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

- CEO of Kakao Games
  Han Sang-woo
  
  Han Sang-woo is the CEO of Kakao Games. He faces the task of turning around the company’s performance amid sluggish results from new game releases. He was born on March 22, 1971. He graduated from Chungnam National University with a degree in business administration. He joined Neowiz Games, where he handled business development. He served as head of the company’s Chinese subsidiary and as head of its global business division. He founded mobile game company Ina Games and served as its COO. He later moved to Tencent and was appointed CEO of Tencent Korea. He joined Kakao Games and served as Chief Strategy Officer, head of the overseas business division, and senior vice president of the overseas business division before being appointed CEO in March 2024. He is an expert in the Chinese and global game markets. The company is set to be incorporated into LY Corporation.
  NEWS
  - • Han Sang-woo Faces Tough Year at Kakao Games; Hopes on Upcoming Titles
  - • Shaking Off Slump, Kakao Games CEO Han Sang-woo Focuses on Global Expansion in Second Year
- Presidential Chief of Staff
  Kang Hoon-sik
  
  Kang Hoon-sik is the Presidential Chief of Staff in the Lee Jae-myung government. He is focusing on assisting President Lee Jae-myung so that state affairs remain steady by responding swiftly to changes in the international order and domestic political conditions. He was born on October 24, 1973, in Onyang-eup, Asan County, South Chungcheong Province, as the eldest son among one son and one daughter. He graduated from Daejeon Myeongseok High School and Konkuk University’s Department of Management Information Systems. He took part in the student movement as president of the Konkuk University student council. In 2000, he founded a clothing company. He entered politics after being recruited by former Gyeonggi Governor Sohn Hak-kyu, and ran in the 18th National Assembly election but lost. After three attempts, he was elected as a National Assembly member for the Asan B constituency in South Chungcheong Province in the 20th National Assembly election, and won third-term reelection in the same constituency in 2020 and 2024. In 2022, he ran for party leader but withdrew two weeks before the national convention. He served as head of the general situation room at the Central Election Campaign Committee for the 21st presidential election, and in June 2025, he was appointed Presidential Chief of Staff to President Lee Jae-myung. He is responding quickly to global affairs, including the U.S.-Iran war and Canadian defense issues, in his capacity as a special envoy. #KangHoonSik #LeeJaeMyung #PresidentialChiefOfStaff #SouthKoreaPolitics #Asan #KonkukUniversity #NationalAssembly #DemocraticParty #SpecialEnvoy #GlobalAffairs
- Minister of Planning and Budget
  Park Hong-keun
  
  Park Hong-keun is the Minister of Planning and Budget under the Lee Jae-myung administration. He oversees national fiscal operations and budget planning, seeking a balance between expansionary fiscal policy and fiscal soundness amid multiple crises such as high oil prices and inflation triggered by the Middle East conflict. He was born on October 8, 1969, in Goheung, Jeollanam-do. He graduated from Suncheon Hyocheon High School and the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Kyung Hee University, and received a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Graduate School of Public Administration at Kyung Hee University. While serving as president of the student council at Kyung Hee University, he participated in the student movement. As acting chair of the National Association of Student Councils (Jeondaehyup), he led a campaign to defeat candidates from the Democratic Liberal Party. When the Uri Party was dissolved and integration efforts were underway among Democratic Party-affiliated groups, he was in charge of youth affairs at the Future Creation Alliance, a representative civil society organization. He entered politics within the Democratic Party camp while serving as a spokesperson for the United New Democratic Party. He served as a four-term National Assembly member representing Jungnang-eul in Seoul. He also held positions such as senior deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party and head of the Euljiro Committee. He built his capabilities in budget and policy coordination while serving as secretary and chair of the National Assembly Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, as well as senior deputy floor leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party. He is regarded as having strong negotiation skills and drive. #ParkHongkeun #LeeJaeMyungGovernment #KoreanPolitics #BudgetPolicy #FiscalStrategy #NationalAssembly #DemocraticParty #PublicAdministration #EconomicPolicy #PoliticalLeadership
- CEO of SK Oceanplant
  Kang Young-gyu
  
  Kang Young-gyu is the CEO and president of SK Oceanplant. He is leading the company’s leap forward as a “total marine solutions company” covering offshore wind substructures, offshore plants and naval vessel MRO businesses. Through this, he is focusing on raising the value of the company ahead of its sale. He was born on January 17, 1966. He graduated from Pusan National University with a degree in mechanical engineering and worked at LG Electronic Components, now LG Innotek. After working at Hyundai Heavy Industries, he served at Samsung Heavy Industries as head of the Offshore Business Division and head of the Technology Development Division. He joined SK Oceanplant as head of business operations and was appointed CEO in March 2026. He is an expert in offshore and shipbuilding businesses. Over 30 years at Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries, he built leadership experience spanning development and business operations. #KangYounggyu #SKOceanplant #CEO #offshorewind #offshoreplant #navalMRO #marineSolutions #shipbuilding #HyundaiHeavyIndustries #SamsungHeavyIndustries
- CEO of Hyundai Glovis
  Lee Kyoo-bok
  
  Lee Kyoo-bok is the CEO and president of Hyundai Glovis. He is focusing his capabilities on increasing corporate value by introducing new technologies and expanding global logistics hubs. He was born on April 25, 1968, in Busan. He graduated from Nakdong High School in Busan and Seoul National University with a degree in economics. He joined Hyundai Motor and worked as head of the France sales subsidiary, chief financial officer (CFO) of the production subsidiary in the Americas, and head of Hyundai Motor’s Process Innovation Business Division. In 2023, he was appointed CEO of Hyundai Glovis. At Hyundai Motor Group, he laid the foundation for a profitability-focused regional management system overseas. He is an expert in strategic planning. #LeeKyoo-bok #HyundaiGlovis #CEO #HyundaiMotorGroup #globalLogistics #corporateValue #newTechnology #strategicPlanning #regionalManagement #logisticsHubs
- CEO and Vice Chairman of Korea Circuit
  Jang Se-jun
  
  Jang Se-jun is CEO and Vice Chairman of Korea Circuit. He was born in November 1974 as the eldest son among the three children of Chang Hyeong-jin, advisor to Young Poong Group. He graduated from Korea University. He earned a master’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Southern California (USC). He completed an MBA program at Pepperdine University’s business school. He began taking part in company management as an executive director at Signetics, a semiconductor packaging affiliate. After serving as CEO and Vice President of Young Poong Electronics in 2013, he became CEO and Vice Chairman of Korea Circuit in 2016. In 2024, he overcame what had been called “the worst performance in the company’s history” and succeeded in turning the company profitable. He is focusing on shifting the business away from a smartphone-centered PCB structure toward “high-value-added semiconductor package substrates, including FC-BGA.” As a third-generation owner, he is evaluated as having the determination to continue investing in future technologies even during financial crises. #JangSejun #KoreaCircuit #YoungPoongGroup #PCB #semiconductor #FCBGA #packagesubstrate #Signetics #businessstrategy #turnaround
- CEO of JW Pharmaceutical
  Shin Young-seop
  
  Shin Young-seop is the CEO of JW Pharmaceutical. He is accelerating the shift to a research and development-centered business structure while focusing on clinical progress in key pipelines and portfolio expansion. He was born on October 5, 1963. He graduated from Chung-Ang University with a degree in trade and joined JW Pharmaceutical. After serving as branch sales manager, head of the sales division, and head of the pharmaceutical business division, he was appointed CEO in 2017. He is a “one-club man” who has spent nearly 40 years at JW Pharmaceutical and is now in his 10th full year as CEO. Coming from the sales division, he has a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical field. He has earned the trust of the owner family, as shown by his fourth consecutive reappointment in 2026. He is also carrying the burden of judicial risk over a violation of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act. #JWPharmaceutical #ShinYoungseop #pharmaceuticalindustry #RND #drugpipeline #portfolioexpansion #CEOprofile #Koreapharma #clinicaldevelopment #PharmaceuticalAffairsAct
- CEO of Taihan Fiberoptics
  Seol Yoon-suk
  
  Seol Yoon-suk is the CEO of Taihan Fiberoptics. He is focusing on getting ahead of demand from AI data centers, using the optical communications business as a foundation for rebuilding. He is also speeding up efforts to secure a local production base in the United States and shift the business structure toward high-value-added products. He was born on February 28, 1981, as the eldest son of the late Seol Won-ryang, former chairman of Taihan Electric Wire. He graduated from Seoul Daewon Foreign Language High School and Yonsei University with a degree in business administration. After his father suddenly passed away, he joined Taihan Electric Wire and began management training. He served as assistant vice president of the Overseas Sales Group, executive vice president of the Management Support Division, and then vice president of the Strategic Planning Division. In 2011, he rose to vice chairman of Taihan Electric Wire. He later gave up management control in 2013 during the restructuring process. He moved to Taihan Fiberoptics, regained management control through a call option, and stepped to the front line of management when he became CEO in 2024. #SeolYoon-suk #TaihanFiberoptics #CEO #OpticalCommunications #AIDataCenter #USProduction #HighValueProducts #TaihanElectricWire #BusinessRestructuring #KoreanBusiness
- CEO of Shinsegae DF
  Lee Seock-koo
  
  Lee Seock-koo is the CEO of Shinsegae DF. He was brought in as a firefighter to overcome the downturn in the duty-free industry and break the streak of losses. He was born on June 18, 1949, in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. He graduated from Seoul Dongsung High School and the Department of Business Administration at Yonsei University. He began his career at Samsung C&T and worked as a director of planning and management at the company. He later moved to Samsung Corning, where he served as a planning director and as a finance director at its Shenzhen, China subsidiary. After joining Shinsegae Department Store as head of the support division for the department store business, he went on to serve as head of the support division for Shinsegae E-Mart before being appointed CEO of The Chosun Hotel in 2002. He then moved to Starbucks Korea, where he served as CEO for 11 years, and also held positions as CEO of Shinsegae International’s Jaju business division, CEO of Shinsegae Department Store’s New Growth Promotion Committee, and CEO of Shinsegae Live Shopping. He was appointed CEO of Shinsegae DF in October 2025. Just one month after taking office, he decided on a partial withdrawal from Incheon Airport duty-free stores, focusing on improving business efficiency and restructuring. While leading Starbucks Korea for more than 10 years, he became the first in the coffee industry to surpass KRW 1 trillion (US$ 719.4 million) in annual sales. #ShinsegaeDF #LeeSeockkoo #DutyFreeIndustry #StarbucksKorea #RetailLeadership #CorporateTurnaround #IncheonAirport #KoreaBusiness #ExecutiveProfile #Shinsegae
  NEWS
  - • 'Starbucks Magic' Lee Seock-koo Revamps Shinsegae Live Shopping, Targets Key Affiliates
- Chairman of the National Credit Union Federation of Korea
  Ko Young-cheol
  
  Ko Young-cheol is the Chairman of the National Credit Union Federation of Korea. He has focused on improving financial soundness by managing delinquency ratios. He was born in 1959 in Gasa Literary Village-myeon, Damyang County, South Jeolla Province. He graduated from Gwangju Commercial High School and Chosun University, where he majored in accounting. He began his career after joining Hanil Bank. He built his career across both banks and securities firms, including Shinhan Bank and Seoul Securities. He took part in the founding of Gwangju Munhwa Credit Union together with 20 promoters. He was appointed the inaugural chairman of the Gwangju Munhwa Credit Union Welfare Scholarship Foundation. After serving as a standing director and executive managing director of Gwangju Munhwa Credit Union, he was appointed chairman in 2022. He was reappointed in 2024. He was elected chairman of the National Credit Union Federation of Korea in 2026. Starting from hands-on working-level roles, he has a high level of understanding of both on-the-ground operations and the overall financial industry. #KoYoung-cheol #NationalCreditUnionFederationofKorea #CreditUnion #financialsoundness #delinquencymanagement #SouthJeolla #GwangjuMunhwaCreditUnion #Koreanfinance #cooperativefinance #Chairman

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