KOREA WHO

Profile

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  • Ceo & Vice Chairman of HS Hyosung

    Cho Hyun-sang

    Cho Hyun-sang ("조현상" in Korean) is Vice Chairman and CEO of HS Hyosung. He also serves as an inside director of HS Hyosung Advanced Materials and HS Hyosung Information Systems. He was born on November 26, 1971, as the third son of former Hyosung Chairman Cho Suck-rae. He attended Gyeonggi Elementary School and Cheongun Middle School, graduated from Kyungbock High School, and then moved to the United States, where he earned a degree in economics from Brown University. He began his career at Bain & Company. After joining Hyosung, he worked in the restructuring TFT (Task Force Team) and management innovation team. He later joined Japan's NTT Communications, where he led wired and wireless strategy projects and took part in establishing the Korean branch. Cho then returned to Hyosung’s strategy division and served as head of the Industrial Materials PG (Performance Group) and CMO of the Chemical PG. After being promoted to president, he led the strategy division. When Hyosung was split into separate entities, he became a group-wide president. Following the division of Hyosung and HS Hyosung into a holding company structure, he was appointed CEO of HS Hyosung. He actively engages in international activities as a self-proclaimed civilian diplomat, representing Korean business leaders. He is leading the transformation of HS Hyosung’s business structure into fields such as artificial intelligence, secondary batteries, and semiconductor materials. He is known for being meticulous and detail-oriented. #ChoHyunsang #HSHyosung #Hyosung #semiconductors #AI #secondarybatteries #NTT #BrownUniversity #businessleadership #restructuring

    NEWS

    • • Why Is HS Hyosung Selling Its Tire Steel Cord Business? Cho Hyun-sang Bets on Carbon Fiber and Anode Materials
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  • CEO of GM Korea

    Hector Villarreal

    Hector Villarreal is the President and CEO of GM Korea. He is a Mexican national, and his full name is Hector Raul Villarreal Gonzalez. He is focused on maintaining GM Korea's profitability and securing an annual production capacity of 500,000 units. He was born on September 18, 1967, in Mexico. He graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM) and earned a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the same university. He joined General Motors (GM) at the Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico as a production project engineer. After being promoted to an executive in planning and program management, he joined GM Korea in 2012 as Vice President of Planning and Program Management. In 2015, he moved to GM Uzbekistan and was appointed President. He later served as GM Russia Executive Director, President of GM Southeast Asia, and Vice President of Sales, Service, and Marketing for GM Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. In August 2023, he was appointed President and CEO of GM Korea. He significantly increased GM Korea’s revenue and operating profit. #HectorVillarreal #GMKorea #GMMexico #AutomotiveIndustry #Leadership #KoreanAutomotive #GMUzbekistan #GMRussia #GMSoutheastAsia #IndustrialEngineering

    NEWS

    • • GM Korea's Exit Denial Rings Hollow Again
    • • 3 Years Left: All Eyes on Mary Barra, Chung Eui-sun, KDB
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  • CEO & Vice Chairman of Ahngook Pharmaceu

    Auh Jin

    Auh Jin ("어진" in Korean) is Vice Chairman and CEO of Ahngook Pharmaceutical, sharing the leadership with co-CEO Park In-cheol. He is focused on enhancing the company’s drug development capabilities. Born on March 30, 1964, Auh Jin is the eldest son among two sons and three daughters of former Honorary Chairman Auh Jun-seon and Im Young-gyun. He graduated from Kyungseong High School in Seoul and earned a degree in economics from Korea University. He later completed an MBA program at the University of Notre Dame in the United States. Auh began his career at Daishin Securities, then moved to Ahngook Pharmaceutical, the company founded by his father. There, he held roles including head of planning and director of general affairs before becoming CEO in 1998. In 2022, he stepped down from management after being indicted for charges involving rebates and illegal clinical trials. He later returned to the company as Vice Chairman and inside director, and in 2024, he was reinstated as CEO, taking charge of new business ventures. As a second-generation executive at Ahngook Pharmaceutical, he has worked at the company for more than 30 years, gaining extensive experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Auh prefers focusing on internal operations rather than external activities and is committed to discovering new growth drivers and diversifying the company’s business portfolio. He served a prison sentence for charges related to illegal clinical trials and offering rebates and was released in October 2024. This has raised ongoing concerns about “owner risk” for the company. #AhngookPharmaceutical #AuhJin #KoreanPharmaceuticalIndustry #biotech #drugdevelopment #CEO #rebatelawsuit #illegaltrials #pharmaexecutive #ownerleadership

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  • Member of the National Assembly

    Park Jee-hye

    Park Jee-hye is a member of the National Assembly. She entered the National Assembly as the No. 1 recruited talent of the Democratic Party of Korea during the 22nd general election. She was born on October 31, 1978, in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province. Park double-majored in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering and Business Administration at Seoul National University. She completed the master’s program in Environmental Planning at Seoul National University's Graduate School of Environmental Studies, and later earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Management and Policy from Lund University in Sweden. She also holds both a Master of Laws (J.D. equivalent) and a Doctor of Laws from Seoul National University School of Law. She worked as a senior researcher at Eco Frontier and as a CSR manager at SK Telecom. After passing the 6th bar exam, she served as a full-time lawyer at the Green Law Center, focusing on corporate social responsibility and environmental law. She also served as a board member of the nonprofit Climate Solutions and as co-representative of the nonprofit Plan 1.5. In the 2024 22nd general election, she ran as a candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea and was elected to represent the Uijeongbu A district. She has served on the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, and the Special Committee on the Climate Crisis. Within just one year, she introduced 40 bills as a lead sponsor. Park is an expert in climate and environmental issues. She is committed to serving as a catalyst to turn public interest in climate challenges into effective policy. #ParkJeehye #KoreaPolitics #DemocraticParty #NationalAssembly #ClimatePolicy #EnvironmentalLaw #CSR #GreenLaw #Uijeongbu #2024Election

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  • CEO of Kbank

    Choi Woo-hyoung

    Choi Woo-hyoung is the CEO and President of Kbank. He is tasked with successfully leading Kbank’s initial public offering (IPO). He aims to secure future growth engines by targeting the corporate finance market. He was born on January 25, 1966. He graduated from Kyungdong High School in Seoul and the Department of Economics at Seoul National University. He received a master's degree in Financial Management from the Graduate School of Business at Seoul National University. After passing the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, he began his career at Hana Bank in 1992. He later moved to Accenture, where he served as a Senior Manager in the Financial Services Industry (FSI) and as the leader of the Financial Performance Management (FPM) division. He served as Head of Development (Executive Director) at Samsung SDS and as Executive Director of Financial Business Development at IBM Korea. He returned to the financial industry by joining Kyongnam Bank as Deputy President and Head of the Digital Finance Division. After BNK Financial Group acquired Kyongnam Bank, he concurrently held the positions of Head of Digital and IT at BNK Financial Group and Deputy President and Head of the D-IT Group at Kyongnam Bank. He was appointed CEO of Kbank in January 2024. He is a digital finance expert with experience in both the financial and IT industries. He values practicality and communication. #ChoiWoohyoung #Kbank #digitalfinance #IPO #Koreanbanking #BNKFinancialGroup #KyongnamBank #Accenture #SamsungSDS #financialleadership

    NEWS

    • • Kbank’s Final Hurdle: Choi Must Fix Board to Become Real Bank
    • • Kbank’s Third IPO Attempt Faces Political Risks: Choi Woo-hyoung Weighs Timing Carefully
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  • CEO of Kumho Petrochemical

    Park Jun-kyung

    Park Jun-kyung is the President and CEO of Kumho Petro Chemical. He is a third-generation business executive of the Kumho Petro Chemical Group. He is focused on strengthening the company’s eco-friendly portfolio to foster future core businesses and solidify its position as a leading company in the industry. Born on April 30, 1978, he is the eldest son of Park Chan-koo, Chairman of Kumho Petro Chemical Group. He graduated from Goojung High School in Seoul and studied Environmental Engineering at Korea University. In 2007, he began his career as a deputy general manager at Kumho Tire. He later moved to Kumho Petro Chemical, where he gained experience primarily in sales, serving as Managing Director of Resin Sales and then as Executive Vice President and Head of the Sales Division. In December 2022, he was appointed President and CEO of Kumho Petro Chemical. He is known for his humility and places great importance on maintaining horizontal relationships. #ParkJunkyung #KumhoPetroChemical #KoreanBusinessLeader #ThirdGenerationCEO #EcoFriendlyBusiness #EnvironmentalEngineering #KoreaUniversity #KumhoGroup #ChemicalIndustry #LeadershipStyle

    NEWS

    • • Kumho Petrochemical Emerges as Top Value Stock, Faces Growth Test
    • • Kumho Petrochemical Completes Rubber Plant Expansion, Park Jun-kyung Seeks Rebound Amid Industry Downturn
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  • The 21st President of the Republic of Ko

    Lee Jae-myung

    Lee Jae-myung ("이재명" in Korean) is the 21st President of the Republic of Korea. He was elected president in the early presidential election held on June 3, following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. His top priorities are ending the internal unrest and overcoming the economic crisis. Born on December 22, 1964, in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, he was the fifth of seven children. He passed qualification exams for both middle and high school, then graduated from the Department of Law at Chung-Ang University. After passing the 28th bar exam, he worked as a human rights lawyer and entered politics through his involvement in a campaign to establish Seongnam City Medical Center. He joined the Uri Party and ran for mayor of Seongnam but lost. He later served as a senior deputy chief of staff to presidential candidate Chung Dong-young, and although he was strategically nominated to run in Bundang A District in Seongnam during the general election, he was unsuccessful. He ran again in the 5th local elections, won the mayoral seat in Seongnam, and was re-elected for a second term. In the 7th local elections, he ran as the Democratic Party's candidate for governor of Gyeonggi Province and won. In the 2022 Democratic Party presidential primary, he defeated former party leader Lee Nak-yon to become the nominee but lost the presidential race to Yoon Suk-yeol, the candidate of the People Power Party. He was later elected in a by-election for the Gyeyang B District in Incheon and became party leader. After winning a seat in the April 2024 general elections, he was re-elected as leader of the Democratic Party. In April 2025, he stepped down from the party leadership to run in the 21st presidential election and was elected President of the Republic of Korea on June 4 of the same year. #LeeJaeMyung #SouthKoreaPresident #KoreanPolitics #DemocraticParty #PresidentialElection #YoonSukYeol #SeongnamMayor #GyeonggiGovernor #Election2025 #KoreanHistory

    NEWS

    • • Factory Boy Who Envied School Uniforms Rises to Presidency
    • • Lee Jae-myung’s ‘KRW 100 Trillion AI Investment’ Pledge and ‘Digital Democracy’
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  • CEO of Hana Securities

    Kang Seong-muk

    Kang Seong-muk is Vice Chairman of Hana Financial Group and President and CEO of Hana Securities. He oversees the group's retail, wealth management, corporate and investment banking (CIB), and capital markets businesses, focusing on enhancing expertise and expanding collaboration. He is tasked with successfully securing the megainvestment bank (IB) license for the securities firm. He was born on September 27, 1964, in Cheongju. He graduated from Cheongju Shinheung High School and the Department of Sociology at Sogang University. He began his career at Commercial Bank. At Hana Bank, he served as Branch Manager of the Bundang Central Branch, Head of Management Support and Sales Support Groups, and Deputy President, and later became Vice President of Hana UBS Asset Management. In 2022, he was appointed CEO of Hana Alternative Asset Management. In 2023, he was named CEO of Hana Securities and Vice Chairman of the financial holding company. At the end of 2024, he was listed as a candidate for Chairman of Hana Financial Group, solidifying his standing within the group. He is recognized as a sales expert with comprehensive experience in retail, corporate banking, and asset management. He is known for his modest and humble character. #KangSeongmuk #HanaFinancialGroup #HanaSecurities #KoreanFinance #InvestmentBanking #AssetManagement #LeadershipProfile #FinancialExecutive #CIB #KoreaBusiness

    NEWS

    • • Salesman No.1 Kang Seong-muk Eyes Hana Financial Chair with Sales DNA
    • • Misguided Customer Service? Hana Securities Stunned by Branch Investigation Over Leaked Probe Details
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  • CEO of GS E&C

    Huh Yoon-hong

    Huh Yoon-hong is the President and CEO of GS Engineering & Construction (GS E&C). As the 4th generation leader of the GS Group, he is dedicated to restoring trust following a series of incidents and controversies, including the collapse of an underground parking lot in Incheon. He was born on January 24, 1979, in Seoul, as the eldest son of Huh Chang-soo, the Chairman of GS Construction. He graduated from Seoul Han Young Foreign Language High School and earned a degree in International Business from Saint Louis University in the United States. He also obtained a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington. After joining LG-Caltex Oil (now GS Caltex), he moved to GS Construction, where he is celebrating his 19th year. Prior to becoming CEO, he held positions as the Future Innovation Representative, Business Support Director, and Head of New Business Division. With extensive experience in overseas construction sites, he emphasizes on-site management. Known for his modest and amicable personality, he often shares drinks with his employees.

    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
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  • CEO of SK Telecom

    Ryu Young-sang

    Ryu Young-sang is the President and CEO of SK Telecom. He is focusing on developing artificial intelligence (AI) as a future growth engine, based on the company’s core telecommunications business. He was born on May 15, 1970. He graduated from the Department of Industrial Engineering at Seoul National University and earned a master’s degree in industrial engineering from the same university's graduate school. He completed an MBA program at the University of Washington Business School in the United States. He began his career at Samsung C&T. He later moved to SK Telecom, where he served as Head of Business Development. He then became Head of Business Development at SK C&C before returning to SK Telecom to serve as Head of Strategic Planning, Head of the Corporate Center, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He also served as Executive Vice President of the Mobile Business Division and as head of the AI strategy task force “Apollo.” In 2021, when SK Telecom was split into holding company SK Square and business entity SK Telecom, he was appointed President and CEO of SK Telecom. In 2023, he briefly served as CEO of SK Broadband for seven months before stepping down to become Chairman of the Board. On the day he was appointed CEO of SK Telecom, he set a target of achieving KRW 23 trillion (US$ 16.6 billion) in revenue by 2025. He is known as an expert in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), having led major deals such as the acquisitions of Hynix, Toshiba, and ADT Caps. Within the SK Group, he serves as Chairman of the ICT Committee of the SUPEX Council. Outside the group, he is active as Chairman of the Korea Association for ICT Promotion (KAIT). He enjoys strong trust from Park Jung-ho, Vice Chairman and CEO of SK Square. He is known for his active communication style and emphasis on a spirit of challenge. #RyuYoungsang #SKTelecom #AIstrategy #telecomindustry #KAIChairman #M&Aexpert #SKGroup #SUPEXCouncil #KoreaICT #2025revenuegoal

    NEWS

    • • What SK Telecom Truly Lost in the Hack: Ryu Young-sang’s Path to Turning Crisis into Opportunity
    • • SK Telecom Hacking Crisis Threatens Earnings: Ryu Young-sang Risks Trillion-Won Losses