"Healthy Iberico"... Kim Dong-seon Launches Food Challenge

Premium Iberico Products Launch in Second Half
Five Guys Opens in US in First Half
Galleria Split in March... Handling Distribution and Resort Sectors

[Photo by Kim Dongseon, Galleria Strategy Headquarters Director Twitter]

Kim Dong-seon, the third son of Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon and Head of Strategy at Hanwha Solutions Galleria Division, is stepping to the forefront of management activities this year as he expands new business ventures. Kim, who oversees new business strategies for Galleria and Hanwha Hotels & Resorts, is actively introducing 'premium food products' to the domestic market, focusing on the food and beverage (F&B) sector, an area of personal interest. Through this, he plans to steadily prove his management capabilities responsible for the group's distribution and resort sectors.

On the 2nd, Galleria announced that under Kim's leadership, it will launch various products using premium Spanish Iberico pork in the second half of this year. Right after attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland last month, Kim conducted an on-site inspection of the Iberico farm located in the Sierra Morena National Park in northern Seville, Spain, operated by Hanwha, checking the pig breeding environment and quality. Currently, Hanwha is the only Korean company directly managing an Iberico farm in Spain.

The pigs being raised are 100% purebred Iberico black pigs, fed acorns and free-range, classified as the highest-grade Bellota. The Bellota grade accounts for only 7% of all Spanish Iberico pork and must be certified by the Spanish Iberico Association (ASICI). Although the farm spans an area equivalent to 1,400 football fields, the number of pigs raised is limited to several hundred to ensure quality improvement. Galleria stated, "This is Kim's second visit to the farm, showing his strong determination to bring healthy food products to the domestic market," adding, "Kim has recently been traveling around Europe, including Spain, the U.S., and other countries worldwide, focusing on discovering new businesses and verifying their feasibility."

Hanwha operates the Iberico Farm within Sierra Morena National Park in northern Seville, Spain (Photo by Galleria).

After joining Galleria last year as the head of the New Business Strategy Office responsible for discovering and promoting new businesses, Kim was promoted to Head of Strategy, encompassing planning and human resources, following the organizational restructuring in November. With a strong interest in the F&B sector, Kim is leveraging his passion to expand new businesses reflecting global food market trends such as eco-friendliness, health, and sustainability. Previously, he personally persuaded the founder of the famous American hamburger brand 'Five Guys' to enter the Korean market. The first Five Guys store in Korea is scheduled to open in the first half of this year, with plans to open more than 15 stores over the next five years.

Starting with Five Guys and premium Iberico pork, Kim plans to visit various global sites to discover future growth opportunities for Hanwha's distribution and service sectors. He also solidified his expanded management role by being promoted from Executive Director to Senior Executive Director of the Future Strategy Office at Hanwha Hotels & Resorts. Additionally, he is broadening his domestic and international foothold in equestrian-related businesses, his specialty. Choosing the Davos Forum as his first international stage earlier this year, Kim met with executives of global companies and officials from emerging countries during the forum to discuss business cooperation plans.

Meanwhile, Hanwha Group's succession plan has been set with Chairman Kim's eldest son, Kim Dong-kwan, Vice Chairman of Hanwha Solutions, overseeing the solar power, defense, and chemical sectors; the second son, Kim Dong-won, Vice President of Hanwha Life Insurance, managing the financial sector; and the third son, Kim Dong-seon, Head of Strategy, responsible for the distribution and resort sectors. Galleria, where Kim is developing new businesses, will be spun off from Hanwha Solutions next month after two years and will operate as a separate corporation before going public.

Kim Dong-seon, Head of Strategy at Galleria (right in the photo), is taking a commemorative photo with William Fitcher, Executive Vice President of Five Guys International, after the signing ceremony for promoting Five Guys' domestic business at The Plaza in Seoul last October. (Photo by Galleria)