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

- CEO of Igloo Corporation
  Lee Deuk-choon
  
  Lee Deuk-choon is the CEO of Igloo Corporation. He is dedicated to the research and development of security management solutions incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and expanding their market reach. He was born on May 24, 1963. He graduated from Inha University with a degree in Electronic Computing. He worked in the networking field at Nuri and Sambo Computer before serving as the Head of the Information Security Business Division at Cybertel Holdings. In 1999, he founded Igloo Security (now Igloo Corporation) and launched SPiDER, an integrated security management solution. He has grown Igloo Corporation into the No. 1 company in the domestic integrated security management sector. #LeeDeukchoon #IglooCorporation #cybersecurity #AIsecurity #SPiDER #securitymanagement #Koreantech #techCEO #informationsecurity #businessleader
- CEO of UTI
  Park Deok-young
  
  Park Deok-young is the CEO of UTI. He is focused on expanding production capacity through aggressive investments, including the construction of a new factory in Vietnam as part of business diversification efforts. He was born on February 15, 1960. He graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in Ceramic Engineering and began his career in the Optical Communication Division of Daewoo Telecom. He gained experience at Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology’s Parts and Materials Research Center and the Thin Film Head Division of Nova Magnetics before founding NeowinSys in 2006, entering the strengthened glass business. After leaving NeowinSys through aggressive mergers and acquisitions, he founded UTI in 2010 and re-entered the strengthened glass industry. He developed a technology that directly embeds touch circuits into strengthened glass substrates, significantly reducing touch screen production costs. As a researcher-turned-entrepreneur, he emphasizes technology and innovation. He values a culture of open and independent research. #ParkDeokyoung #UTI #strengthenedglass #touchscreen #technologyinnovation #businessstrategy #manufacturing #SouthKorea #YonseiUniversity #corporatemanagement
- Vice Chairman of Lotte Corporation
  Lee Dong-woo
  
  Lee Dong-woo is the Vice Chairman and CEO of Lotte Corporation. He is responsible for Lotte Group's business strategy and finance while focusing on discovering new business opportunities. He was born on September 7, 1960. He graduated from Shinil High School in Seoul and earned a degree in Business Administration from Konkuk University. He completed an MBA program at Yonsei University Graduate School of Business. He joined Lotte Department Store and served as the Jamsil Branch Manager and Head of the Management Support Division before becoming the CEO of Lotte World in 2012. In 2015, he was appointed CEO of Lotte Himart, where he led performance improvements, and in 2020, he was promoted to CEO of Lotte Corporation. In 2021, he was promoted to Vice Chairman and CEO. He was chosen as the key figure to improve Lotte Group's structure and develop a new growth strategy. He has the strong trust of Shin Dong-bin, Chairman of Lotte Group. He is a lifelong "Lotte man," having worked at Lotte Group for 38 years. He is proactive in recruiting external talent, meticulous in his work, and highly disciplined in self-management. #Lotte #LotteCorporation #LeeDongwoo #businessstrategy #finance #newbusiness #leadership #Korea #CEO #management
  NEWS
  - • Lotte's Lee Dong-woo: Pushing for Innovation and Efficiency
- President of Soongsil University
  Lee Yun-jae
  
  Lee Yun-jae is the President of Soongsil University. He took office on February 4, 2025. He aims to reboot Soongsil University through "Hyper-Innovation in the Era of Great Transition," focusing on restoring its status and targeting niche markets. He was born on December 18, 1956, in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do. He graduated from Dangjin High School and earned a degree in economics from Soongsil University. He later obtained both his master's and doctoral degrees in economics from Northern Illinois University in the United States. In 1991, he joined Soongsil University as a professor in the Department of Economics and held various administrative positions, including Director of Planning, Dean of Academic Affairs, and Dean of Student Affairs. Externally, he served as the President of the Korean Association of Small Business Studies and Chairman of the Hope Foundation for Small and Medium Business Owners. An expert in macroeconomics and open economy fluctuations, he has a strong interest in the economic issues of small and medium-sized businesses and self-employed entrepreneurs. #LeeYunjae #SoongsilUniversity #universitypresident #economist #macroeconomics #highereducation #smallbusiness #economicpolicy #Korea #leadership
- Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor
  Chang Jae-hoon
  
  Chang Jae-hoon is the Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Company's Complete Vehicle Division. He is tasked with overcoming the electric vehicle chasm (a temporary stagnation in demand) and achieving continuous performance growth. He was born on August 3, 1964. He graduated from Seoul High School and earned a degree in sociology from Korea University. He later completed an MBA program at Boston University’s School of Management in the United States. He joined Hyundai Motor Group as the Head of the Global Business Office at Hyundai Glovis. He then moved to Hyundai Motor Company, where he held various positions, including Head of Production Development Planning, Head of Customer Value and concurrently Head of Customer Channel Service, and Head of HR. When Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun took the helm of the company's management, Chang supported him as Executive Vice President and Head of the Business Support Division. His role expanded as he took on dual responsibilities as Head of the Domestic Business Division and Head of the Genesis Business Division. In 2020, he was promoted to President. In 2024, he was promoted to Vice Chairman of the Complete Vehicle Division, a newly established position, and now oversees overall business operations. He is recognized for leading open communication efforts, making Hyundai's traditionally conservative corporate culture more flexible. #Hyundai #ChangJaehoon #EVmarket #HyundaiMotor #automotiveindustry #businessgrowth #Genesis #HyundaiGlovis #leadership #Korea
  NEWS
  - • Hyundai Motor Group Appoints Foreign CEO for the First Time, Promotes Chang Jae-hoon to Vice Chairman
  - • Hyundai Targets India's Rapidly Growing, EV Market with Localized Models
- CEO of Clobot
  Kim Chang-gu
  
  Kim Chang-gu is the CEO of Clobot. He aims to make Clobot one of the world's top three autonomous robot service companies. He was born on August 30, 1974. He majored in Mechanical Engineering at Chonnam National University and earned a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the university’s graduate school. He then completed a Ph.D. program in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Seoul National University. He began his career in 2005 as a researcher at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and has spent 20 years developing and commercializing intelligent robots. In 2017, he founded Clobot and became its CEO. Clobot became the first software company in the robotics industry to be listed on the KOSDAQ. He is recognized as a "technology-driven leader" with outstanding execution skills. #KimChangGu #Clobot #robotics #autonomousrobots #AI #KOSDAQ #technology #innovation #engineering #startup
- CEO of Newflex
  Lim Woo-hyun
  
  Lim Woo-hyun is the CEO of Newflex. He is the founder of Newflex, a company specializing in flexible printed circuit boards (FPCB). He is working to expand the company's business beyond smartphones to include electric vehicle batteries and extended reality (XR) devices. He was born on January 6, 1954, in Yeongdeok, Gyeongsangbuk-do. He graduated from Daeryun High School in Daegu and earned a degree in Applied Chemistry from Kyungpook National University. He gained experience in the printed circuit board (PCB) industry while working at Dongyang Precision Industry and Shinseong Electronics. In 1992, he founded Deborah Electronics, the predecessor of Newflex. He expanded the company by securing LG Electronics and LG Innotek as clients and laid the foundation for growth by establishing business relations with Samsung Electronics. He is a self-made entrepreneur who has focused solely on his field, emphasizing technology management and quality management. #LimWooHyun #Newflex #FPCB #PCB #electricvehicles #XR #Samsung #LGElectronics #LGInnotek #entrepreneur
- CEO of Curexo
  Lee Jae-jun
  
  Lee Jae-jun is the CEO of Curexo. He is focused on expanding into the global medical robotics market. He was born on May 10, 1968, in Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-do. He graduated from Dongsan High School in Daejeon and studied genetic engineering at Sungkyunkwan University. He joined Korea Yakult (now hy) and served as Director of the Purchasing Team. When Korea Yakult acquired Curexo in 2011, he was appointed CEO of Curexo. He led the company's growth, including the acquisition of Hyundai Heavy Industries' medical robotics division. He is a determined and hardworking CEO who values technological innovation and collaboration. #LeeJaejun #Curexo #MedicalRobotics #SungkyunkwanUniversity #hy #KoreaYakult #HealthcareTechnology #BusinessLeadership #Innovation #RoboticsIndustry
- CEO of NCSoft
  Kim Taek-jin
  
  Kim Taek-jin is the CEO and President of NCSoft. He achieved massive success with games based on the *Lineage* intellectual property (IP). He was born on March 14, 1967, in Seoul. He graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Electronic Engineering and earned a master’s degree in the same field from Seoul National University’s graduate school. He later enrolled in a doctoral program but dropped out. He worked with DreamWiz CEO Lee Chan-jin on the development of *Hangul Word Processor* and founded HanmeSoft in 1989. He later worked as a development team leader at Hyundai Electronics, where he had previously served under the alternative military service program. In 1997, he founded NCSoft with a capital of KRW 100 million (US$ 72,100) and became its CEO. Through the *Lineage* series, he swiftly adapted to the shift toward mobile gaming, generating enormous profits. However, he struggled to produce another hit title and failed to achieve significant results in developing new IPs and expanding into new business areas. In 2024, he brought in private equity investor Park Byung-moo as co-CEO and initiated aggressive restructuring measures, including voluntary retirements, to restore NCSoft’s reputation as a leading game company. He leads a modest and down-to-earth personal life but demonstrates a strong competitive spirit in business. #KimTaekjin #NCSoft #Lineage #GameIndustry #MobileGaming #NewIP #Restructuring #ElectronicEngineering #SeoulNationalUniversity #HyundaiElectronics
  NEWS
  - • NCSoft's Legal Battles Amid "Lineage-Like" Boom: Kim Taek-jin's Struggle to Protect the Lineage IP
  - • NCSoft's First Foray into China’s Mobile MMORPG Market: Can Kim Taek-jin Restore Lost Pride?
- CEO of Novatech
  Oh Choon-taek
  
  Oh Choon-taek is the CEO of Novatech. He also serves as the CEO of its subsidiary, Novalabs. In 2012, he developed the world's first Shield Magnet. He was born on May 31, 1960, in Yangyang, Gangwon Province. He graduated from Gangneung High School and studied Mechanical Design at Pusan National University. In 1986, he joined LG Electronics and worked there for ten years. In 1998, he founded Telecom Electronics. After experiencing bankruptcy, he established Novatech in 2007 and successfully made a comeback. Novatech is regarded as the only company in South Korea that has fully internalized magnet design, raw material sourcing, and production capabilities. #OhChoonTaek #Novatech #Novalabs #ShieldMagnet #LGElectronics #TelecomElectronics #SouthKorea #MechanicalDesign #PusanNationalUniversity #MagnetIndustry

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