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

- 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
- 어보브반도체 대표이사 CEO of ABOV Semiconductor
  WON CHOI
  
  Choi Won is the CEO of ABOV Semiconductor. He aims to achieve a quantum leap as a global AI chip leader by developing and commercializing artificial intelligence (AI) MCUs. He was born on February 15, 1963. He graduated from Korea Aerospace University with a degree in electronic communication engineering. In 1987, he joined Goldstar Semiconductor (LG Semiconductor) and worked in ASIC sales, later becoming the sales team leader of the MCU division. He founded GreenChips and Cotec Semicon, and then acquired the System IC division of MagnaChip Semiconductor to establish ABOV Semiconductor. He also serves concurrently as the CEO of WINPAC, a company specializing in semiconductor back-end processes. He is a non-memory semiconductor expert who built his career at the now-defunct LG Semiconductor. He grew the company into South Korea’s No. 1 and the world’s No. 4 fabless player in the microcontroller unit (MCU) sector, which serves as the brain of home appliances. #ABOVSemiconductor #WONCHOI #MCU #AIchips #fabless #semiconductor #KoreaAerospaceUniversity #MagnaChip #WINPAC #nonmemorysemiconductor
- CEO of Aromatica
  Kim Young-kyun
  
  Kim Young-kyun is the CEO of Aromatica. He is focusing on expanding global distribution channels and strengthening product competitiveness. He was born on November 5, 1971. He graduated from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies with a major in trade and worked at KDB Industrial Bank. After leaving the bank, he founded Oricompany and Konisgunnel, launching various businesses. In 2004, he launched the essential-oil-based cosmetics brand “Aromatica” and began to fully develop the cosmetics business. Riding the momentum of the K-beauty boom, he has been strengthening the company’s portfolio with a focus on natural-oil-specialized hair-loss and scalp care, as well as trouble care products. He is one of the first-generation aromatherapists in Korea. He values a horizontal organizational culture. #Aromatica #KimYoungkyun #Kbeauty #aromatherapy #cosmetics #essentialoil #globaldistribution #scalpcare #hairlossCare #Koreanfounder
- Vice Chairman and CEO of Kolon’s Strategy Division
  Lee Kyu-ho
  
  Lee Kyu-ho is Vice Chairman and CEO of Kolon’s Strategy Division. He has focused his efforts on establishing and identifying future growth strategies for Kolon Mobility, which was launched in 2023, while also strengthening its financial capabilities. As the heir-apparent in the group’s succession plan, he has been working to prove his management capabilities by expanding his role into new businesses as well as private-sector diplomacy. Born in August 1984 in the United States, he is the great-grandson of founder Lee Won-man, who established Kolon Group, and the eldest son of Lee Woong-yeul, Honorary Chairman of Kolon Group. He attended high school in the United Kingdom and graduated from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University in the United States. He joined Kolon Industries as a deputy general manager, later moving to Kolon Global. After being promoted to executive director at the holding company Kolon, he was appointed the first CEO of its subsidiary, Liberto. As Executive Vice President of Kolon Global, he oversaw the imported car division, and in 2022, he was promoted to CEO and appointed CEO of Kolon Mobility, which was established by integrating the imported car division. Under Kolon Group’s principle of primogeniture, he is seen as the leading candidate to inherit management control. Demonstrating strong management capability is essential in order to receive a stake transfer from Honorary Chairman Lee Woong-yeul. He is known for his down-to-earth personality, easily mingling with employees without formality. #LeeKyuho #Kolon #KolonMobility #succession #strategy #leadership #Korea #automotive #heirapparent #management
  NEWS
  - • "0% Equity Successor" Lee Kyu-ho Builds War Chest, Urgently Needs Kolon's Turnaround
  - • Kolon Divests Unprofitable Business, Focuses on New Ventures—Attention on Lee Kyu-ho’s Succession Qualifications
- CEO of Jeju Bank
  Lee Hee-su
  
  Lee Hee-su is the CEO of Jeju Bank. He is laying the foundation for Jeju Bank’s growth by introducing the industry’s first attempt at ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Banking and building the dedicated digital financial brand DJ Bank. He was born on January 27, 1964. He graduated from Bukil High School in Cheonan, Chungnam, and from Konkuk University with a major in public administration. After joining Shinhan Bank, he worked at the Cheonan Branch, the Seoul Gwanghwamun Branch, the Seoul Seogyo-dong Corporate Finance Branch, and the Seoul Yongsan Corporate Finance Center, later serving as a credit review officer in the Corporate Loan Management Department. He served as Branch Manager of the Cheongju Court Branch, the Donggyo-dong Branch, and the Sogong-dong Finance Center, then worked as General Manager of the Headquarters Sales Department and as Head of the Incheon Regional Headquarters before being promoted to Deputy CEO as Head of the Retail Business Group. In 2021, he was appointed CEO of Shinhan Savings Bank, leading the growth of its asset size. He was appointed CEO of Jeju Bank in 2025. He is a sales specialist who built a long career in the field at Shinhan Bank. He earned the trust of both former Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Cho Yong-byung, now Chairman of the Korea Federation of Banks, and current Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Jin Ok-dong. He faces the task of driving Jeju Bank’s digital transformation and restoring its financial performance. #LeeHeeSu #JejuBank #DJBank #ERPbanking #digitalfinance #ShinhanBank #bankingcareer #KoreaFinance #digitaltransformation #bankCEO
- Minister of National Defense
  Ahn Gyu-back
  
  Ahn Gyu-back is the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Korea. He has been emphasizing the restoration of military discipline and the recovery of public trust in the armed forces following the illegal December 3 emergency martial law incident. He is also devoting his efforts to introducing nuclear-powered submarines and transferring wartime operational control. He was born on April 29, 1961, in Gochang, Jeollabuk-do. He graduated from Seoseok High School in Gwangju and the Department of Eastern Philosophy at Sungkyunkwan University. He completed the master's coursework in international trade at the Graduate School of International Trade at Sungkyunkwan University. He entered politics in 1998 as a party official of the Peace Democratic Party, later serving as Planning Director at the Political Training Institute and Director of the Organization Bureau of the Millennium Democratic Party. In 2008, he entered the National Assembly as a proportional representative of the United Democratic Party in the 18th general election. In the 2012 19th general election, he ran in Seoul Dongdaemun-gu Gap and was elected. He went on to win consecutively in the 20th, 21st, and 22nd general elections, becoming a five-term lawmaker. In 2016, he served as Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Korea, and in 2018, he became a member of the party’s Supreme Council. He also served as Chairman of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee. He was appointed Minister of National Defense in July 2025. He became the first civilian without military experience to lead the Defense Ministry in 64 years since the May 16 military coup. #AhnGyuback #Korea #NationalDefense #MinisterofDefense #ROKmilitary #WartimeOPCON #nuclearpoweredsubmarine #SouthKoreaPolitics #DemocraticParty #NationalAssembly

Types of Companies