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

- CEO of Kia
  Song Ho-sung
  
  Song Ho-sung is the CEO of Kia. He is focusing on achieving the “popularization of electric vehicles” by strengthening the electric vehicle lineup while expanding overseas markets. He was born on the 13th day of the 10th lunar month in 1962 in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. He graduated from Jeonju High School and the Department of French Language and Literature at Yonsei University. He began his professional career at Hyundai Motor. He later moved to Kia, where he served as Head of the Export Planning Office, Head of the European Regional Headquarters, and Head of the Global Business Management Division, before being appointed CEO in 2020. He is leading Kia’s transformation in the electric vehicle era by overhauling and replacing the company name, brand philosophy, emblem, and overall corporate identity. He is recognized as an expert in the European market and strategic business fields. #Kia #SongHo-sung #automotiveindustry #electricvehicles #EVstrategy #globalbusiness #Europeanmarket #Koreanautomakers #corporateleadership #brandtransformation
  NEWS
  - • Kia Overcomes the 'EV Chasm,' Song Ho-sung's Affordable EV Strategy Gains Global Momentum
- President of Ajou University
  Choi Kee-choo
  
  Choi Kee-choo is the President of Ajou University. After successfully being reappointed as president, he has gained momentum to push forward Ajou University’s innovation roadmap. He was born on August 22, 1961 (lunar calendar), in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from Wooshin High School in Seoul and Seoul National University’s Department of Civil Engineering. He earned a master’s degree in transportation engineering from Seoul National University Graduate School and a doctorate in transportation planning from the University of Illinois Graduate School in the United States. He worked as a senior research fellow in the Urban Transportation Division at the Seoul Development Institute. After joining Ajou University as a professor in the Department of Environmental and Urban Engineering, he served as head of the TOD-based Sustainable Urban Transportation Research Center. Without going through administrative posts, he was appointed President of Ajou University in 2022. Following his reappointment, he will serve an additional four-year term through 2030. He has served as President of the Korean Society of Transportation, Chairman of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s Bus Industry Development Council, and Chairman of the Metropolitan Transport Commission. He is a full member of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea. #ChoiKeechoo #AjouUniversity #universitypresident #transportationengineering #urbantransportation #TOD #highereducation #Koreanuniversities #engineeringleadership #academicprofile
- Chairman and CEO of TES
  Ju Soong-il
  
  Ju Soong-il is Chairman and CEO of TES. He was born on August 14, 1949. He graduated from Kyungdong High School in Seoul and earned a degree in materials engineering from Hanyang University. In 1975, he joined Samsung Semiconductor (Samsung Electronics), where he worked as head of the manufacturing technology team, before briefly moving to Korea Electronics (KEC Semiconductor). He later joined Hyundai Electronics Industries (SK hynix) as Executive Vice President in charge of HEA and HSA and served as Senior Vice President overseeing manufacturing. In 2002, he founded semiconductor equipment maker TES. After accumulating 25 years of experience solely in semiconductor manufacturing at Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, he founded TES and led the localization of semiconductor equipment. To overcome risks arising from heavy dependence on specific customers and direct exposure to industry cycles, he aims to expand the company’s business scope into venture investment through a private equity fund (PEF) management firm incorporated as a subsidiary. #JuSoongil #TES #semiconductorequipment #SamsungElectronics #SKhynix #semiconductormanufacturing #Koreanentrepreneur #founder #privateequity #ventureinvestment
- CEO of SK Eternix
  Kim Hae-zoong
  
  Kim Hae-zoong is the CEO of SK Eternix. As a top-tier renewable energy developer in South Korea spanning solar power, wind power, ESS, and fuel cells, he is leading the company’s independent growth. He was born on September 12, 1973, in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province. He graduated from Yongmun High School in Gyeonggi Province and the Department of Business Administration at Sogang University, and earned a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Economics at Aalto University in Finland (formerly the Helsinki School of Economics). He joined SK Gas, where he served as head of the Strategy Team and head of the ESS Business Team, before moving to SK D&D, where he worked as an executive in charge of Eco Green and as head of the Energy Solution Division. In March 2024, he was selected as the first leader of SK Eternix, which was established through the spin-off of SK D&D. At SK D&D, he played a leading role in expanding the renewable energy business. After taking office as CEO of SK Eternix, he carried out major projects such as entering the U.S. ESS market, signing large-scale direct PPAs (power purchase agreements), and completing the Pungbaek Wind Power Complex, increasing the company’s potential to firmly establish itself as a specialized power trading company. #KimHaezoong #SKEternix #renewableenergy #ESS #solarpower #windpower #fuelcell #directPPA #powertrading #energydeveloper
- CEO of Rznomics
  Lee Seong-wook
  
  Lee Seong-wook is the CEO of Rznomics. He is accelerating the commercialization of the “RNA replacement enzyme platform” and the clinical development of key pipelines. He was born on February 8, 1963. He graduated from the Department of Microbiology at Seoul National University and earned a master’s degree in microbiology from Seoul National University Graduate School. He received a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Cornell University in the United States. He worked as a researcher at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Duke University Medical Center in the United States. In 1997, he joined Dankook University as a professor of molecular biology. He later served as director of the Nano Sensor Biotech Research Institute within the university and then as director of the Next-Generation Omics Research Institute. In 2017, he founded Rznomics as a university-affiliated company and has since served concurrently as its CEO. In May 2025, he drew attention by signing a US$1.3 billion joint research and technology transfer agreement with Eli Lilly for a hereditary hearing loss treatment. He previously served as president of the Korean Society for Nucleic Acid Research and is currently serving as president of the Korean Society of Gene and Cell Therapy. #LeeSeongwook #Rznomics #RNAreplacementenzyme #RNAtechnology #biotechnology #geneandcelltherapy #hereditaryhearingloss #EliLilly #omics #Koreanbiotech
- CEO of LX Semicon
  Lee Yun-tae
  
  Lee Yun-tae is the CEO of LX Semicon. He is working to expand new businesses such as heat dissipation substrates and microcontroller units (MCUs) in order to restructure a business portfolio that has been heavily focused on display driver ICs (DDIs). He was born on July 19, 1960, in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from Pohang High School in North Gyeongsang Province and the Department of Electrical Engineering at Seoul National University. He earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). He joined Samsung Electronics and held several key positions in the S.LSI Division, including Head of the Mobile Design P/J Group, Head of the Product Planning Team (Executive Vice President), Head of the Image Development Team (Executive Vice President), and Head of the LSI Development Office (Executive Vice President). He later moved to Samsung Display, where he served as Head of the LCD Development Office (Senior Vice President). In 2014, he was appointed CEO of Samsung Electro-Mechanics. In November 2023, he joined LX Semicon as CEO, and in March 2024, he was appointed CEO of LX Semicon. During his six years as CEO of Samsung Electro-Mechanics, he led the company to its best-ever performance through business structure restructuring and bold investment in new businesses, earning him the reputation of a “restructuring expert.” #LeeYunTae #LXSemicon #semiconductor #DDI #MCU #heatdissipationsubstrate #SamsungElectronics #SamsungElectroMechanics #corporaterestructuring #CEO
- CEO of NH NongHyup Bank
  Kang Tae-young
  
  Kang Tae-young is the CEO of NH NongHyup Bank. He is focusing his capabilities on productive finance and the transition to artificial intelligence (AI), while also working to establish internal control systems to prevent financial accidents. He was born on December 20, 1966, in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from Jinju Daea High School and the Department of Animal Science at Konkuk University. He earned a master’s degree in Convergence Information Technology from Konkuk University Graduate School. He joined the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and began his career at NongHyup Bank. He served as Head of the Human Resources Team, Head of the Strategic Planning Group at the General Planning Division, Head of the All One Bank Business Division, Head of the Digital Strategy Division, and Head of the Gangbuk Business Division. While serving as Head of the DT Division, he also held the position of Vice President in charge of Digital Finance at NH Financial Group. In 2024, he was appointed CEO of NH NongHyup Bank. He is leading the digital transformation of NongHyup Bank. #KangTaeYoung #NHNongHyupBank #NongHyupBank #KoreanBanking #DigitalTransformation #AIinFinance #ProductiveFinance #FinancialControl #BankingLeadership #KoreaFinance
  NEWS
  - • NH NongHyup Bank’s Kang Tae-young Enters 4th Internet Bank Race, Targeting Regional Growth and Digital Innovation
- CEO of HVM
  Moon Seung-ho
  
  Moon Seung-ho is the CEO of HVM. Based on advanced metal manufacturing technologies for the space and aerospace industries, he aims to position the company as a core supplier in the space and aerospace ecosystem. He was born in June 1967. He graduated from the Department of Metallurgical Engineering at Inha University. He earned both a master’s degree and a doctoral degree in metallurgical engineering from Seoul National University’s graduate school. He worked as a researcher and later as a research institute director at the Seoul National University Inter-University Research Center for Advanced Materials and at Kista, a Korea–Sweden joint venture robotics research institute. In 2003, he founded Korea Vacuum Metallurgy, now known as HVM. The company is a partner supplying ultra-high-purity special metal materials to Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Its related technologies were also used in Korea’s space launch vehicle, Nuri. Coming from a research background, he focuses on technology-driven management. #MoonSeungho #HVM #advancedmetals #aerospaceindustry #spaceindustry #specialmetals #SpaceXsupplier #NuriRocket #technologydriven #Koreanaerospace
- Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea
  Han Byung-do
  
  Han Byung-do is the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Following former floor leader Kim Byung-kee, he is leading the Democratic Party as its parliamentary commander, taking the lead in handling various reform bills and livelihood-related legislation. He was born in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, in 1967. He graduated from the Department of Journalism and Broadcasting at Wonkwang University. While serving as president of the student council at Wonkwang University, he took part in activities of the National Council of University Student Representatives (NCDUSR), together with Lim Jong-seok, who was then president of the student council at Hanyang University and later served as Chief of Staff to the President. After serving as a member of the 17th National Assembly, he worked as an advisory member of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation and as a member of the Party Affairs Committee of the Democratic United Party. Based on his experience working in Moon Jae-in’s presidential campaign during the 18th and 19th presidential elections, he entered the Blue House as a political secretary. He was later appointed Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, succeeding Jun Byung-hun. In 2024, he was elected to the 22nd National Assembly, achieving his third term. Despite his name, he cannot drink even a single bottle of alcohol, but he maintains wide and close personal relationships with many people. He is also known to be a skilled soccer player. He is widely regarded as having a humble and rational personality. #HanByungdo #DemocraticPartyofKorea #floorleader #NationalAssembly #Koreanpolitics #progressivepolitics #legislation #parliamentaryleadership #politicalprofile #SouthKorea
- CEO of the Construction Division at Samsung C&T
  Oh Se-chul
  
  Oh Se-chul is CEO of the Construction Division at Samsung C&T. In Korea, he is expanding urban redevelopment projects led by the residential brand “Raemian,” while overseas he is working to secure future growth engines by diversifying the portfolio into areas such as solar power and small modular reactors (SMRs). He was born on November 4, 1962, in Busan. He graduated from Busan Haedong High School and the Department of Architecture at Seoul National University. He completed a joint MBA program run by Sungkyunkwan University and Indiana University in the United States. After joining Samsung C&T, he worked as a site manager at overseas projects in Malaysia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. He later served as Head of the Global Procurement Office, Head of the Plant PM Division, and Head of the Plant Business Division, before being appointed CEO of the Construction Division in 2021. In 2024, he became Chairman of Samsung C&T’s Management Committee. He is actively expanding reconstruction and redevelopment projects, focusing on key areas such as Yeouido, Apgujeong-dong, Mok-dong, and Seongsu in Seoul. He is the first CEO with a technical background since the merger with Cheil Industries. He emphasizes communication with on-site workers. He is a regular member of the Construction and Environmental Engineering Division of the Korean Academy of Engineering. #OhSechul #SamsungCT #construction #Raemian #urbanredevelopment #SMR #solarenergy #Koreanexecutive #engineering #infrastructure
  NEWS
  - • Samsung C&T's Urban Redevelopment Wins Near Last Year's Total—Oh Se-chul Aims for 'Raemian' Dominance
  - • Samsung C&T Expands Into Energy, Oh Se-chul Reduces Reliance on Samsung Electronics

Types of Companies