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

- Founder of GemVax&KAEL
  Kim Sang-jae
  
  Kim Sang-jae is the founder of GemVax&KAEL (hereinafter referred to as GemVax). After stepping down as CEO in 2024, he has remained as an advisor. He is focusing on leading the KRW 20 trillion (US$ 14.4 billion) market for neurodegenerative disease treatments. He was born on December 5, 1966. He graduated from Kyung Sung High School in Seoul and Hanyang University College of Medicine. He studied spinal neurology at the University of Southern California in the United States and received both his master's and doctoral degrees in cellular physiology from Hanyang University Graduate School. In 1995, he ran a clinic specializing in pediatric scoliosis in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul. In 2005, he founded the Korea Stem Cell Bank, which extracts and stores stem cells. While searching for air filters for stem cell cultivation, he acquired KAEL, a KOSDAQ-listed semiconductor filter manufacturer, in 2007. In October 2008, he acquired GEMVAX, a Norwegian biotechnology company owned by the Danish biopharmaceutical firm Pharmexa, and became CEO. For 17 years, he has focused on developing the new drug candidate ‘GV1001.’ He is expanding its application to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis (MS). #KimSangjae #GemVax #GV1001 #neurodegenerativedisease #Alzheimers #Parkinsons #stemcells #biotechstartup #Koreanbiotech #pharmaceuticals
- CEO of JSC
  Park Sung-sik
  
  Park Sung-sik is the president and CEO of Jeju Semiconductor. He is the founder of Jeju Semiconductor, a fabless memory company. He is actively working to expand the market for memory semiconductors used in mobile and 5G-based Internet of Things (IoT) applications. He was born on July 12, 1961. He graduated from the Department of Electronic Engineering at Nihon University in Japan. He began his career at Samsung Electronics, where he worked in the Memory Division for 15 years. Sensing the potential of the low-capacity memory semiconductor market, he founded Apems Technology (now Jeju Semiconductor) in 2000. In 2005, he relocated the company’s headquarters from Seoul to Jeju, and in 2013, the company was renamed Jeju Semiconductor. He also oversees Donghaeng Lottery, a subsidiary engaged in the national lottery business. #ParkSungSik #JejuSemiconductor #MemoryChip #Fabless #IoT #5G #KoreanSemiconductor #StartupFounder #SamsungAlumni #TechLeadership
- CEO of Duk San Neolux
  Lee Su-hun
  
  Lee Su-hun is the chief executive officer of Duksan Neolux and also serves as chairman within the Duksan Holdings group. He concurrently holds CEO positions at Duksan Holdings, Duksan Hi-Metal, and Duksan EtherCT. He is actively pursuing business diversification for Duksan Neolux, including the acquisition of Hyundai Heavy Industries Turbo Machinery. While pushing for the diversification of OLED materials and expansion of production capacity, he is also tightening focus on the company's existing OLED materials business. Born on January 10, 1976, Lee is the eldest son of Lee Joon-ho, the founder of Duksan Group. He is a second-generation business leader who inherited control of the Duksan Holdings group. He studied History Education at Korea University and received a master's degree from the Graduate School of International Studies at the same university. After working in the Corporate Planning Office at Dongbu Anam Semiconductor, he joined Duksan Hi-Metal in 2007. In 2019, he became CEO of Duksan Neolux, followed by CEO roles at Duksan Hi-Metal and Duksan Nepcores. He resigned from the CEO posts at Duksan Neolux and Duksan Hi-Metal and became chairman of the Duksan Holdings group in 2023. In 2024, as part of efforts to strengthen management and leadership accountability, he returned as CEO of both Duksan Neolux and Duksan Hi-Metal. He is known for his humility and servant leadership, avoiding rigid authoritative structures. He values people above all in corporate management, believing that 90 percent of failures and 100 percent of successes in business stem from people. #LeeSuHun #DuksanNeolux #OLEDmaterials #BusinessDiversification #ServantLeadership #KoreanBusiness #SecondGenerationLeadership
- Governor of South Gyeongsang Province
  Kim Koung-soo
  
  Kim Koung-soo is the former Governor of South Gyeongsang Province. As the nation enters the phase of the early presidential election in April 2025, he is being mentioned as a non-Lee Jae-myung presidential candidate within the Democratic Party of Korea. He has made efforts toward the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, including going on a hunger strike. He is preparing to run in the party’s primary for the presidential nomination, aiming to achieve meaningful results. He resigned from his post as governor after being convicted for his involvement in the "Druking online comment manipulation scandal." After being imprisoned, he was granted a special pardon and reinstatement of rights under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, and subsequently rejoined the Democratic Party of Korea. He was born on December 1, 1967, in Yong-an-ri, Gaecheon-myeon, Goseong-gun, South Gyeongsang Province. In the sixth grade at Goseong Elementary School, he transferred to Jinju, where he later graduated from Dongmyeong High School. While attending the Department of Anthropology at Seoul National University, he participated in student activism and was arrested three times. He was later recognized as a person of merit in the democratization movement. Entering politics, he worked as an aide to National Assembly members Shin Gye-ryun, Yoo Seon-ho, and Lim Chae-jung. During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, he served as a secretary in the Blue House, assisting with election strategies and speech writing. After former President Roh Moo-hyun’s retirement, he followed him to Bongha Village and supported him, earning the nickname "President Roh’s last secretary." He was considered a close confidant of former President Moon Jae-in. He is known for being calm, gentle, and passionate in carrying out his duties. #KimKoungsoo #SouthGyeongsang #DemocraticPartyKorea #2025Election #YoonSukyeol #MoonJaein #RohMoohyun #DrukingScandal #KoreanPolitics #PresidentialCandidate
- CEO of Infobank
  Park Tai-hyung
  
  Park Tai-hyung is the President and CEO of Infobank. He is the founder of Infobank, a company specializing in enterprise mobile messaging services. He aims to transform Infobank into an "AI solutions" company. He was born on April 1, 1957, in Seoul. He graduated from Kyunggi High School in Seoul, earned a bachelor's degree in Energy Resources Engineering from Seoul National University, and received a master's degree in Industrial Engineering from the graduate school at Seoul National University. He also completed an MBA program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. He built his career as Senior Deputy Branch Manager at the Korea branch of Bankers Trust and founded Infobank independently in 1995, becoming its President and CEO. He was the first in Korea to develop SMS services that notify users of credit card approvals and bank deposits/withdrawals, as well as text voting services during live TV and radio broadcasts. #ParkTaihyung #Infobank #AIsolutions #mobilemessaging #Koreanentrepreneurs #techfounder #enterpriseIT #WhartonMBA #SNUalumni #Koreaninnovation
- CEO of Hanwha Aerospace
  Son Jae-il
  
  Son Jae-il is the CEO of Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems. He is leading the integration of Hanwha Group’s land, sea, and air defense businesses. He is focusing on securing defense export contracts and building local production facilities to expand global sales. He was born in Daegu on March 5, 1965. He graduated from Yeongjin High School in Daegu and majored in Business Administration at Korea University. He began his career at Korea Explosives (now Hanwha) and has since worked exclusively within the Hanwha Group. He served as Executive Director of Hanwha’s Explosives Division and Managing Director of Hanwha Techwin’s Defense Business Division before being appointed CEO of Hanwha Land Systems in 2017. In 2020, he became CEO of Hanwha Defense, the unit overseeing Hanwha Group’s entire defense business, solidifying his reputation as a defense industry expert. He was appointed CEO of Hanwha Aerospace in 2022 and CEO of Hanwha Systems in 2024. He also serves as President of the Korea Space Technology Promotion Association. #SonJaeil #HanwhaAerospace #HanwhaSystems #HanwhaGroup #defenseindustry #Koreandefense #spacetechnology #KoreanCEOs #armsintegration #defenseexports
  NEWS
  - • Hanwha Aerospace Set to Surpass KRW 1 Trillion in Operating Profit as CEO Son Jae-il Accelerates Defense Growth
- CEO of Shinhan Card
  Park Chang-hun
  
  Park Chang-hun is the President and CEO of Shinhan Card. He is focusing on transforming Shinhan Card into a platform company, with "change" and "innovation" as the key themes. He also faces the challenge of reclaiming the top spot in net profit in the card industry, a position that was lost after ten years. He was born on May 5, 1968. He graduated from Jinju High School in South Gyeongsang Province and studied Political Science and Diplomacy at Yonsei University. He joined LG Card and worked as Head of Sales Planning Team, among other roles. After Shinhan Card acquired LG Card, he held various positions at Shinhan Card including Head of Big Data Marketing Team, Head of Court 9 Task Force, Head of New Growth Division, Head of Life Business Division, Head of DNA Business Promotion Division (Executive Director), and Head of Payment Group (Executive Director). He was appointed as President of Shinhan Card in 2025. He is the second CEO to be promoted from within the company. He is the figure behind the "bold promotion" from executive director to CEO. Having worked in key departments related to digital and sales, he was chosen as the right person to lead the transformation into a platform company. He is regarded as a “new business expert” at Shinhan Card. With over 30 years of experience in the card industry, he possesses a deep understanding of the entire card business. #ShinhanCard #ParkChangHun #creditcardindustry #platformbusiness #digitaltransformation #KoreaFinance #CEOpromotion #YonseiUniversity #LGCard #KoreanCEOs
- President of the University of Ulsan
  Oh Yeon-cheon
  
  Oh Yeon-cheon is the President of the University of Ulsan. He is currently serving his third consecutive term, with his tenure set to run until February 2027. He is strengthening the university’s status as a glocal (global + local) institution and is focused on building a model for regional and industrial co-growth. He was born in 1951 in Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do. He graduated from the Department of Political Science at Seoul National University. He earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees in financial management from the graduate school of New York University in the United States. He briefly worked in public service after passing the 17th Higher Civil Service Examination, but returned to Korea after completing his studies in the U.S. and was appointed as a professor at Seoul National University. He served as Dean of the Graduate School of Public Administration and later as President of Seoul National University. He was also the first Chairman of the Board of Seoul National University after it became a national university corporation. He was a distinguished professor at Stanford University in the United States before being appointed President of the University of Ulsan. Externally, he served as Chair of the Policy Deliberation Committee at the Ministry of Information and Communication, Chairman of the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology under the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Chair of the Industrial Development Committee, and Chair of the Judicial Policy Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court. During his presidency at Seoul National University, he led the institution’s corporatization process. While he is widely respected as a scholar in the field of financial management, he has also been recognized as a university administration expert, having served as a university president for nearly 15 years. He was appointed the first three-term president in the history of the University of Ulsan, having led the university into the Glocal University 30 initiative and improved its performance in global university rankings, thereby significantly raising its status and capabilities. #OhYeoncheon #UniversityofUlsan #Koreanuniversity #glocaluniversity #SNU #financialmanagement #universitypresident #highereducation #Ulsan #Koreanscholar
- CEO of KSOE
  Kim Sung-joon
  
  Kim Sung-joon is the Vice President and CEO of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE). He is focusing on gaining a competitive edge in the future shipbuilding industry through orders for eco-friendly vessels and the development of autonomous navigation technologies. HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering is an intermediate holding company under the HD Hyundai Group. It has under its umbrella the three major shipbuilding companies: HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, HD Hyundai Samho, and HD Hyundai Mipo. He was born on June 5, 1970. He graduated from Joongdong High School in Seoul and earned a bachelor's degree in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering from Seoul National University. He also obtained a master's degree in the same field from Seoul National University Graduate School and a Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. After serving as a partner at Boston Consulting Group in the United States, he joined Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2016 as an executive director in charge of technology planning and quality planning within the Planning Team. In 2018, he served as head of the Planning and Synergy Promotion Division at Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, and later as head of the Future Technology Research Institute, before being promoted to Vice President and CEO of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering in 2023. He is regarded as a key figure to lead technological and managerial innovation within HD Hyundai Group, which is solidifying the third-generation ownership system under Chung Ki-sun. #KimSungjoon #HDKoreaShipbuilding #HDHyundaiGroup #shipbuildingindustry #autonomousships #greenenergy #MITalumni #futuretechnology #ChungKisun #SouthKoreaindustry
- CEO of AhnLab
  Kang Suk-kyoon
  
  Kang Suk-kyoon is the CEO of AhnLab. As the company marks its 30th anniversary, he is aiming to elevate it to a world-class enterprise. He was born on September 22, 1960. He graduated from the Department of English Language and Literature at Korea University and completed the MBA program at the Helsinki School of Economics in Finland. He worked as a senior executive at Accenture’s Financial Services Group before moving to Kolon Benit, where he served as managing director. He then joined IBM Korea, where he led the Financial Services Sales Division and later served as head of the Storage Business Division. He also led solution sales at Benit and was country manager of Informatica Korea before joining AhnLab in 2013. He served as Executive Vice President of the Business Division, then as Vice President of EP and EPN Business Units, before being appointed CEO and President in 2020. As a management expert with experience in key positions at domestic and international IT companies and global consulting firms, he has led AhnLab’s business diversification and global expansion. #KangSukkyoon #AhnLab #cybersecurity #KoreanIT #CEO #globalexpansion #businessdiversification #Accenture #IBM #KoreaUniversity

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