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

- Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group
  Chung Eui-sun
  
  Chung Eui-sun is chairman of Hyundai Motor Group. He is working to transform Hyundai Motor into a comprehensive smart mobility solutions company while focusing on expanding the hydrogen ecosystem. He was born in Seoul on Oct. 18, 1970, as the youngest child and only son among the three daughters and one son of Chung Mong-koo, honorary chairman of Hyundai Motor Group. He graduated from Whimoon High School in Seoul and Korea University’s Department of Business Administration. He completed an MBA program at the University of San Francisco (USF) School of Management in the United States. After joining Hyundai Precision Industry, now Hyundai Mobis, he studied in the United States and then worked at the New York branch of Japan’s Itochu Corporation. He joined Hyundai Motor as head of purchasing and head of the sales support division, and later served as deputy head of Hyundai Motor’s domestic sales division, executive vice president of Hyundai Card, and deputy head of Hyundai-Kia Motors’ planning and coordination division. In 2005, he became CEO and president of Kia Motors. After serving as president of Hyundai Mobis, vice chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, and vice chairman in charge of quality management planning at Hyundai Steel, he has overseen the group’s overall business as chairman of Hyundai Motor Group since October 2020. He is speeding up the development of autonomous driving technology, while focusing on Physical AI and humanoid robot development as key future businesses. He is described as modest and humble. He serves as president of the Korea Archery Association. #ChungEui-sun #HyundaiMotorGroup #HyundaiMotor #smartmobility #hydrogenecosystem #autonomousdriving #PhysicalAI #humanoidrobots #HyundaiMobis #KoreaArcheryAssociation
  NEWS
  - • Chung Eui-sun’s Robotics and Autonomous Driving Ambitions Hit Union Roadblock
  - • Hyundai’s First Supercar N74 Set to Debut Next Year
- chairman of Mirae Asset Group
  Park Hyeon-joo
  
  Park Hyeon-joo is chairman of Mirae Asset Group. He was born on October 17, 1958, in Gwangju. He graduated from Gwangju Jeil High School and Korea University’s Department of Business Administration. After joining Tongyang Securities, he moved to Dongwon Securities and worked as a director. In 1997, he founded Mirae Asset Venture Investment, now Mirae Asset Capital, and Mirae Asset Global Investments. Right after the foreign exchange crisis, he brought innovation to Korea’s indirect investment market with the “Park Hyeon-joo Fund.” He later established Mirae Asset Securities, Mirae Asset Venture Investment, Mirae Asset Life Insurance and others, building the framework of a financial group. In 2001, he became chairman of Mirae Asset Group and established Mirae Asset Global Investments’ Hong Kong unit, Korea’s first overseas asset management subsidiary. He expanded the company by acquiring SK Investment Trust Management, SK Life Insurance, KDB Daewoo Securities, local exchange-traded fund (ETF) management companies in Canada, the United States and Australia, and Sharekhan, a local securities company in India. Two years after becoming chairman of Mirae Asset Securities, he stepped down from the post and took charge as global strategy officer (GSO), putting more focus on overseas business and global investment strategy. He is called a pioneer of Korea’s capital market. He helped spread a culture of long-term investment and overseas investment among Korean investors. He is serving as co-chairman of the National Growth Fund Strategy Committee. He aims to connect investment platforms that had been divided by country into one system and build a globally integrated investment service that covers both traditional financial assets and digital assets. #ParkHyeon-joo #MiraeAssetGroup #MiraeAsset #KoreaCapitalMarket #GlobalInvestment #LongTermInvestment #OverseasInvestment #ETF #NationalGrowthFund #DigitalAssets
  NEWS
  - • 'Giant' Mirae Asset's Park Hyeon-joo, Relentlessly Marching Toward a Global Investment Bank
- CEO of INNOX Advanced Materials
  Chang Kyeong-ho
  
  Chang Kyeong-ho is CEO of INNOX Advanced Materials. He is strengthening the company's existing core businesses while expanding into future advanced industries, including artificial intelligence, robotics, and secondary battery materials. Chang was born on October 3, 1958, in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province. He graduated from Gongju High School and earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry education from Gongju National University of Education (now Kongju National University). He received a master's degree in chemistry and a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). He joined Saehan Technology Research Institute as head of the Electronic Materials Team and worked as a developer. After the Saehan Group entered a workout program, he founded Saehan Micronics (now INNOX Advanced Materials), a materials company based on polymer synthesis technology, in 2001. He is a full member of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea. He has served as chairman of the KOSDAQ Association and president of the Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. #INNOXAdvancedMaterials #ChangKyeongho #AI #Robotics #SecondaryBatteries #AdvancedMaterials #KAIST #PolymerSynthesis #KOSDAQ #SemiconductorMaterials
- CEO of Daou Data
  Kim Sang-jun
  
  Kim Sang-jun is the Chief Executive Officer of Daou Data. He is focused on transforming the company's business from software (SW) distribution to a service- and platform-oriented model. Kim was born on June 26, 1964, in Geochang, South Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from the Department of Computer Science at Dankook University. He began his career at Daou Data as a Business Division Manager before moving to Daou Technology, where he served as Sales Manager and later Executive Director, building expertise in the information technology (IT) business and software distribution. After joining Korea Information Certificate Authority (KICA) as Head of the Management Division, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2016. He has remained CEO after the company joined the Daou Kiwoom Group and changed its name to Daou Data in 2021.
- chairman and CEO of Woori Financial Group
  Yim Jong-ryong
  
  Yim Jong-ryong is chairman and CEO of Woori Financial Group. He was born on Aug. 3, 1959, in Boseong, South Jeolla Province. He graduated from Seoul Yeongdong High School and Yonsei University’s Department of Economics. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Public Administration and a master’s degree in economics from Oregon State University in the United States. He entered public service after passing the 24th Higher Civil Service Examination. He worked as director-general of the Financial Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Finance and Economy before being named presidential secretary for economic affairs at the Blue House under the Lee Myung-bak administration. After serving as first vice minister of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and then as minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, his final public post, he left public service and went on to serve as chairman of NH NongHyup Financial Group and chairman of the Financial Services Commission. He later worked as a special professor at Yonsei University’s Graduate School of Economics and as an adviser at Yulchon LLC. In 2023, he was appointed chairman of Woori Financial Group. He was nominated as prime minister near the end of the Park Geun-hye administration, but the nomination was dropped after the president’s impeachment. He is known for his strong mediation skills and has the nickname “Zhuge Liang of the financial world.” #YimJongryong #WooriFinancialGroup #WooriFinancial #NHNongHyupFinancialGroup #FinancialServicesCommission #KoreanFinance #FinancialLeadership #PublicService #KoreanBanking #CorporateBiography
  NEWS
  - • Woori Financial Group’s Board Reshuffle—Pressure Mounts on Yim Jong-ryong with One Year Left
  - • Woori Financial Group Braces for FSS Inspection, Yim Jong-ryong’s Expansion at Risk
- President of the Republic of Korea
  Lee Jae-myung
  
  Lee Jae-myung is the 21st President of the Republic of Korea. He was elected president in the snap presidential election held on June 3, 2025, following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Based on a growth strategy centered on artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced industries, he is pursuing a major industrial transformation and balanced regional development in South Korea, while also focusing on restoring the livelihoods-based economy, pursuing pragmatic diplomacy, reforming the prosecution, and reorganizing the government. He was born on December 22, 1964, in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, as the fifth of seven children. After passing the high school equivalency examinations covering both middle and high school education, he graduated from Chung-Ang University with a degree in law. He passed the 28th National Bar Examination and worked as a lawyer before entering politics through his involvement in the campaign to establish Seongnam Municipal Medical Center. He joined the Uri Party (now the Democratic Party of Korea) and ran for mayor of Seongnam but was defeated. He later served as senior deputy chief of staff to presidential candidate Chung Dong-young before receiving the party's nomination to run for the National Assembly seat representing Bundang A in Seongnam, where he was also defeated. He was elected mayor of Seongnam in the fifth local elections and was later elected governor of Gyeonggi Province as the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate in the seventh local elections. In 2022, he defeated former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yon in the party's presidential primary to become its nominee, but lost the presidential election to People Power Party candidate Yoon Suk Yeol. He was elected to the National Assembly in the by-election for Incheon's Gyeyang B constituency and was subsequently elected leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. After winning a seat in the 2024 general election, he was re-elected as leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. #LeeJaeMyung #President #SouthKorea #DemocraticParty #AI #AdvancedIndustries #PragmaticDiplomacy #GyeonggiProvince #Seongnam #KoreanPolitics
  NEWS
  - • Factory Boy Who Envied School Uniforms Rises to Presidency
  - • Lee Jae-myung’s ‘KRW 100 Trillion AI Investment’ Pledge and ‘Digital Democracy’
- President and CEO of SGC Energy
  Lee Woo-sung
  
  Lee Woo-sung is President and CEO of SGC Energy. He is leading the company's transformation into an AI energy infrastructure company by expanding from its core power generation business into AI data centers. Lee was born on November 17, 1978, as the eldest grandson of OCI Group founder Lee Hoe-rim and the eldest son of Lee Bok-young, Chairman of SGC Energy. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Carnegie Mellon University in the United States and completed an MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. After working as a consultant at IBM, he joined the overseas business team of E-Tech Construction (now SGC E&C) in 2007. He later underwent management training while overseeing corporate planning at both SGC Energy and SGC E&C. He led the merger of Samkwang Glass, E-Tech Construction, and Kunjang Energy, laying the foundation for the launch of SGC Group. During the process, he became the largest shareholder without incurring gift tax liabilities, establishing the foundation for third-generation family management. Beginning with SGC Partners in 2021, he successively assumed the role of CEO at SGC E&C and SGC Energy, formally ushering in third-generation leadership of the group. He now faces the challenge of successfully establishing the capital-intensive AI data center business while managing the financial burden of construction affiliate SGC E&C. #SGCEnergy #LeeWooSung #SGCGroup #AIDataCenters #EnergyInfrastructure #OCIGroup #SGCEC #PowerGeneration #CorporateLeadership #KoreaBusiness
- Busan mayor
  Jun Jae-soo
  
  Jun Jae-soo is the 40th mayor of Busan Metropolitan City. He is focusing on completing Busan as a ‘maritime capital.’ He was born in Uiryeong County, South Gyeongsang Province, in April 1971. He graduated from Gudeok High School in Busan and the Department of History Education at Dongguk University. He received a master’s degree in political science from Dongguk University Graduate School. He joined the Roh Moo-hyun administration as an administrative officer on the economic affairs division of the Presidential Transition Committee, then worked as a policy adviser at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, an administrative officer at the Blue House Office of the Senior Secretary to the President for Economic Affairs, and the second attached secretary at the Presidential Secretariat. After suffering defeats in the 2006 local elections and the 18th and 19th general elections, he ran in the 20th National Assembly election and won. By winning three straight elections in Busan as a Democratic Party candidate, he established himself as the Democratic Party’s leading politician representing Busan. He was appointed as the first minister of oceans and fisheries under the Lee Jae-myung administration, but resigned after half a year and was elected mayor of Busan Metropolitan City in the June 3 local elections. He is making policies for the livelihoods of Busan citizens his top priority. #JunJae-soo #BusanMayor #BusanMetropolitanCity #maritimecapital #DemocraticParty #LeeJae-myungadministration #MinistryofOceansandFisheries #June3localelections #Busanpolitics #publiclivelihood
- CEO of Protec
  Choi Seung-hwan
  
  Choi Seung-hwan is the CEO of Protec. He also serves as CEO of Protec L&H. He was born on December 24, 1955. He graduated from Yongmoon High School. He began his career at Yuwon Construction before working at Daehong Enterprise. In 1993, he founded Kiseong Industrial, a semiconductor equipment company, and later established Protec in September 1997. He led the localization of semiconductor back-end equipment based on high-speed automation systems, transforming Protec into a global technology company. He strengthened the company's market presence by earning recognition for its technological capabilities, including the joint development with the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials of the Gang Bonder, an advanced packaging system optimized for the production of highly integrated, high-efficiency semiconductors. #Protec #ChoiSeunghwan #semiconductor #semiconductorequipment #back-endprocess #automation #GangBonder #KIMM #chipmanufacturing #KoreaTech
- Hwashin President and CEO
  Jeong Seo-jin
  
  Jeong Seo-jin is President and Chief Executive Officer of Hwashin. He also serves as Chief Executive Officer of Hwashin Precision. He aims to transform the company from an internal combustion engine chassis parts manufacturer into a global top-tier company in eco-friendly and future mobility. He was born on February 7, 1968, as the eldest son of Chairman Jeong Ho, the founder of the company. He graduated from Daegu Gyesung High School and earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Korea University. He later completed an MBA at the University of Rochester in the United States. He began his career at Samsung Electronics before moving to LG Chem, where he worked as a manager. He later joined Hwashin, the automotive parts company founded by his father. In 2001, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Hwashin and Saehwashin. Since 2012, he has also served as Chief Executive Officer of Hwashin Precision. He has focused on reducing the company's reliance on Hyundai Motor Group by diversifying its customer base to include overseas automakers in North America and Europe as well as global battery manufacturers. He also served as Chairman of the Yeongcheon Chamber of Commerce and Industry in North Gyeongsang Province. #Hwashin #JeongSeojin #AutomotiveParts #FutureMobility #ElectricVehicles #HyundaiMotorGroup #BatteryManufacturers #AutoIndustry #GlobalExpansion #CorporateLeadership

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