[22nd Rising Star]⑧ CEO 대신 'E.S' Choi Eun-seok "I will focus on regulatory reform"

No Formalities to Communicate During CJ CEO Tenure
Entered Politics to Give Back Benefits Received from Society
Emphasized "Parliament Must Become Efficient"

Editor's NoteThere are 131 first-term lawmakers entering the 22nd National Assembly. This is the lowest number since the 16th National Assembly in 2000, which had 112. Amid a political landscape where the ruling party holds fewer seats than the opposition, the public expects these lawmakers to lead politics of dialogue and compromise and deliver tangible results. We introduce the elected officials who are expected to bring a fresh breeze to the 22nd National Assembly. ① Park Ji-hye ② Go Dong-jin ③ Kwak Sang-eon ④ Park Soo-min ⑤ Park Chung-kwon ⑥ Seo Myung-ok ⑦ Im Mi-ae ⑧ Choi Eun-seok

Choi Eun-seok, the elected representative for Daegu Dong-gu and Gunwi Gap, was called by his English initials E.S instead of "President" during his tenure as CEO of CJ CheilJedang. He strictly prohibited formalities such as bowing at 90 degrees, carrying bags, or opening car doors for others. This was to communicate with employees as colleagues cooperating with each other. In a recent interview with Asia Economy, Choi said, "I tried to listen to diverse opinions," adding, "At that time, we always discussed and debated with employees about how the company should grow in the future and what new business opportunities there might be."

Choi graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Business Administration and worked for over 20 years at CJ Group affiliates after passing through Samil Accounting Corporation. Having served as CEO, he revealed, "I vaguely thought that I would like to repay the benefits I received from society and people around me by serving in the public sector." However, after being nominated through the national recommendation system, he confessed that he spent several sleepless nights deeply contemplating.

Choi Eun-seok, the elected member of the People Power Party for Daegu Dong-gu Gap, is giving an interview to Asia Economy at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

As an economic expert, Choi's goal is to propose legislation for regulatory reform. He said, "When foreign companies consider our country as an investment destination, our competitiveness is relatively low," and added, "I think tax incentives that can promote investment are necessary, so I plan to focus on the Restriction of Special Taxation Act and laws that can resolve regulations." He continued, "Since I have a lot of experience in how laws and systems operate in the private sector, I will identify the key points well and discuss areas for policy cooperation with the government."

Choi also pledged to work on revitalizing the economy of his constituency, Daegu Dong-gu. He said, "The Dong-gu Venture Valley was established in the mid-2010s to foster venture companies and startups, but it seems to have lost much of its vitality recently," adding, "Since I have emphasized coexistence and mutual growth between large corporations and startups, I intend to work on related matters." He also stated, "I plan to create a cluster for future industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and bio-healthcare by utilizing the existing K2 rear site, which is over 2 million pyeong."

Choi emphasized, "Although I am a first-term lawmaker, I will raise my voice." He stressed that the National Assembly must be reborn as a "working parliament," including political reforms such as relinquishing privileges, which the People Power Party proposed as an election pledge. He said, "Although the National Assembly talks about people's livelihoods, there are many parts where practical cooperation and collaboration do not happen," adding, "CEOs of large corporations must deliver results through business and mainly work on the execution stage by forming consensus through communication with different stakeholders. Based on this, I want to bring about a small but significant wind of change."