[Obituary] Yeonhap Jeongmil Founder Chairman Kim Insul Passes Away

Kim In-sul, Chairman of Deokjae (德齋) who founded Yeonhap Precision Co., Ltd. in 1980 and led the localization of defense industry parts, passed away on the 14th at the age of 86.

Born in September 1937 during the Japanese colonial period, the late chairman served as vice president of Yeonhap Cable for eight years starting in 1972, successfully localizing ship cables that had relied on imports from Japan at 40% of the import price. Troubled by the situation where Korea's defense industry was dependent on foreign products and national taxes were flowing overseas, he established Yeonhap Precision in June 1980 under the banner of 'localization of defense parts.'

He emphasized that "it is necessary to achieve true localization, not just 'assembly localization' in name only," and dedicated himself to the localization of defense parts by directly developing military cable assemblies and military connector components and assembling finished products. In 1991, he developed the Korean-style intercom VIC-7K intercom set, and after being designated as a core defense industry company in 1995, he received the QPL certification, a quality certification system from the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), in 2018?the first in Asia in the connector field.

At the time, he remarked, "Everyone said it was a reckless challenge, but after 10 years of effort, we were able to open a QPL market worth 4 trillion won through the technology accumulated by localization development," highlighting its significance. Yeonhap Precision became a leading company in the communication equipment field because he never stopped research and development. In July 1996, unusually for a small and medium-sized enterprise, he established a technology research institute, obtained ISO9001 and KS certifications amid the 1997 foreign exchange crisis, and in 1998 developed EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) shielding connectors and cable assemblies for the next-generation tactical communication system.

He reportedly continued to visit the company until recently to check on technology development status and always carried management documents in his suit pocket to review them.

Recognized for his contributions to the development of the domestic defense industry, he received the Iron Tower Industrial Medal in 1987, the Prime Minister’s Commendation in 2002, the $10 million Export Tower Award in 2011, and the 'Proud Defense Industry Person Award' from the Korea Defense Industry Association in 2015. He is survived by his wife Cha Hye-yeon and four children, including the current CEO Kim Eun-joo.

The funeral will be held as a company funeral, with the funeral hall at Shilnakwon (732 Seobu Saetgil, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul), and the funeral procession will take place on the 16th.