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

- President of Korea Securities Depository
  Lee Yoon-soo
  
  Lee Yoon-soo is president of Korea Securities Depository. He is focusing on building infrastructure for digital assets, including token securities. He is also accelerating preparations for the transition infrastructure required for a shorter stock settlement cycle of T+1. He was born in 1969. He graduated from Gwangseong High School in Incheon and Seoul National University with a degree in international economics. He later completed an MBA program at the University of Florida in the United States. After passing the 39th Higher Civil Service Examination, he began his public-service career as a deputy director at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. He moved to the Financial Supervisory Commission, where he served in positions including head of the Financial Market Analysis Division, Insurance Division and Banking Division. After serving as head of the Capital Market Investigation Unit and director general of the Capital Markets Bureau, he served as commissioner of the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and standing commissioner of the Securities and Futures Commission. He was appointed president of Korea Securities Depository in 2026. He is a capital-market policy expert from the Financial Services Commission. He emphasizes “professional ties,” or relationships formed through work. He previously served as an administrative officer in the Office of the Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs under President Lee Myung-bak and also worked on President Park Geun-hye’s presidential transition committee.
- President and CEO of Shinyoung Securities
  Geum Jung-ho
  
  Geum Jung-ho is president and CEO of Shinyoung Securities. He leads Shinyoung Securities under a co-CEO structure with President and CEO Kim Dae-il, with Geum overseeing investment banking (IB) and Kim heading wealth management (WM). He is working to develop investment banking into one of the company’s core growth engines while maintaining its conservative risk management approach. He was born on January 4, 1966. He graduated from Shinil High School in Seoul and Yonsei University with a degree in business administration. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Yonsei University’s graduate school. He entered the financial investment industry by joining Tong Yang Merchant Bank. He worked as head of the bond underwriting team at Korea Investment & Securities, head of the IB team at Bridge Securities and head of the corporate finance team at Dongbu Securities. He moved to Shinyoung Securities as a director in the Investment Banking Department. He later led the company’s investment banking business while serving as an executive in charge of the IB Coverage Group, a director in the Corporate Finance Department, an executive and division head in charge of IB, and head of IB. After serving as head of IB, he was promoted to president and appointed co-CEO in 2025. He has pursued a strategy of developing a broad range of businesses—including initial public offerings (IPOs), debt capital markets (DCM), structured finance, real estate finance and private equity—rather than concentrating the company’s capabilities on a particular investment banking field.
- CEO of L&F
  Heo Jae-hong
  
  Heo Jae-hong is the CEO of L&F. He also serves as chairman of the board of directors. He was born on November 24, 1976, as the second of three children, two sons and one daughter, of Heo Jeon-soo, chairman of Seronics. He graduated from Yonsei University with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and earned a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Southern California (USC) in the United States. He worked at LG.Philips' LCD Research Center. After joining L&F's research center, he moved to Seronics, where he became a director. After his father, Chairman Heo Jeon-soo, died in 2010, Heo became CEO of Seronics and also took the helm of L&F. After stepping down as CEO, he served as chairman of the board before returning to frontline management in 2026. He is seeking to turn around the company's performance by focusing on high-nickel cathode materials and non-Chinese LFP cathode materials. At the same time, he is also focusing on diversifying the company's customer base to improve its overly dependent revenue structure. He is a fourth-generation owner-manager of the broader GS family. #HeoJaeHong #L&F #Seronics #cathodematerials #highnickel #LFP #batteryindustry #customerdiversification #GSfamily #electricvehiclebatteries
  NEWS
  - • L&F’s Expanding Investments Deepen Heo Jae-hong’s Control Dilemma
- CEO of Jeil Construction
  Heo Man-gong
  
  Heo Man-gong is CEO of Jeil Construction. He leads Jeil Construction under a co-CEO structure with CEO Kim Kyung-soo. He is responsible for the housing and development businesses of Jeil Construction, which has grown by utilizing public housing sites and project financing vehicles (PFVs). He was born on February 11, 1965. In 2014, he became CEO of real estate development company Youngwoo Holdings. He later moved to Jeil Construction, where he served as an executive director. In August 2023, he was appointed CEO of Jeil Construction. #HeoMan-gong #JeilConstruction #KimKyung-soo #realestate #housing #propertydevelopment #publichousingsites #PFV #construction #CEO
- CEO of Daelim
  Jeong In
  
  Jeong In is the CEO of Daelim. He leads the unlisted company at the top of DL Group's governance structure, focusing on adjusting the business portfolio, reorganizing the governance structure, and securing profitability in its own businesses, including trading and materials. He was born in 1973. He graduated from Chosun University with a degree in history. He handled investigation and inspection work at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. He joined Daelim Industrial, now DL E&C, in a management diagnosis role. He served as head of the Compliance Management Office and was appointed CEO of Daelim in DL Group's 2026 executive reshuffle announced in 2025. He is an uncommon professional manager with a background as a prosecution service official. Translator's note: The original text begins with "정인Jeong In은," which appears to contain the English name inserted into the Korean sentence. It was interpreted as "정인은." #JeongIn #Daelim #DLGroup #DLEnC #corporategovernance #businessportfolio #compliancemanagement #trading #materials #professionalmanager
- Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea
  Kim Min-seok
  
  Kim Min-seok is the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. He is working to support the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration and lay the groundwork for victory in the 2028 general election by promoting unity within the party and expanding its support base under an agenda focused on people’s livelihoods, pragmatism and unity. He was born on May 29, 1964, in Singil-dong, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul. He graduated from Soongsil High School in Seoul and Seoul National University with a degree in sociology. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School in the United States and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the graduate school of Tsinghua University in China. He received a doctorate in law from Rutgers University–Newark in the United States. While attending university, he served as president of the Seoul National University Student Council and president of the National Student Association. He was imprisoned after being identified as the mastermind behind the occupation of the U.S. Cultural Center. He entered politics after being recruited by former President Kim Dae-jung. He ran in the 1992 National Assembly election but was defeated. In the 1996 general election, he ran in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo B constituency as a candidate of the National Congress for New Politics and was elected. He won re-election in the 2000 general election. He served as chief of staff to Kim Dae-jung, then president of the Millennium Democratic Party. Ahead of the 16th presidential election, he left the Millennium Democratic Party and served as co-chair of the election campaign committee for Chung Mong-joon, the presidential candidate of National Integration 21. He left National Integration 21 in 2003 and returned to the Millennium Democratic Party. He ran in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo B constituency and was elected in the 2020 and 2024 general elections. As a senior Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, he served as a standing co-chair of Lee Jae-myung’s election campaign committee in the 2025 presidential election. After serving as the first prime minister of the Lee Jae-myung administration, he was elected leader of the Democratic Party of Korea in August 2026, cementing his position as a key leader of the ruling bloc. Translator's note: The opening phrase “김민석Kim Min-seok은” appears to contain a duplication or editing error combining the Korean and English names. It was interpreted as “김민석은.” #KimMinseok #DemocraticPartyofKorea #LeeJaemyung #SouthKoreaPolitics #PrimeMinister #NationalAssembly #Yeongdeungpo #2028GeneralElection #PoliticalLeadership #RulingParty
- Chairman of the Board of Naver
  Lee Hae-jin
  
  Lee Hae-jin is chairman of the board of directors of Naver. He also serves as chairman of A Holdings, a Japanese joint venture between Naver and SoftBank. He is focusing on strengthening Naver's competitiveness and expanding its global influence in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). He was born in Seoul on June 22, 1967. He graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in computer engineering and earned a master's degree in computer science from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). He joined Samsung SDS and worked there before founding Navercom in 1999. After merging with Hangame, founded by Kakao founder Kim Beom-su, to launch NHN, he served as chief strategy officer (CSO) and chairman of the board. When Hangame was spun off as NHN Entertainment, the company changed its name to Naver. After serving as chairman of the board and global investment officer, he returned as chairman in 2025. He is seeking new growth engines amid the transition to AI. Despite his meticulous personality and calm image, he is cool-headed and bold when decisions need to be made. He is not afraid to take risks. #LeeHaejin #Naver #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #SoftBank #AHoldings #NHN #GlobalInvestment #DigitalInnovation #TechnologyLeadership
  NEWS
  - • 'Reclusive Leader' Lee Hae-jin Returns as Naver Board Chairman After 7 Years, Leading AI Competitiveness
- CEO of LX Pantos
  Lee Yong-ho
  
  Lee Yong-ho is the CEO and president of LX Pantos. He is focusing on expanding logistics infrastructure in North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. He was born in March 1964. He graduated from the Department of German Language and Literature at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and completed an MBA program at Erasmus University in the Netherlands. He worked at U.S. logistics company UPS and German logistics company DHL. After joining LX Pantos, then known as Pantos Logistics, he served as head of the Overseas Business Division and head of the Forwarding Business Division. He was appointed CEO of LX Pantos in 2023. Two years after taking office as CEO, he was promoted to president in recognition of his contributions to expanding the company’s overseas business and strengthening its business competitiveness. He is a “logistics expert” with experience at logistics companies both in Korea and abroad. #LeeYongho #LXPantos #logistics #globalLogistics #freightForwarding #supplyChain #NorthAmerica #Europe #SoutheastAsia #logisticsInfrastructure
- President and CEO of Chong Kun Dang Holdings
  ChoiI Hee-nam
  
  Choi Hee-nam is President and CEO of Chong Kun Dang Holdings. He is working to build a foundation for future growth by actively expanding investments across Chong Kun Dang Group. He was born on November 15, 1960, in Seoul. He graduated from Baemoon High School and Hanyang University with a bachelor's degree in economics. He earned a master's degree in securities and finance from Hanyang University and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pittsburgh in the United States. He entered public service after passing the 29th Higher Civil Service Examination and worked at the Ministry of Finance and Economy as director of the Industrial Economy Division, Policy Planning Division, Foreign Exchange Funds Division, and International Finance Division. At the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, he served as head of the G20 Planning Group and director-general of the International Financial Cooperation Bureau, before serving as director-general of the International Finance Policy Bureau and Deputy Minister for International Affairs. He later served as an Executive Director at the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before being appointed CEO of the Korea Investment Corporation in 2018. In March 2024, he was recruited as CEO of Chong Kun Dang Holdings. A former economic bureaucrat, Choi is an international finance expert who accumulated extensive experience in international financial affairs and also built a distinguished career in the financial sector. #ChoiHeenam #ChongKunDangHoldings #ChongKunDangGroup #internationalfinance #KoreaInvestmentCorporation #WorldBank #IMF #economicbureaucrat #corporateinvestment #futuregrowth
- President and CEO of NH NongHyup Life Insurance
  Park Byung-hee
  
  Park Byung-hee is President and CEO of NH NongHyup Life Insurance. He was born on November 13, 1966, in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from Cheonggu High School in Daegu and earned a bachelor's degree in history from Kyung Hee University. He received a master's degree in Western history from the graduate school of Kyung Hee University. He joined the NongHyup Central Union. He served as head of the North Gyeongsang Regional Guarantee Center at NH NongHyup Bank and deputy director of the Audit Department at NongHyup Agribusiness Group. At the NongHyup Central Union, he served as head of the Mutual Finance Consumer Protection Department and head of the Mutual Finance Risk Management Department. He later moved to NH NongHyup Bank, where he served as head of the Daegu Sales Headquarters and head of the Daegu Regional Headquarters. He then moved to NH NongHyup Life Insurance as vice president in charge of the Agricultural and Livestock Cooperatives Business Division. In January 2025, he was appointed President and CEO of NH NongHyup Life Insurance. During his career within the NongHyup organization, he has gained broad experience in business support, auditing, mutual finance risk management, and regional sales. #ParkByunghee #NHNongHyupLifeInsurance #NongHyup #NongHyupCentralUnion #NHNongHyupBank #insurance #mutualfinance #riskmanagement #financialservices #leadership

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