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

- President of Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)
  Park Chong-rae
  
  Park Chong-rae is the president of Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST). He aims to foster it into “Ulsan’s Stanford,” leading the sustainable development of the nation and the region. He was born on February 25, 1959. He graduated from the Department of Textile Engineering at Seoul National University and received a master’s degree in textile chemistry from Seoul National University Graduate School. He earned a doctorate in textile physics from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. He worked at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) and as a visiting researcher at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. He was appointed professor in the Department of Textile Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University. He later moved to Seoul National University and was appointed professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering. He served as head of Seoul National University’s Intellectual Property Management Office, head of the business division of the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, and CEO of Seoul National University Holdings. He was appointed president of Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in 2024. He served as chair of the World Carbon Conference and president of the Korean Carbon Society. He also served as vice president of the Korea Federation of Science and Technology Associations, chair of the S&T Infrastructure Subcommittee under a presidential advisory committee, and chair of the expert committee on regulatory sandbox special cases in research and development special zones. He is working to realize the vision of entering the world’s top 10 specialized science and technology universities by 2030. A note on the original text: “KAIST(한국과학기술연구원)” appears inconsistent. KAIST is usually the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, while “한국과학기술연구원” refers to KIST. Please check the original Korean source. #ParkChong-rae #UNIST #Ulsan #SouthKorea #scienceandtechnology #highereducation #universitypresident #innovation #researchleadership #sustainabledevelopment
- CEO of Shin Poong Pharmaceutical
  RYU Jei Man
  
  Ryu Jei Man is the CEO of Shin Poong Pharmaceutical. He is focusing on the clinical development and commercialization of new drug pipelines while accelerating the expansion of production capacity. He was born on November 25, 1956. He graduated from Kyungbok High School in Seoul and earned a degree in pharmacy from Seoul National University. He also received both his master’s and doctoral degrees in pharmacy from the graduate school of Seoul National University. He joined the Central Research Institute of Dongwha Pharm as a researcher and worked there for about 28 years, rising to the position of head of the institute (executive vice president). He later moved to Jeil Pharmaceutical as head of the R&D division and then joined Shin Poong Pharmaceutical, where he was appointed CEO in 2014. He is a new drug development expert who has built extensive experience over a long period in mid-sized pharmaceutical companies such as Dongwha Pharm, Jeil Pharmaceutical, and Shin Poong Pharmaceutical. He is also a long-serving CEO, marking his 13th year in office at Shin Poong Pharmaceutical. #ShinPoongPharmaceutical #RyuJeiMan #pharmaceuticalindustry #drugdevelopment #biopharma #clinicaltrials #R&D #CEOprofile #Koreanpharma #healthcareinnovation
- CEO of Hanwha Solutions Chemical Division
  Nam Jung-Woon
  
  Nam Jung-Woon is the CEO of Hanwha Solutions' Chemical Division. He is seeking a breakthrough for the Chemical Division, which has posted losses for nine consecutive quarters as the petrochemical industry downturn continues. He was born on January 14, 1967. He graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in business administration. He joined Hanwha Group and worked in the chemical business throughout his career. He worked in Hanwha Chemical's Planning and Coordination Team and at TitanTFT as an assistant vice president. He later moved to Hanwha Total, where he served as managing director in charge of planning and logistics and as head of the resin business division, before returning to Hanwha Chemical to lead the PO business division. After Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials was integrated and the company changed its name to Hanwha Solutions, he served as head of the PVC business division in the Chemical Division and was appointed co-CEO of Yeochun NCC in September 2023. In September 2024, he returned as CEO of Hanwha Solutions' Chemical Division. He has broad experience across Hanwha's key chemical businesses. #NamJungWoon #HanwhaSolutions #HanwhaChemical #petrochemical #ChemicalDivision #YeochunNCC #PVC #POBusiness #HanwhaGroup #KoreanBusiness
- CEO of APR
  Kim Byung-hoon
  
  Kim Byung-hoon is the CEO of APR. He is focusing on expanding production capacity for beauty devices while also dedicating efforts to entering overseas markets. He was born on November 5, 1988, in Seoul. He studied Business Administration at Yonsei University. While in college, he launched a virtual fitting service ‘Ifida’ and a dating matchmaking application ‘Gilhana Sai.’ In 2014, at the young age of 25, he founded the cosmetics company Inno Ventures together with former co-CEO Lee Joo-kwang, and in the same year changed the company name to Apskin. After renaming the company again to APR, he transitioned to a sole CEO system in 2019. He has a ‘workaholic’ tendency. He believes that he must do what he wants to do and always keeps his word once he has spoken it. #APR #KimByungHoon #beautydevices #Kbeauty #CEOprofile #startupfounder #globalexpansion #YonseiUniversity #entrepreneurship #cosmeticsindustry
  NEWS
  - • APR's Early Success in Chinese Market with Beauty Devices, Kim Byung-hoon's 'Global Roadmap' Green Light
- CEO of LG Chem
  Kim Dong-chun
  
  Kim Dong-chun is the CEO of LG Chem. He is striving to overcome the industry crisis by restructuring naphtha cracking center (NCC) operations and reorganizing the business portfolio to strengthen specialty businesses. He was born in January 1968. He graduated from Jeju National University High School Affiliated to the College of Education and the Department of Industrial Chemistry at Hanyang University. He completed an MBA program at the University of Washington Graduate School of Business. He joined LG Chem and worked in management strategy and new business development. After a brief period in the LG Synergy Team, he returned to LG Chem as head of the High-Performance Materials Business Division. He served as executive director in charge of the semiconductor materials business, executive vice president of the IT Materials Business Division, and executive vice president of the Electronic Materials Business Division, before being promoted to vice president and head of the Advanced Materials Business Division. In 2025, he was appointed CEO of LG Chem. #LGchem #petrochemical #NCC #specialtymaterials #businessstrategy #corporaterestructuring #advancedmaterials #semiconductormaterials #Koreanceo #chemicalindustry
- Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
  Kwon Oh-eul
  
  Kwon Oh-eul is the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. As the first Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs under the Lee Jae-myung government, he is working to uphold the value of veterans affairs and promote national unity. He was born on March 17, 1957, in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. He graduated from Andong Elementary School, Andong Middle School, and Gyeongbuk High School. He graduated from Korea University with a degree in political science and diplomacy and earned a master's degree in economics from the Korea University Graduate School. He worked as a researcher at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, then served as a member of the North Gyeongsang Provincial Council before going on to serve as a member of the 15th, 16th, and 17th National Assembly. He also served as Secretary General of the National Assembly and worked as a visiting and guest professor at Daegu Catholic University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and Shinhan University. He took office as Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in July 2025. Note: In the original text, "권오을Kwon Oh-eul은" appears to be attached without a space between the Korean name and the English name. It would read more naturally as "권오을(Kwon Oh-eul)은" or "권오을은". #KwonOhEul #PatriotsandVeteransAffairs #LeeJaeMyung #SouthKoreaPolitics #NationalUnity #Andong #KoreaUniversity #NationalAssembly #VeteransPolicy #SouthKoreaGovernment
- Chairman and CEO of Hanil Holdings
  Huh Gi-ho
  
  Huh Gi-ho is the Chairman and CEO of Hanil Holdings. He also serves as Chairman of Hanil Cement. He is focusing on defending performance deterioration caused by the prolonged downturn in the construction industry and on transforming the cement business into a “low-carbon management” system. He was born on November 15, 1966, in Seoul as the eldest son among three sons of Huh Jung-sup, Honorary Chairman of Hanil Cement. He graduated from Seoul Seongnam High School and the Department of Economics at Sungkyunkwan University. He completed his MBA at the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University in the United States. He joined Hanil Cement and, after serving as Head of the Management Division and Head of the Corporate Planning Office, became CEO of Hanil Cement in 2005. After the transition to a holding company system, he became Chairman and CEO of Hanil Holdings. Following the acquisition of Hyundai Cement, he completed eight years of integration to establish a “single Hanil” system and led the company to become No. 1 in domestic market share in Korea’s cement industry. #HanilHoldings #HanilCement #HuhGiho #cementindustry #lowcarbonstrategy #constructiondownturn #Koreabusiness #CEOprofile #corporatestrategy #industrialleadership
  NEWS
  - • Hanil Cement Eyes Value-Up Policy: Huh Gi-ho Prioritizes Returns and Green Investments
- President and CEO of Korea Aerospace Industries
  Kim Jong-chul
  
  Kim Jong-chul is President and CEO of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). He is tasked with ending an eight-month management vacuum and pursuing organizational renewal and the discovery of new growth engines. He was born in January 1962. He graduated as a member of the 31st class of the Air Force Academy. He worked in the Air Force, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Office for Government Policy Coordination, and retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force. After retiring from the military, he joined the Defense Acquisition Program Administration through a special recruitment process when the agency was launched, and served as director general for planning and coordination, director general of the Defense Technology Security Bureau, and head of the Unmanned Business Division. After serving as a professor in the Department of Defense Technology Management at Kwangwoon University, he was recruited in March 2026 as President and CEO of Korea Aerospace Industries. He is a hands-on leader with broad experience in air power, defense exports, and unmanned systems, built through his career in the military, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. He needs visible management results that can put to rest the controversy raised over the appointment process and his qualifications to lead the company. #KAI #KimJongchul #KoreaAerospaceIndustries #defenseindustry #aerospace #AirForce #DefenseAcquisitionProgramAdministration #defenseexports #unmannedsystems #corporateleadership
- CEO of NC
  Kim Taek-jin
  
  Kim Taek-jin is the CEO of NC. He was born on March 14, 1967, in Seoul. He graduated from the Department of Electronic Engineering at Seoul National University. He received a master’s degree in electronic engineering from Seoul National University’s graduate school and later dropped out of the doctoral program. After co-developing “Hangul Word Processor (Arae-a Hangeul),” he founded Hangul & Computer (Hanme Soft). He fulfilled his alternative military service at Hyundai Electronics’ Boston R&D Center and worked as a development team leader at Hyundai Electronics. In 1997, he founded NCSoft and achieved great success with the Lineage series. However, as he failed to produce another major hit and showed weak performance in new IP and new business ventures, he recruited co-CEO Park Byung-moo and is pushing forward with restructuring. He is known for being frugal and modest, but in business, he shows a strong competitive spirit. NCSoft changed its company name to NC following a shareholders’ meeting in March 2026. #KimTaekjin #NCSoft #Lineage #Koreangameindustry #GameCEO #Entrepreneurship #Techleadership #Gaminghistory #Businessstrategy #Restructuring
  NEWS
  - • Kim Taek-jin’s Bold Global Bet: Aion 2 and LLL Return
  - • Where Is the “Basic” NCSoft Wants to Return To? We Miss the Kim Taek-jin Who Once Tried to Acquire EA
- CEO of Samsung Card
  Kim Yi-Tae
  
  Kim Yi-tae is the CEO of Samsung Card. He is focusing on strengthening Samsung Card’s digital capabilities and discovering new growth drivers for the future. He was born on February 22, 1966, in Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do. He graduated from Masan Gyeongsang High School and Seoul National University with a degree in Business Administration. He received a master’s degree in Business Administration from Seoul National University Graduate School and a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Missouri, Columbia. He began his public service career at the Ministry of Finance after passing the 36th Higher Civil Service Examination. He later worked as Director of the Sovereign Wealth Management Division at the Ministry of Economy and Finance and served as an advisor in the Monetary and Capital Markets Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He moved to Samsung Electronics, where he held positions as Executive in charge of the IR Group, Head of the Strategy Group, Head of the Global Communications Group, and Head of the External Affairs Team. In 2023, he was appointed CEO of Samsung Venture Investment. After becoming President of Samsung Card in November 2024, he was appointed CEO of Samsung Card in March 2025. He is known for his quick ability to learn and for having many ideas. #SamsungCard #KimYiTae #Samsung #CEO #Finance #DigitalTransformation #CorporateLeadership #IMF #SamsungElectronics #VentureInvestment

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