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

- Chairman of the Board and CTO of AimedBio
  Nam Do-hyun
  
  Nam Do-hyun is Chairman of the Board and CTO of AimedBio. He is focusing on expanding technology transfer partnerships while also accelerating research and development of follow-on pipelines. He was born in August 1963. He graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine and earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees in neurosurgery from Seoul National University Graduate School. He previously served as Director of the Cancer Stem Cell Research Center at Samsung Medical Center and Head of the government-designated Leading Project Group for Intractable Cancer Research under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. In 2018, he founded AimedBio, which develops antibody-drug conjugate-based therapeutics. While serving as Chairman of the Board, he stepped down from the CEO position and currently serves as chief technology officer (CT). He is an owner-manager with a background as a neurosurgeon, having accumulated 30 years of experience in the field of brain tumors. He was the first in Korea to establish a method to isolate and culture cancer stem cells from glioblastoma patients. He has worked as a specialist at the Department of Neurosurgery at Samsung Medical Center, Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Professor in the Department of Convergence Medical Science, an advisory member of the PSOC at the U.S. National Cancer Institute, and a full member of the National Academy of Medicine of Korea. He has a strong interest in addressing unmet medical needs. #NamDo-hyun #AimedBio #biotechnology #ADC #cancerresearch #glioblastoma #medicalinnovation #technologytransfer #neurosurgery #unmetmedicalneeds
- CEO of Aptabio
  Lee Soo-jin
  
  Moon Ho-sang-ssi Lee Soo-jin (Lee Soo-jin) is the CEO of Aptabio. She is pursuing scale growth through new businesses such as health functional foods and pet-related businesses. She was born on February 10, 1969. She graduated from the Department of Chemistry at Chungbuk National University and received a master’s degree in organic and biochemistry from the graduate school of Chungbuk National University. She earned a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry from the graduate school of Ajou University. She served as head of the New Drug Research Team at the Central Research Institute of JW Pharmaceutical. In 2009, she founded Aptabio, a platform technology-based company focused on developing first-in-class new drugs within its corporate group. She is a new drug expert with more than 25 years of experience in new drug research and development. She is accelerating efforts in new drug development and technology transfer based on those achievements. #Aptabio #LeeSoojin #biotech #newdrug #drugdevelopment #firstinclass #platformtechnology #pharmaceuticals #healthfunctionalfoods #petbusiness
- President and Head of Strategy, Business Support Office, Samsung Electronics
  Choi Yoon-ho
  
  Choi Yoon-ho is President and Head of the Strategy Team at Samsung Electronics’ Business Support Office. He must refine a new-growth portfolio centered on artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors and establish a global strategy to respond to external risks. He was born on January 11, 1963 (lunar calendar). He graduated from Deoksu Commercial High School in Seoul (now Deoksu High School) and from the Business Administration Department at Sungkyunkwan University. After joining Samsung Electronics, he mainly worked in finance-related departments, including the International Accounting Group, the Business Management Group, and the Overseas Management Group. He served in Samsung Group’s Future Strategy Office, where he was responsible for Strategy Team 1. After being promoted to President and Head of the Corporate Management Office at Samsung Electronics, he was appointed as an inside director. In the November 2025 personnel reshuffle, he moved to the position of Head of the Strategy Team within the Business Support Office. He is regarded as one of Samsung Group’s leading financial experts. He is also known for his extensive experience in strategy and for his clean, precise work style. #Samsung #SamsungElectronics #ChoiYoonHo #AI #semiconductor #strategy #finance #BusinessSupportOffice #Korea #management
  NEWS
  - • Choi Yoon-ho of Samsung SDI Sells Non-Core Polarizing Film, Seizes Opportunity with Battery Investments
  - • K-Battery Investment Pause Amid Prolonged Chasm, Focus on Samsung SDI Choi Yoon-ho's 'Expansion' Declaration
- Chair of the SK Supex Council and CEO and Vice Chairman of SK Discovery
  Choi Chang-won
  
  Choi Chang-won is the chair of the SK Supex Council and the CEO and vice chairman of SK Discovery. Since 2024, he has been leading the group-wide rebalancing efforts as the head of SK Group’s top decision-making body. He was born on August 27, 1964, in Seoul as the youngest son of SK Group founder Choi Jong-gun. He is a cousin of SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won and Senior Vice Chairman Choi Jae-won. He graduated from Yeouido High School in Seoul and earned a degree in psychology from Seoul National University. He completed an MBA program at the University of Michigan. He began his career in the management planning office of Sunkyong Group, the predecessor of SK Group, and primarily handled planning and finance at SK Chemicals, SK Global, Walkerhill, and SK Construction. He served as CEO and vice chairman of SK Chemicals and as CEO of SK Construction (now SK Ecoplant), before becoming CEO and vice chairman of SK Discovery in 2024. He is known for having many ideas and strong drive. He is also interested in philanthropy. #SK #SKDiscovery #SKGroup #ChoiChangwon #leadership #biography #SouthKorea #businessstrategy #management #philanthropy
  NEWS
  - • Chey Tae-won’s Choice of Choi Chang-won — How Far Has the Restructuring Come?
  - • SK Group Accelerates Rebalancing in the Second Half, Choi Chang-won Aims to Secure Up to KRW 10 Trillion
- CEO of ISU Abxis
  Ryu Joon-soo
  
  Ryu Joon-soo is the CEO of ISU Abxis. He has presented a new drug development roadmap for antibody therapeutics, setting a goal of achieving a “big-deal” level technology export within three years. He was born on January 14, 1972. He graduated from the Department of Food Science and Biotechnology at Seoul National University and earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees in Biological Sciences from KAIST. He completed an MBA program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College in the United States. He began his career as a drug developer at the ISU Abxis R&D Center, later gaining experience in bio business management and corporate strategy by handling product portfolio management at Hanwha Group’s Bio Division and pharmaceutical management strategy consulting at IMS Consulting Group Korea. After working at Mundipharma Korea, a global pharmaceutical company, he served as a senior managing director at GC Pharma and was appointed CEO of Kyne Science in 2019. He then moved to Dong-A ST as Executive Director in charge of R&D Strategy and returned to ISU Abxis as CEO in March 2025. He has overseen business management and corporate strategy across a wide range of bio organizations, from biotech ventures to traditional domestic pharmaceutical companies and multinational corporations. #RyuJoonsoo #ISUAbxis #biotech #antibody #drugdevelopment #pharmaceutical #KoreaBiotech #lifescience #MBA #businessstrategy
- CEO of Nota
  Chae Myung-soo
  
  Chae Myung-soo is the CEO of Nota. He is pursuing the vision of “AI Everywhere” with the goal of becoming a global top-tier AI optimization platform company. He was born on March 17, 1989. He graduated from Soongsil University with a degree in Industrial & Information Systems Engineering and completed a master’s program in Knowledge Service Engineering at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). He acquired shares of Nota, an AI platform company that originated from a KAIST campus venture, and became its CEO. He has a practical grasp of both technological capabilities and market demand, and starting from an early-stage startup idea, he successfully identified and captured a clear niche in “on-device AI.” #Nota #AIoptimization #AIplatform #AIEverywhere #ChaeMyungsoo #startup #KAIST #ondeviceAI #technologystrategy #globalAI
- Minister of Unification of the Republic of Korea
  Chung Dong-young
  
  Chung Dong-young is the Minister of Unification. He is focusing his efforts on building a successful inter-Korean relationship under the Lee Jae-myung administration. He is also working to normalize the Ministry of Unification for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the restoration of inter-Korean relations, as well as to restore the severed communication channels with North Korea. He was born on July 27, 1953, in Sunchang, North Jeolla Province. He graduated from Jeonju High School and the Department of Korean History at Seoul National University. He received a master’s degree in Journalism and Information Studies from Cardiff University, University of Wales in the United Kingdom. He joined Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and worked as a political reporter. He entered politics at the recommendation of former President Kim Dae-jung and served as a lawmaker for the Millennium Democratic Party and the Uri Party. He served as Minister of Unification during the Roh Moo-hyun administration. After running for president as the candidate of the United New Democratic Party and losing the election, he stepped away from politics in his hometown before returning as a lawmaker with the People’s Party. After leaving the People’s Party, he moved to the Party for Democracy and Peace. After losing in the 2020 general election for the 21st National Assembly, he stepped back from politics, then rejoined the Democratic Party of Korea in 2022. After rejoining, he ran in the 2024 general election for the 22nd National Assembly in Jeonju-si Byeong District and won, succeeding in securing a fifth term. He later returned to the cabinet for the first time in 20 years when he was appointed as the first Minister of Unification in the Lee Jae-myung administration in 2025. #ChungDongyoung #UnificationMinister #LeeJaemyungAdministration #interKoreanrelations #KoreanPeninsula #NorthKorea #SouthKorea #Koreanpolitics #NationalAssembly #DemocraticParty
- CEO and President of LIG Nex1
  Shin Ick-hyun
  
  Shin Ick-hyun is the CEO of LIG Nex1. He is focusing his capabilities on achieving the goal of entering the global top 20 defense companies by 2030 and expanding overseas exports to 30 countries. While driving exports of the company’s core products such as guided weapons and air defense systems, he is also fostering new businesses including AI, unmanned systems, satellites, and drones. He was born on December 27, 1959. He graduated from Gongju High School in Chungnam and the Korea Air Force Academy (Class of 32). He completed an MBA program at Hannam University Graduate School of Business and finished the doctoral coursework in defense acquisition at Konkuk University Graduate School. He was commissioned as an Air Force pilot and went on to serve as Commander of the 8th Fighter Wing and Director of Force Planning Division 3 at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retiring as a brigadier general. He joined LIG Nex1 as a strategic planning advisor and served as Head of the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division, Head of the C4ISTAR (Command, Control, Communication, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance) Business Headquarters, and Head of the C4ISTAR Business Division. He was appointed CEO of LIG Nex1 in 2024. As a former military officer, he has a deep understanding of weapon systems and strong networks with military end users, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the Agency for Defense Development, the Korea Research Institute for Defense Development, and other institutions involved in defense programs. He values a corporate culture that encourages communication and open expression of opinions. #ShinIckhyun #LIGNex1 #defenseindustry #Kdefense #C4ISTAR #guidedweapons #AIdefense #unmannedsystems #Koreamilitary #defenseexports
- CEO of Com2uS
  Nam Jae-kwan
  
  Nam Jae-kwan is the CEO of Com2uS. He is focusing on improving Com2uS’s performance and strengthening its global competitiveness. He was born on January 9, 1973. He graduated from Korea University with a degree in economics. He worked at Shinyoung Securities before moving to Daum Communications, where he served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Head of New Business Strategy. He later worked as CFO of Kakao Games, CFO of Kakao IX, Vice President of Kakao, and CFO of Kakao Ventures. After joining Com2uS as Executive Vice President and Head of Business Strategy, he was appointed CEO in 2024. He is working to improve performance by expanding both in-house development and publishing of new games. #Com2uS #NamJaekwan #gamingindustry #Koreangames #mobilegames #globalstrategy #publishing #CFOcareer #gamebusiness #leadership
- CEO of Cosmecca Korea
  Cho Im-rae
  
  Cho Im-rae is the CEO of Cosmecca Korea. He leads Cosmecca Korea under a co-CEO system together with his spouse, CEO Park Eun-hee. He is accelerating efforts to expand overseas markets to boost sales. He was born on March 28, 1953. He graduated from the Department of Chemistry at Sungkyunkwan University. He worked at the cosmetics companies Peerless and Oh Hyun Doo Rura, then served as head of the research lab at Korea Kolmar. After working as an executive director at Taewoong Cosmetics, he founded Cosmecca Korea in 1999. As a cosmetics development expert, he considers himself more of a cosmetics development researcher than a business manager. #CosmeccaKorea #ChoImrae #Kbeauty #cosmeticsindustry #R&D #founder #KoreaKolmar #chemistry #globalexpansion #CEO

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