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

- President and CEO of SGC Energy
  Lee Woo-sung
  
  Lee Woo-sung is President and CEO of SGC Energy. He is leading the company's transformation into an AI energy infrastructure company by expanding from its core power generation business into AI data centers. Lee was born on November 17, 1978, as the eldest grandson of OCI Group founder Lee Hoe-rim and the eldest son of Lee Bok-young, Chairman of SGC Energy. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Carnegie Mellon University in the United States and completed an MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. After working as a consultant at IBM, he joined the overseas business team of E-Tech Construction (now SGC E&C) in 2007. He later underwent management training while overseeing corporate planning at both SGC Energy and SGC E&C. He led the merger of Samkwang Glass, E-Tech Construction, and Kunjang Energy, laying the foundation for the launch of SGC Group. During the process, he became the largest shareholder without incurring gift tax liabilities, establishing the foundation for third-generation family management. Beginning with SGC Partners in 2021, he successively assumed the role of CEO at SGC E&C and SGC Energy, formally ushering in third-generation leadership of the group. He now faces the challenge of successfully establishing the capital-intensive AI data center business while managing the financial burden of construction affiliate SGC E&C. #SGCEnergy #LeeWooSung #SGCGroup #AIDataCenters #EnergyInfrastructure #OCIGroup #SGCEC #PowerGeneration #CorporateLeadership #KoreaBusiness
- CEO of Protec
  Choi Seung-hwan
  
  Choi Seung-hwan is the CEO of Protec. He also serves as CEO of Protec L&H. He was born on December 24, 1955. He graduated from Yongmoon High School. He began his career at Yuwon Construction before working at Daehong Enterprise. In 1993, he founded Kiseong Industrial, a semiconductor equipment company, and later established Protec in September 1997. He led the localization of semiconductor back-end equipment based on high-speed automation systems, transforming Protec into a global technology company. He strengthened the company's market presence by earning recognition for its technological capabilities, including the joint development with the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials of the Gang Bonder, an advanced packaging system optimized for the production of highly integrated, high-efficiency semiconductors. #Protec #ChoiSeunghwan #semiconductor #semiconductorequipment #back-endprocess #automation #GangBonder #KIMM #chipmanufacturing #KoreaTech
- Hwashin President and CEO
  Jeong Seo-jin
  
  Jeong Seo-jin is President and Chief Executive Officer of Hwashin. He also serves as Chief Executive Officer of Hwashin Precision. He aims to transform the company from an internal combustion engine chassis parts manufacturer into a global top-tier company in eco-friendly and future mobility. He was born on February 7, 1968, as the eldest son of Chairman Jeong Ho, the founder of the company. He graduated from Daegu Gyesung High School and earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Korea University. He later completed an MBA at the University of Rochester in the United States. He began his career at Samsung Electronics before moving to LG Chem, where he worked as a manager. He later joined Hwashin, the automotive parts company founded by his father. In 2001, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Hwashin and Saehwashin. Since 2012, he has also served as Chief Executive Officer of Hwashin Precision. He has focused on reducing the company's reliance on Hyundai Motor Group by diversifying its customer base to include overseas automakers in North America and Europe as well as global battery manufacturers. He also served as Chairman of the Yeongcheon Chamber of Commerce and Industry in North Gyeongsang Province. #Hwashin #JeongSeojin #AutomotiveParts #FutureMobility #ElectricVehicles #HyundaiMotorGroup #BatteryManufacturers #AutoIndustry #GlobalExpansion #CorporateLeadership
- President and Chief Executive Officer of Koses
  Park Myung-soon
  
  Park Myung-soon is the Chief Executive Officer of Koses. He is pursuing business diversification based on precision control and laser application technologies. He is also focusing on transforming the company into an energy manufacturing automation business covering both rechargeable batteries and fuel cells. He was born on June 16, 1954. He graduated from Yongsan Technical High School in Seoul. He worked at Signetics and Dongyang Semiconductor, semiconductor back-end process affiliates of the YoungPoong Group. After striking out on his own, he founded Korea System (now Koses), a semiconductor manufacturing equipment company, in 1990. He places great importance on trust between people. He has a strong ability to identify opportunities.
- President and Chief Executive Officer of GS Engineering & Construction (GS E&C)
  Huh Yoon-hong
  
  Huh Yoon-hong is the President and Chief Executive Officer of GS Engineering & Construction (GS E&C). He is working to rebuild the company's credibility after the collapse of an underground parking garage at an apartment complex in Geomdan, Incheon, while reorganizing its business portfolio with a focus on the housing business. He was born in Seoul on January 24, 1979, as the second of three children and the only son among one son and two daughters of Huh Chang-soo, Chairman of GS E&C. He graduated from Hanyoung Foreign Language High School in Seoul and earned a bachelor's degree in International Business from Saint Louis University in the United States. He later completed an MBA program at the University of Washington in the United States. He began his career at LG-Caltex Oil. He later joined GS E&C, where he served as Head of Future Innovation, Head of the Business Support Office, and Head of the New Business Division. Upon becoming Chief Executive Officer in 2024, he shifted GS E&C from a professional management system to an owner-led management system for the first time in a decade. He is known for his down-to-earth and approachable personality, often joining employees for drinks.
  NEWS
  - • GS E&C Targets Profit Recovery—Huh Yoon-hong Bets on GS Inima Sale
  - • Is GS E&C Changing Under Owner-CEO Huh Yoon-hong? Plant and Safety Will Be the Litmus Test
- Chairman of Woongjin Group
  Yoon Seok-keum
  
  Yoon Seok-keum is the chairman of Woongjin Group. He has presented a new vision of transforming the group into a “total life care platform” by combining its education business with funeral services. Yoon was born on December 20, 1945, in Yugu-myeon, Gongju-gun, South Chungcheong Province. He graduated from Ganggyeong Commercial High School and earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Konkuk University. He began his career as a sales representative at the Korean branch of Encyclopaedia Britannica. After rising to managing director of the Korean branch, he left to establish Heim International, the predecessor of Woongjin ThinkBig, in 1980. He entered the food and cosmetics businesses by acquiring Dongil Industrial (formerly Woongjin Foods) and Coreana Cosmetics. He later founded Korea Coway (formerly Woongjin Coway), launched Woongjin Group, and became its chairman. He subsequently expanded the group's business portfolio by acquiring Kukdong Engineering & Construction and Saehan. In 2012, Woongjin Group entered court receivership, forcing it to sell key affiliates including Woongjin Coway. After emerging from court receivership just one year and four months later, Yoon sought to rebuild the group and reacquired Coway. However, the group's financial structure deteriorated due to excessive borrowing, leading Yoon to sell Coway once again in another dramatic turnaround. In 2025, he acquired Preed Life (Woongjin Preed Life), positioning the group for another leap forward. #YoonSeokkeum #WoongjinGroup #Woongjin #Coway #WoongjinThinkBig #PreedLife #MergersAndAcquisitions #LifeCare #EducationBusiness #CorporateLeadership
- President of Sogang University
  Sim Jong-hyeok
  
  Sim Jong-hyeok is the president of Sogang University. He designated 2026 as the year for implementing and expanding "Vision 2030+" and is focusing on transforming Sogang into an AI research-centered university as part of his commitment to the university's "Second Founding." Sim was born on October 17, 1955, in Seoul. He graduated from Seoul Dongsung High School and majored in mathematics and physics at Sogang University. He earned a master's degree in physics from the Graduate School of Sogang University, followed by a master's degree in pastoral theology from Weston School of Theology in the United States and a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. After being ordained as a Catholic priest, he carried out pastoral ministry at the Sacred Heart Parish in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1992, he joined Sogang University as a professor in the Department of Religious Studies. He served as dean of the Graduate School for Religious, director of the Institute for Theology, director of general affairs, director of planning, director of external affairs, university librarian, and vice president for academic affairs. After serving as dean of the graduate school, he was appointed president of Sogang University in 2021. His prospects for a second term became uncertain after he was investigated by police over allegations related to irregularities in the appointment of a distinguished professor. However, he secured a second term after being reaffirmed by the university's board of trustees. #SimJong-hyeok #SogangUniversity #AIResearch #Vision2030Plus #HigherEducation #CatholicPriest #UniversityPresident #Theology #AcademicLeadership #SouthKoreaEducation
- Chairman of GST
  Kim Duk-jun
  
  Kim Duk-jun is Chairman of GST. He secured stable cash-generating businesses by localizing scrubbers and chillers, and is now accelerating efforts to capture the immersion cooling market for data centers. He was born on July 13, 1962. He graduated from Wooshin High School in Seoul. He worked as a vacuum pump engineer at Sungwon Edwards (now Edwards Korea). He later served as Manufacturing Technology Manager at KC Tech and Technical Sales Director at Korea Pionics (now KPC). In 2001, he founded GST (Global Standard Technology). Since 2025, he has stepped down from the CEO position and has focused on laying the foundation for the company's sustainable growth as Chairman. He also serves as the inaugural Chairman of the Hyean Foundation, which he personally established. #GST #KimDukjun #GlobalStandardTechnology #SemiconductorEquipment #Scrubber #Chiller #ImmersionCooling #DataCenterCooling #SemiconductorIndustry #KoreanBusinessLeader
- CEO of Fiberpro
  Koh Yeon-wan
  
  Koh Yeon-wan is the CEO of Fiberpro. He is focused on transforming the company into a specialized provider of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) integrated solutions, while accelerating its push into the global aerospace and defense markets based on its proprietary optical fiber technologies. He was born in September 1964. He graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Physics and earned both a master's degree and a Ph.D. in Physics from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). He founded Fiberpro (then known as Donam System), which originated from the Optical Fiber Laboratory at KAIST. He is an optical technology expert who has dedicated more than 30 years to the fields of optical measurement and optical sensing. He places strong emphasis on sustainable growth. #Fiberpro #KohYeonwan #PNT #OpticalFiber #Aerospace #DefenseIndustry #OpticalSensors #NavigationTechnology #KAIST #PhotonicsTechnology
- President of Duksung Women's University
  Min Jae-hong
  
  Min Jae-hong is the President of Duksung Women's University. He has presented “Bright Duksung” as the university’s mid- to long-term vision, encompassing the values of balance, innovation, and harmony, and has focused on advancing AI-driven educational innovation. He was born on May 6, 1968. He earned a bachelor's degree in Chinese Language and Literature from Yonsei University and received both his master's and doctoral degrees in Chinese Language and Literature from Yonsei University Graduate School. In 2003, he joined the Department of Chinese Language and Literature in the College of Global Convergence Studies at Duksung Women's University as a professor. He has served in a number of key academic positions, including Dean of Academic Affairs, Faculty Advisor to the University Newspaper, Dean of Liberal Arts, and Vice President for Academic Affairs. He has also held administrative roles such as Chair of the Laboratory Safety Management Committee, Chair of the Jongno Unhyeon Campus Educational Utilization Committee, and Chair of the Duksung Future Education Committee. He assumed office as President of Duksung Women's University in January 2026. His four-year term runs through January 28, 2030. #MinJaeHong #DuksungWomensUniversity #HigherEducation #AIEducation #EducationalInnovation #ChineseLanguageAndLiterature #YonseiUniversity #UniversityPresident #BrightDuksung #KoreanUniversities

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