a new drug expert with more than 25 years of experience in new drug research and development. She is accelerating efforts in new drug development and technology transfer based on those achievements. #Aptabio #LeeSoojin #biotech #newdrug #drugdevelopment #firstinclass #platformtechnology #pharmaceuticals #healthfunctionalfoods #petbusiness
- CEO of Hugel
  Chang Daniel Doo-hyun
  
  Jang Doo-hyun (Daniel Chang) is the Chief Executive Officer of Hugel. He was born on July 4, 1976. In 1999, he majored in economics and political science at the University of Michigan in the United States. After handling finance-related work at AT&T, he moved to CJ Group’s Corporate Strategy Office, where he worked across CJ, CJ Logistics’ U.S. subsidiary and overseas business management, and served as head of CJ CGV’s Vietnam business. After joining Boryung Holdings as head of the Strategy Planning Office, he served as Executive Vice President in charge of overall operations at Boryung Pharmaceutical, and was appointed CEO of Boryung in August 2021. In September 2025, he was brought into Hugel as Chief Executive Officer. He is regarded as the right person to enhance Hugel’s future value and accelerate its global growth. To reduce market uncertainty, including rumors of Hugel’s sale and concerns over investor exits, there is a need for him to focus on presenting clear management plans and strengthening communication both inside and outside the company. #Hugel #DanielChang #JangDooHyun #biopharmaceutical #globalgrowth #CEO #corporatestrategy #Boryung #CJGroup #executiveprofile
- President and Head of Strategy, Business Support Office, Samsung Electronics
  Choi Yoon-ho
  
  Choi Yoon-ho is President and Head of the Strategy Team at Samsung Electronics’ Business Support Office. He must refine a new-growth portfolio centered on artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors and establish a global strategy to respond to external risks. He was born on January 11, 1963 (lunar calendar). He graduated from Deoksu Commercial High School in Seoul (now Deoksu High School) and from the Business Administration Department at Sungkyunkwan University. After joining Samsung Electronics, he mainly worked in finance-related departments, including the International Accounting Group, the Business Management Group, and the Overseas Management Group. He served in Samsung Group’s Future Strategy Office, where he was responsible for Strategy Team 1. After being promoted to President and Head of the Corporate Management Office at Samsung Electronics, he was appointed as an inside director. In the November 2025 personnel reshuffle, he moved to the position of Head of the Strategy Team within the Business Support Office. He is regarded as one of Samsung Group’s leading financial experts. He is also known for his extensive experience in strategy and for his clean, precise work style. #Samsung #SamsungElectronics #ChoiYoonHo #AI #semiconductor #strategy #finance #BusinessSupportOffice #Korea #management
  NEWS
  - • Choi Yoon-ho of Samsung SDI Sells Non-Core Polarizing Film, Seizes Opportunity with Battery Investments
  - • K-Battery Investment Pause Amid Prolonged Chasm, Focus on Samsung SDI Choi Yoon-ho's 'Expansion' Declaration

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