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

- CEO of CJ Freshway and CJ Foodville
  Lee Geon-il
  
  Lee Geon-il is CEO of CJ Freshway. He also serves as CEO of CJ Foodville. He is focusing on the online-to-offline (O2O) transformation of the food distribution business and expansion of the new “kitchen-less” business. He is also leading CJ Foodville’s expansion in North America, centered on Tous les Jours. He was born on September 7, 1970. He graduated from Daewon Foreign Language High School and Yonsei University with a degree in food and biotechnology. He joined CJ CheilJedang through open recruitment and worked in CJ CheilJedang’s Strategic Planning Division. He served as head of Business 1 at CJ’s Business Team and head of the A Twosome Place Division at CJ Foodville. He served as CEO of CJ Foods USA, the U.S. subsidiary of CJ CheilJedang, overseeing its North American market strategy. After serving as head of the Management Support Office of CJ CheilJedang’s Food Business, head of CJ’s Business Management Office 1 and head of CJ Corp.’s Management Innovation Task Force, he was appointed CEO of CJ Freshway in 2024. He has also served as CEO of CJ Foodville since November 2025. He is a CJ Group food expert with broad experience across the food and foodservice businesses.
- Vice President and CEO of Kolon Mobility Group’s Automotive Business Division and CEO of Kolon Benit
  Kang Ee-gu
  
  Kang Ee-gu is vice president and CEO of Kolon Mobility Group’s Automotive Business Division. He concurrently serves as CEO of Kolon Benit. At Kolon Mobility Group, he is restructuring the lineup of imported car brands and expanding sales and maintenance services using customer and vehicle data. At Kolon Benit, he is focusing on shifting the business structure, which has been heavily weighted toward IT distribution, toward artificial intelligence transformation (AX) businesses. He was born on May 2, 1967. He graduated from Korea University with a degree in statistics and earned a master’s degree in computer science from New York University in the United States. He joined holding company Kolon and handled group strategy at its Strategic Planning Office. He moved to Kolon Industries as an executive director, where he was responsible for colorless polyimide (CPI) film, and was later promoted to vice president, overseeing new businesses including fuel cells. He led KFNT, a Kolon Group chemical company that manufactures plastic films and synthetic fibers, and G-Bridge, a software developer funded by Kolon Benit. He was appointed CEO of Kolon Benit in 2023 and has concurrently headed Kolon Mobility Group’s Automotive Business Division since 2025. #KangEeGu #KolonMobilityGroup #KolonBenit #AutomotiveBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #DigitalTransformation #KolonIndustries #CPIFilm #FuelCells #CorporateStrategy
- Vice President and CEO, KG Mobility
  Hwang Ki-young
  
  Hwang Ki-young is vice president and CEO of KG Mobility. He leads KG Mobility under a system of separate representative directors together with Kwak Jae-sun, the controlling owner and chairman of KG Group. He is focusing on achieving annual sales of 200,000 vehicles and revenue of KRW 10 trillion (US$7.2 billion) by 2030, with export expansion and the knock-down (KD) business as the two pillars of growth. He is also focusing on the transition to electrification centered on hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). He was born on August 29, 1967. He graduated from Inha University with a degree in mechanical engineering. He joined Hyundai Motor and worked as head of its North America team and head of planning and sales at its European subsidiary. He also served as head of the UK subsidiary, head of the Russia subsidiary and head of the Global Business Strategy Office. He joined KG Mobility as head of Europe and Russia business and served as head of the Overseas Business Division. He was appointed CEO of KG Mobility in 2024 and has overseen domestic and overseas business and sales. #HwangKiYoung #KGMobility #KGGroup #AutomotiveIndustry #GlobalSales #Exports #KnockDownBusiness #Electrification #PHEV #CorporateLeadership
- Founder and President, Gachon University
  Lee Gil-ya
  
  Lee Gil-ya is the founder and president of Gachon University. She is focusing on nurturing talent in advanced industries, particularly bio, batteries and semiconductors. She was born in Okgu, North Jeolla Province, on May 9, 1932, according to the lunar calendar. She graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine, completed medical training in the United States and earned a doctorate in medicine from Nihon University in Japan. In 1958, she opened Lee Gil-ya Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic in Incheon. After establishing the Gil Medical Foundation in 1978, she founded Dongincheon Gil Hospital and expanded her hospital business. After acquiring Kyungwon University, she merged it with Gachon University of Medicine and Science to launch Gachon University and has led the institution herself as president. She also acquired the Kyongin Ilbo and has actively pursued businesses in education, healthcare, research and media while leading Gachon University, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Gachon University Gil Korean Medicine Hospital, the Neuroscience Research Institute, the Lee Gil Ya Cancer and Diabetes Institute, the Gachon Cultural Foundation, the Gachon Museum and Shinmyung Girls' High School. She is the oldest incumbent university president at age 96 and has remained single throughout her life.
- Chairman of the Korea Technology Finance Corporation
  Kwon Hyung-tack
  
  Kwon Hyeong-taek is chairman of the Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KIBO). He is focusing on financing the growth of technology companies and managing risks in its guarantee portfolio. He was born in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, on August 27, 1968. He graduated from Youngjin High School in Daegu and Seoul National University with a degree in international economics. He earned a master's degree in management information systems from the University of Michigan in the United States. He founded and ran the venture company Standard Mobile. When the business struggled, he chose to pursue a career in finance. He worked at Woori Bank, HSBC and C9 Asset Management. He later served as an investment adviser to Incheon Metropolitan City and vice president of Midan City Development on Yeongjong Island in Incheon. After serving as head of the Strategic Business Division at Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation and CEO of Gimpo Goldline Operation, he was appointed president of Korea Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation (HUG) in 2021. He took office as chairman of KIBO in July 2026. He emphasizes listening and communication.
- President and CEO of LS Mtron
  Shin Chai-ho
  
  Shin Chai-ho is president and CEO of LS Mtron. He is focusing on expanding the adoption of autonomous tractors and increasing sales in North America. He was born on July 10, 1962. He graduated from Sorabol High School and Seoul National University with a degree in business administration. He completed MBA programs at Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Business and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. He joined Kolon Group, where he handled human resources, purchasing and overseas joint ventures. He moved to Bain & Company and worked as a consultant in Dallas, Texas, and Seoul. After returning to Kolon Group, he served as an auditor in the Restructuring Headquarters, head of strategic planning at Kolon Industries, and managing director and head of the Management Planning Team and deputy head of overseas business at holding company Kolon. He served as chief information officer (CIO) of Kolon Benit, chief management officer (CMO) of Kolon, and head of the Management Assessment Office at Kolon Industries. He served as head of the Finance Support Division and chief financial officer (CFO) at Homeplus, and as co-CEO of GeneChem. He was recruited as executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO) of LS Mtron and has served as CEO since 2022. He was promoted to president in 2023.
- CEO of Neowiz
  Jason Park
  
  Park Sung-jun is CEO of Neowiz. He leads Neowiz alongside Bae Tae-geun under a co-CEO structure. Building on the global success of Lies of P, he is focusing on securing new intellectual property (IP) and strengthening the company's PC and console game development capabilities. He was born on August 20, 1975. He graduated from Yonsei University's College of Engineering and worked at Korean game company Esoftnet, U.S. game company Electronic Arts (EA), and Singaporean game company Mikoishi. After returning to Korea, he served as development director at Eyasoft before joining Neowiz CRS as development director. He served as head of the Console Development Division at Neowiz Bless Studio and subsequently took on his current roles as head of Neowiz's ROUND8 Studio and head of its New Game Development Group. He was appointed CEO of Neowiz in 2026. He is the first leader with a game development background in Neowiz's history. He led the development and commercial success of Lies of P, Korea's first global hit in the soulslike genre.
- President and CEO, Daesang
  Lim Jung-bae
  
  Lim Jung-bae is president and CEO of Daesang. He also serves as head of the Technology Institute. He was born in Seoul on July 8, 1961. His leadership has been put to the test as the company faces both a swing to a net loss and legal risks stemming from alleged price-fixing in starch and sweeteners. He graduated from Kyungsung High School in Seoul and Korea University with a degree in food engineering. He began his career at Miwon Trading. After Miwon Trading was absorbed into Daesang, he worked at Daesang as head of the Finance Team in the Management Innovation Division and head of the Procurement Team in the Management Support Division. He also served as head of the European operation and head of the Planning and Management Division. He moved to Daesang Holdings, where he served as CEO, before returning to Daesang to serve as head of the Strategic Planning Division of the Materials Business Unit (BU) and head of the Finance and Accounting Division of the Food BU. After serving as CEO of Daesang’s Food BU, he was appointed president and CEO of Daesang in 2020. He became the first Daesang CEO to secure a fourth consecutive term. He is well-versed in overseas business, finance and planning. He has served as a bridge until Lim Se-ryung, vice chairwoman of Daesang, and Lim Sang-min, vice president of Daesang, the two daughters of Daesang Group honorary chairman Lim Chang-wook, move to the forefront of group management. #LimJungbae #Daesang #DaesangCEO #ExecutiveProfile #FoodIndustry #BusinessLeadership #CorporateStrategy #GlobalBusiness #ManagementCareer #DaesangGroup
- CEO & President, SK hynix
  Kwak Noh-jung
  
  Kwak Noh-jung is CEO and president of SK hynix. As SK hynix’s high bandwidth memory (HBM) has drawn global attention, he is actively investing in next-generation HBM technology and production facilities. He was born on November 6, 1965. He graduated from Korea University with a degree in materials engineering and earned master’s and doctoral degrees in materials engineering from the university’s graduate school. He worked as a researcher at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) in the field of optoelectronics. He joined Hyundai Electronics, the predecessor of SK hynix, as a development researcher in the Process Technology Office and later served as head of the Process Technology Group at the Future Technology Research Institute and as the executive responsible for safety and health in the Manufacturing Technology Division. After serving as executive vice president in charge of manufacturing technology and president in charge of safety, development and manufacturing, he was appointed CEO and president in 2022. He is one of SK hynix’s leading semiconductor technology experts. He served as chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association and vice chairman of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea. He actively communicates with employees. #KwakNohjung #SKhynix #SemiconductorExecutive #HBM #MemorySemiconductors #HyundaiElectronics #KIST #KoreaUniversity #SemiconductorTechnology #CorporateLeadership
  NEWS
  - • SK Hynix CEO Vows to Lead HBM4 Amid Fierce Rivalry
  - • SK hynix Surpasses Samsung in 40 Years, Wins on Earnings and Next-Gen Memory Tech like HBM4 and SOCAMM
- CEO of Aekyung Chemical and Co-CEO of AK Holdings
  Go Joon
  
  Go Joon is CEO of Aekyung Chemical. He also serves as co-CEO of holding company AK Holdings. He is focused on transforming Aekyung Chemical's business structure from commodity petrochemicals to high-value-added specialty materials. He was born on May 6, 1973. He graduated from Whimoon High School in Seoul and Yonsei University with a degree in chemical engineering. He earned a master's degree in chemical engineering from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). He joined U.S. consulting firm Bain & Company and worked as a consultant. He later moved to Hyosung, where he served as head of the Organizational Management Team. He worked at U.S. executive search and consulting firms Russell Reynolds and Korn Ferry International as an associate executive director and partner, respectively. He joined Aekyung Group and, after serving in roles including head of the Strategic Planning Team at AK Holdings, was appointed CEO of AK Plaza. He was selected as CEO of AK Holdings in January 2025 and has concurrently served as CEO of Aekyung Chemical since August 2026. He is credited with bringing Aekyung Group's retail business, which had struggled in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, back to normal. A former consultant, he is regarded as one of Aekyung Group's leading strategists. #GoJoon #AekyungChemical #AKHoldings #AKPlaza #BainAndCompany #KornFerry #KAIST #YonseiUniversity #AekyungGroup #ExecutiveBiography

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