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

- President and CEO of SNT Dynamics
  Park Jae-seok
  
  Park Jae-seok is CEO of SNT Dynamics. He is focusing on technological independence in core defense components and expanding the company’s portfolio in precision machinery and electronic control modules. He is also accelerating efforts to enter global markets, including expanding overseas sales. He was born on November 27, 1959, in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province. He graduated from Baemoon High School in Seoul and earned a degree in German Language and Literature from Yonsei University. At Daewoo Group, he was in charge of quality control for truck manufacturing. He later moved to GC Biopharma, where he worked as a director in charge of public relations. After joining Tongil Heavy Industries, now SNT Dynamics, as executive vice president of the Planning and Coordination Office, he was appointed CEO in 2005. After serving as CEO of SNT Brake, he was selected as CEO of SNT Holdings. In 2021, he returned to SNT Dynamics as CEO and president. He has led the overall defense, machinery and parts businesses while working across SNT Holdings affiliates. #ParkJae-seok #SNTDynamics #SNTGroup #defenseindustry #precisionmachinery #electroniccontrol #defensecomponents #globalmarket #technologyindependence #Koreabusiness
- CEO of Seoul Semiconductor
  Lee Chung-hoon
  
  Lee Chung-hoon is CEO of Seoul Semiconductor. He also serves as CEO of its subsidiary Seoul Viosys. Based on patent competitiveness, he aims to take the lead in the microLED market and turn the company into a global No. 1 player. He is focusing on improving the company’s financial structure by boosting profitability. He was born on January 21, 1953, by the lunar calendar, in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province. He graduated from Korea University with a degree in physics and earned a master’s degree in business administration from Korea University Graduate School. He completed an MBA program at the University of Oklahoma’s business school in the United States. He joined Jeil Precision Industrial and worked as a planning manager. He later moved to Samshin Electric, where he worked as an executive director, and continued serving as vice president even after the company was sold. In 1992, he acquired Seoul Semiconductor. He is a first-generation venture entrepreneur who built the company into a world-class company specializing in light-emitting diodes (LEDs). He values technology and is uncompromising when it comes to protecting patent rights. #LeeChung-hoon #SeoulSemiconductor #SeoulViosys #microLED #LED #patents #ventureentrepreneur #technology #profitability #Koreanbusiness
- Chairman of IBK Industrial Bank of Korea
  Chang Min-young
  
  Chang Min-young is the CEO of IBK Industrial Bank of Korea. As the head of a policy financial institution, he is focusing on strengthening the corporate banking capabilities of the bank and its subsidiaries in line with the government’s shift toward productive finance. In particular, he has devoted efforts to the rapid supply of productive financing and to easing information asymmetry in the KOSDAQ market. He was born on September 23, 1964. He graduated from Daewon High School in Seoul and earned a bachelor’s degree in German Literature from Korea University. He later completed an MBA program at Pennsylvania State University in the United States. Chang joined IBK Industrial Bank of Korea and served as head of the Yeouido Korea Securities Branch. He later worked as head of the IBK Economic Research Institute, head of the Gangbuk Regional Headquarters, and head of the Risk Management Group as an executive vice president. He moved to IBK Asset Management, a subsidiary of IBK Industrial Bank of Korea, and was appointed CEO of IBK Asset Management in 2024. In 2026, he returned to IBK Industrial Bank of Korea as CEO. He is known for his strong understanding of financial markets and his expertise in risk management. #IBKIndustrialBankofKorea #ChangMinyoung #KOSDAQ #CorporateBanking #RiskManagement #ProductiveFinance #IBKAssetManagement #FinancialMarkets #KoreanBanking #PolicyFinance
- CEO of Hyundai Rotem
  Lee Yong-bae
  
  Lee Yong-bae is the CEO of Hyundai Rotem. He is working to expand exports of the company’s main products, tanks and railway vehicles, while developing aerospace and hydrogen as future growth engines. He was born on April 8, 1961. He graduated from Seoul Youngnak Commercial High School and Jeonju University’s Department of Business Administration. He received a master’s degree in financial management from Kyung Hee University’s Graduate School of Business Administration. He joined Hyundai Precision Industry, now Hyundai Mobis, and handled accounting work. He moved to Hyundai Motor and worked as head of the Management Administration Office and head of Planning and Coordination Office 3. He worked at Hyundai Wia as vice president in charge of planning, finance, purchasing and management. After serving as vice president in charge of overall sales at HMC Investment Securities, now Hyundai Motor Securities, he was appointed CEO of HMC Investment Securities in 2017. In 2020, he took office as CEO of Hyundai Rotem. He is credited with leading the company’s turnaround to profitability and rapid earnings growth. He is regarded as one of Hyundai Motor Group’s leading financial experts. #LeeYongbae #HyundaiRotem #HyundaiMotorGroup #defense #railwayvehicles #K2tank #exports #aerospace #hydrogen #CEO
- CEO and President of Iljin Electric
  Yoo Sang-seok
  
  Yoo Sang-seok is the CEO and president of Iljin Electric. He is focusing on targeting the global power market while speeding up the expansion of the company’s new business portfolio into the secondary battery materials industry. He was born on Nov. 13, 1967, in Muan County, South Jeolla Province. He graduated from Sungkyunkwan University with a degree in mechanical engineering and joined Iljin Electric. He worked as head of quality management and head of the transformer business division. He also served as senior managing director and head of the heavy electric equipment business division, and executive vice president and head of the electric wire business division. He was appointed CEO in 2025, just one year after being promoted to COO and vice president. He is an expert in electric wires and power equipment who has worked at Iljin Electric for more than 30 years and led major positions across the company. He joined the company as an entry-level employee and rose to the top management position. He emphasizes “presenting a vision” as the role of a manager. #YooSangseok #IljinElectric #CEO #powerindustry #electricwires #powerequipment #transformer #secondarybattery #batterymaterials #globalpowermarket
- CEO of Woori Investment & Securities
  Nam Ki-cheon
  
  Nam Ki-cheon is the CEO of Woori Investment & Securities. He is working to build a balanced business portfolio by diversifying the company’s product lineup, which has been centered on bonds, into stocks and global solutions. He aims to expand the company’s scale and help it grow into a comprehensive financial investment business operator. He was born on April 20, 1964, in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from Daedong High School in Busan and Seoul National University’s Department of Business Administration. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Seoul National University’s graduate school and completed an MBA program at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley in the United States. He began his career at Daewoo Securities. He served as head of Daewoo Securities’ London subsidiary and as managing director in charge of proprietary asset management. In 2016, he moved to Multi Asset Global Investments, formerly KDB Asset Management and a subsidiary of Mirae Asset Global Investments, where he served as CEO in charge of overall asset management. He was appointed CEO of Woori Asset Management and later named CEO of Woori Investment Bank. In 2024, when Woori Investment Bank merged with Foss Securities and relaunched as Woori Investment & Securities, he took office as its first CEO. He was reappointed in 2026. He is an alternative investment expert who has worked at securities firms and asset management companies for more than 20 years, and he is the first outside executive recommended by Woori Financial Group Chairman Yim Jong-yong. He invests boldly when he spots an opportunity. #NamKiCheon #WooriInvestmentSecurities #WooriFinancialGroup #CEO #securities #assetmanagement #alternativeinvestment #portfolio #globalinvestment #financialinvestment
- Chairman of Hyosung Group and CEO of Hyosung
  Cho Hyun-joon
  
  Cho Hyun-joon is chairman of Hyosung Group. He also serves as CEO of Hyosung, the group’s holding company. He was born on January 16, 1968, in Haman County, South Gyeongsang Province, as the eldest of the three sons of Cho Suck-rai, former honorary chairman of Hyosung Group. He graduated from St. Paul’s School in the United States and Yale University, where he studied political science. He earned a master’s degree in political science from the graduate school of Keio University in Japan. He began his career at Mitsubishi Corporation, worked at Morgan Stanley, and then joined Hyosung. He served as vice president of the Strategy Division and head of the Trading Performance Group. After being promoted to president, he concurrently served as head of the Trading Performance Group and the Textile Performance Group. In 2009, he was appointed CEO of Hyosung affiliate Epiplus. After concurrently serving as head of Hyosung’s Textile Performance Group and Information & Communication Performance Group, he became chairman of Hyosung Group and CEO of Hyosung in 2017. He oversees the business strategies of affiliates and is focused on ESG management. He is fluent in English and Japanese. He is an all-around sportsman and shows a strong competitive spirit. #ChoHyunjoon #HyosungGroup #Hyosung #CEO #ESGManagement #KoreanBusinessLeader #TextileIndustry #TradingBusiness #CorporateStrategy #BusinessBiography
  NEWS
  - • Cho Hyun-joon Faces Debt Crisis at Hyosung Chemical, Key Test for Group Stability
- President and CEO of Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC)
  Son Joo-suk
  
  Son Joo-suk is the President and CEO of Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC). He has focused on restoring trust while overcoming a complex crisis involving complete capital impairment and controversy surrounding the Daewanggorae offshore gas project. He was born on October 9, 1960, in Imsil, North Jeolla Province. He graduated from Jeonju High School in North Jeolla Province and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from Kyung Hee University. He began his political career as a secretary to Lim Chun-won, a lawmaker from the Peace Democratic Party. During the 16th presidential election, he served as administrative team head at the Millennium Democratic Party’s presidential planning group and later as head of administrative support at Roh Moo-hyun’s election campaign committee under the National Participation Headquarters. After the Roh Moo-hyun administration took office, he served as Managing Director of the Environmental Management Corporation, now the Korea Environment Corporation, before being appointed Chairman in 2006. He later worked as regional committee chairman for the Sosa district of Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, under the United Democratic Party. After the Lee Myung-bak administration was launched, he left politics and public office and worked as an advisor to the civil engineering and environment division of Hanwha Engineering & Construction and as a visiting professor at Shinsung University. Under the Moon Jae-in administration, he was appointed Chairman of the Korea Petroleum Quality & Distribution Authority. The Lee Jae-myung administration brought him back into public service in March 2026 by appointing him President and CEO of Korea National Oil Corporation. #SonJoo-suk #KNOC #KoreaNationalOilCorporation #DaewanggoraeProject #KoreanEnergy #LeeJaeMyung #MoonJaein #RohMoohyun #KoreaPetroleum #EnergyPolicy
- CEO of Cosmo Advanced Materials.
  Hong Dong-hwan
  
  Hong Dong-hwan is the CEO of Cosmo Advanced Materials. He has been focusing on securing global production bases for secondary battery materials and completing vertical integration. He was born on July 26, 1959. He graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in metallurgical engineering. He joined LG Metals. He later moved to LG Cable, where he was in charge of the copper foil business and served as a plant manager. He joined Cosmo Chemical as a managing director and was appointed CEO of Cosmo Fine Chemical, now Cosmo Catalyst, in 2009. After serving as executive vice president in charge of production and sales at Cosmo Chemical, he was selected as CEO of Cosmo Advanced Materials in 2014. He is an engineer by background who has worked in the metal materials sector for nearly 40 years. He is credited with increasing corporate value through efforts to improve the company’s business structure. #CosmoAdvancedMaterials #HongDonghwan #secondarybattery #batterymaterials #EVbattery #verticalintegration #metalmaterials #CosmoChemical #batteryindustry #Kbattery
- CEO of EcoPro Materials
  Lee Kyu-bong
  
  Lee Kyu-bong is the CEO of EcoPro Materials. He is focusing on vertically integrating the supply chain for secondary battery precursors and strengthening profitability. He is also moving quickly to diversify global customers. He was born on April 7, 1970. He graduated from Hanyang University’s Department of Inorganic Materials Engineering and worked at Samsung SDI’s research institute, including as a general manager in strategic planning. After leaving Samsung SDI, where he had worked for 23 years, he joined EcoPro Group. He worked as head of research planning (executive director) at EcoPro BM and head of business operations (executive vice president) at EcoPro EM. After serving as vice president and chief operating officer (COO) at EcoPro Materials, he was appointed CEO of EcoPro Materials in March 2026. He is an expert in secondary battery materials. #LeeKyubong #EcoProMaterials #EcoPro #secondarybattery #batterymaterials #precursor #supplychain #verticalintegration #SamsungSDI #EVbattery

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