KOREA WHO

Kwon Young-ryual is the chairman of Hwacheon Group. He also serves as the honorary chairman of Hwacheon Machine Tool, chairman of Hwacheon Machinery, and director of Seoam Cultural Foundation.

He is stepping down from the representative director positions of major subsidiaries to accelerate the succession of Hwacheon Group's management rights.

Born on July 11, 1946, as the eldest son among three sons and three daughters between his father, Kwon Seung-kwan, the founder, and his mother, Lady Jiwallye. His birthplace is Gwangju, Jeollado.

He graduated from Gwangju High School and majored in Electrical Engineering at Hanyang University. Right after graduation, he joined Hwacheon Machine Tool Co., Ltd. (now Hwacheon Machine Tool).

After serving as executive director, managing director, and vice president, he became the president and CEO of Hwacheon Machine Tool in 1989. He then became the chairman of Hwacheon Group in 1997.

He was active as the vice chairman of Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry, vice chairman and chairman of the Korea Machine Tool Industry Association, and non-standing vice chairman of the Korea International Trade Association.

He is a second-generation business leader who has developed Hwacheon Group into a mid-sized conglomerate.

He is recognized for leading the localization of machine tools.