KOREA WHO

Son Joo-suk is the President and CEO of Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC).

He has focused on restoring trust while overcoming a complex crisis involving complete capital impairment and controversy surrounding the Daewanggorae offshore gas project.

He was born on October 9, 1960, in Imsil, North Jeolla Province.

He graduated from Jeonju High School in North Jeolla Province and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from Kyung Hee University.

He began his political career as a secretary to Lim Chun-won, a lawmaker from the Peace Democratic Party. During the 16th presidential election, he served as administrative team head at the Millennium Democratic Party’s presidential planning group and later as head of administrative support at Roh Moo-hyun’s election campaign committee under the National Participation Headquarters.

After the Roh Moo-hyun administration took office, he served as Managing Director of the Environmental Management Corporation, now the Korea Environment Corporation, before being appointed Chairman in 2006. He later worked as regional committee chairman for the Sosa district of Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, under the United Democratic Party.

After the Lee Myung-bak administration was launched, he left politics and public office and worked as an advisor to the civil engineering and environment division of Hanwha Engineering & Construction and as a visiting professor at Shinsung University.

Under the Moon Jae-in administration, he was appointed Chairman of the Korea Petroleum Quality & Distribution Authority. The Lee Jae-myung administration brought him back into public service in March 2026 by appointing him President and CEO of Korea National Oil Corporation.

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