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

- Vice Chairman and CEO of KC Tech
  Yang Ho-keun
  
  Yang Ho-keun is vice chairman and CEO of KC Tech. He leads the company under a co-CEO system with President and CEO Choi Dong-gyu, overseeing the semiconductor equipment division and overall management. He was born on April 26, 1963. He graduated from the Department of Economics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. After working at Samsung Electronics for 24 years, he joined TCK as vice president. He later served as vice president of the display business division at KC Innovation, formerly KPC, before being appointed CEO in 2014. He served as co-CEO of KC alongside Chairman Koh Suk-tae, the company’s owner, and was appointed CEO of KC Tech in 2021. He is working to strengthen the company’s competitiveness in semiconductor equipment by focusing on its CMP equipment and slurry businesses. #YangHokeun #KCTech #semiconductor #semiconductorequipment #CMPequipment #CMPslurry #SamsungElectronics #KCInnovation #TCK #businessleadership
- CEO of Pemtron
  Yoo Young-woong
  
  Yoo Young-woong is the CEO of Pemtron. He is accelerating the company’s growth amid the explosive expansion of the artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor market. He was born in May 1971. He graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University and earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). He worked as a researcher at Hyundai Motor and later at companies including Medison. In 2002, he founded Pemtron, which manufactures inspection equipment for surface-mount technology (SMT) and semiconductor processes. He has a keen eye for market trends and strong crisis management skills. #YooYoungwoong #Pemtron #AIsemiconductors #semiconductorequipment #inspectionequipment #SMT #KAIST #HyundaiMotor #Medison #crisismanagement
- Chairman of the National Pension Service
  Kim Sung-joo
  
  Kim Sung-joo is the chairman of the National Pension Service. He was born on April 10, 1964, in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. He graduated from Jeonju High School and the Department of Korean History at Seoul National University. After working as a civic activist, he joined Roh Moo-hyun’s presidential campaign and entered politics by serving as a member of the North Jeolla Provincial Council. He was elected to the 19th National Assembly as a member of the Democratic United Party, now the Democratic Party of Korea. While serving on the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee, he focused on the national pension system and welfare policies and supported the relocation of the National Pension Service headquarters and its Fund Management Center to the Jeonbuk Innovation City. In the election for the 20th National Assembly, he lost to Chung Dong-young, a candidate from the People’s Party. He later helped develop the framework for welfare pledges in Moon Jae-in’s presidential campaign. He was appointed chairman of the National Pension Service under the Moon Jae-in administration. He stepped down before completing his term to run in a general election and was subsequently elected to the 21st National Assembly. Under the Lee Jae-myung administration, he was appointed the 19th chairman of the National Pension Service. He is now leading the organization for a second time, becoming the first person in its history to serve twice as chairman. Note: The source text appears to contain a formatting error in “김성주Kim Sung-joo,” where the Korean and English names are written together without a space. #KimSungjoo #NationalPensionService #NPS #SouthKorea #PensionReform #PublicPension #FundManagement #WelfarePolicy #KoreanPolitics #LeeJaemyungAdministration
- CEO of YEST
  Jang Dong-bok
  
  Jang Dong-bok is the CEO of YEST. He is working to develop YEST into a global total solution equipment provider through a diversified portfolio spanning semiconductors, displays, and environmental safety materials. He was born in April 1969 in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. He graduated from Chuncheon High School and Incheon Polytechnic College, now JEI University. He worked in the semiconductor industry at companies including Sejong Semiconductor and KC Tech. In 2000, he founded Youngin Tech, the predecessor of YEST. He is one of the founders of Korea’s materials, parts, and equipment industry who helped localize semiconductor and display manufacturing equipment. #JangDongbok #YEST #semiconductors #displayequipment #manufacturingequipment #environmentalsafety #materialscomponentsandequipment #equipmentlocalization #YounginTech #Koreanentrepreneur
- President of Changwon National University
  Park Min-won
  
  Park Min-won is the president of Changwon National University. He is pursuing university innovation with the goal of "developing the university into a prestigious glocal institution and aligning academic cooperation with regional industries." He was born in Masan, South Gyeongsang Province, in 1970. He graduated from the Department of Electrical Engineering at Changwon National University and earned a master's degree from the university's graduate school. He received a doctorate in electrical engineering from Osaka University in Japan. He worked as the technical team leader of the Next-Generation Superconductivity Application Technology Development Project Group at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute. He began his academic career as a full-time lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Changwon National University in 2004 and became a professor in 2015. He served as head of the Creative Human Resources Development Project Group for Mechatronics and director of the Next-Generation Power Technology Application Research Center. In February 2024, he was elected as the university's first president who graduated from the institution. He is a leading authority in next-generation superconducting technology and artificial intelligence-based energy systems. He serves as chairman of the Gyeongnam Future Forum. #ParkMinwon #ChangwonNationalUniversity #UniversityPresident #UniversityInnovation #GlocalUniversity #IndustryAcademiaCooperation #SuperconductingTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #EnergySystems #GyeongnamFutureForum
- CEO of Korea PIM
  Song Jun-ho
  
  Song Jun-ho is the CEO of Korea PIM. Building on the stable earnings base of its automotive parts business, he is accelerating the company’s expansion into high-value-added new businesses, including humanoid robots and cooling solutions for artificial intelligence data centers. He was born in May 1964. He earned a master’s degree in metallic materials from the graduate school of Yeungnam University. He worked as a researcher at the Central Research Institute of Korea Tungsten Mining, now TaeguTec. In 1994, he served as CEO of Dongbang Steel. In 2001, he founded Korea PIM. He is an owner-manager with a background as a researcher. He has a strong ability to read market trends. #SongJunho #KoreaPIM #MetalInjectionMolding #AutomotiveParts #HumanoidRobots #AIDataCenters #CoolingSolutions #AdvancedMaterials #ManufacturingTechnology #OwnerManagement
- President of Hoban Construction overseeing overall management
  Park Chul-hee
  
  Park Chul-hee is CEO and president of Hoban Construction. He also serves as chairman of the company’s board of directors. He was born on May 25, 1971. He completed an MBA program at Konkuk University Graduate School of Business Administration. After joining Hoban Construction, he was appointed CEO of Sky Valley Country Club, a golf course affiliate of Hoban Construction, in 2009 while still in his 30s. After Hoban Construction Industry merged with Hoban Construction, he served as head of the Business Management Division and vice president at Hoban Construction before being appointed CEO and president in 2018. He also headed Hoban, which later merged with Hoban Construction. He briefly stepped down as CEO while Hoban Construction prepared for an initial public offering, but returned as sole CEO after the IPO was postponed. He emphasizes strong fundamentals. He resolves difficult problems by confronting them head-on. #ParkChulhee #HobanConstruction #ConstructionIndustry #CorporateLeadership #BusinessManagement #BoardChairman #ChiefExecutiveOfficer #IPO #ManagementStrategy #ExecutiveBiography
- CEO of SFA
  Kim Sang-kyong
  
  Kim Sang-kyong is the CEO of SFA. He is leading the diversification of the company’s portfolio with a focus on robotic logistics and concentrating on the commercialization of AI-powered autonomous manufacturing as a mid- to long-term goal. He was born on October 7, 1964. He graduated from Yeungnam University with a degree in mechanical engineering. He joined the automation business division of Samsung Aerospace Industries, now Hanwha Aerospace, and worked in the field of automated production. In 1998, when the automation business division was spun off to establish SFA, he joined the company as one of its founding members. At SFA, he was responsible for research and development of display process equipment. He later served as head of the R&D team, head of the process equipment business group and head of the process equipment business division before overseeing the logistics systems business division. He was appointed CEO in December 2025. He is an expert who has worked on the front lines of the automation industry for 38 years, beginning with his time at Samsung Aerospace Industries. As a company insider with broad experience in research and development, process equipment and logistics systems, he has taken the helm of SFA. #KimSangkyong #SFA #automation #roboticlogistics #AImanufacturing #autonomousmanufacturing #processequipment #logisticssystems #researchanddevelopment #HanwhaAerospace
- Vice Chairman of SAMT
  Hong Wan-hoon
  
  Hong Wan-hoon is vice chairman of SAMT. He is driving record-breaking earnings growth by securing inventory in advance to prepare for a surge in demand for artificial intelligence semiconductors. He was born on November 14, 1959. He graduated from Whimoon High School in Seoul and earned a degree in electronic engineering from Inha University. He joined Samsung Electronics and worked as head of a sales team, head of a Chinese set-product subsidiary, and head of marketing for the Memory Business. He rose to vice president after serving as head of Samsung Semiconductor Inc. (SSI), the company’s U.S. subsidiary, and head of strategic marketing for the Semiconductor Business. He later moved to Samsung Electro-Mechanics, where he served in positions including head of the Strategic Marketing Office. In 2023, he joined SAMT as vice chairman. He is an expert in sales and marketing. He has strong capabilities in overseas sales and business-to-business (B2B) marketing. He is accelerating efforts to expand the company’s market dominance by strengthening its global network and diversifying its product portfolio. #HongWanhoon #SAMT #semiconductors #AIsemiconductors #SamsungElectronics #SamsungElectroMechanics #B2Bmarketing #globalnetwork #inventorystrategy #marketexpansion
- President and CEO of SGI Seoul Guarantee
  Lee Myung-Soon
  
  Lee Myung-soon is President and CEO of SGI Seoul Guarantee. He was born on July 19, 1968, in Uiryeong, South Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from Daeryun High School in Daegu and Seoul National University with a degree in economics. He earned a master’s degree in international development policy from Duke University in the United States. He entered public service after passing the 36th Higher Civil Service Examination. A former financial bureaucrat, he served in positions including Director General for Financial Industry Restructuring at the Financial Services Commission, Standing Commissioner of the Securities and Futures Commission, and Senior Deputy Governor of the Financial Supervisory Service. In 2024, he was recruited as President and CEO of SGI Seoul Guarantee. He laid the foundation for recovering public funds through the company’s long-awaited initial public offering. He faces the task of demonstrating solid growth by achieving a business rebound, establishing a return on equity of 10%, strengthening internal controls, and improving digital stability. He also serves as Chair of the Association of Guarantee and Credit Insurance of Asia (AGCIA). #LeeMyungsoon #SGISeoulGuarantee #financialbureaucrat #initialpublicoffering #publicfundrecovery #internalcontrols #digitalstability #returnonequity #creditinsurance #AGCIA

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