LG Retains 'Jeonja Jojuwan·Diple Jeong Cheoldong' and Maintains 'Two Vice Chairman' System

2025 Regular Executive Appointments
23% of All Promotions in 'ABC' Field
'R&D' 218 People, 65 Women 'Record High'

LG Group retained key executives, including Jo Joo-wan, CEO of LG Electronics, and Jeong Cheol-dong, CEO of LG Display, who were mentioned as candidates for vice chairman promotion. The 'two-person system' of Shin Hak-cheol, CEO and vice chairman of LG Chem, and Kwon Bong-seok, COO and vice chairman of LG Corp., was maintained. Hong Beom-sik, head of LG's management strategy division, was newly appointed as the CEO of LG Uplus.

LG Group announced that LG Corp. and its affiliates held board meetings on the 21st and conducted executive personnel appointments for 2025. Next year's executive appointments at LG were carried out under the principle of accelerating the pace of change for 'future growth.' A large number of new executives were appointed, focusing on the ABC (AI, Bio, Cleantech) sectors.

The total number of promotions was 121, down 18 (13%) from last year's 139. Among the 121 promoted executives, 23% (28 people) were appointed from the ABC sectors, reflecting Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo's philosophy of setting 'challenges and goals' to accelerate the pace of 'change' and 'innovation' in personnel decisions.

Of the 121 promoted executives, 86 (71%) were new appointments, a decrease of 13 (13%) from last year's 99. The average age of new executives remained the same as last year at 49. LG explained, "The strategy is to slim down the executive organization to enable faster decision-making and establish a structural competitiveness base."

Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG Group (center), Shin Hak-cheol, Vice Chairman and CEO of LG Chem (left), and Kwon Bong-seok, COO of LG Corporation, attended the 'Executive Workshop' held on September 25 at LG Inhwa Garden in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News

"Thorough 'Future Preparation' Centered on ABC"

LG appointed 23% of all promoted executives from the ABC sectors. Three executives born in the 1980s with global-level research capabilities and expertise in AI were newly appointed. These include Lee Moon-tae and Lee Jin-sik, senior research fellows at LG AI Research, and Jo Hyun-chul, managing director at LG Uplus.

They significantly reinforced outstanding R&D personnel. To secure future business capabilities from a long-term perspective, next-generation leadership was strengthened. Including 21 new executives, the total number of group R&D executives increased to a record high of 218.

Additionally, two patent experts were promoted to strengthen the patent management system and the role of the patent organization amid intensifying global competition. The key figures are Jo Hwi-jae, vice president of LG Electronics, and Lee Han-seon, executive director of LG Energy Solution.

Most Executives Including Jo Joo-wan and Jeong Cheol-dong Retained

LG ensured stability by retaining most key executives, including Jo Joo-wan and Jeong Cheol-dong. Although they were mentioned as candidates for group vice chairman promotion, both will continue their current CEO roles next year.

Four new CEOs and business division heads were appointed to accelerate the pace of change for enhancing business competitiveness and future new businesses. The total number of promoted executives is 121, including two presidents.

LG Uplus appointed Hong Beom-sik as the new CEO. LG Electronics established the ES (Eco Solution) Business Division and appointed Lee Jae-sung as the new head. LG Chem carried out a generational shift by appointing Kim Sang-min as executive director of the Petrochemical Business Division and Kim Dong-chun as vice president of the Advanced Materials Business Division.

Furthermore, LG promoted Kim Young-rak, vice president and head of LG Electronics Korea Sales Division, and Hyun Shin-gyun, CEO and vice president of LG CNS, to president to accelerate 'change.'

"Appointment of Women and Young Talent, Bold External Recruitment"

LG continued its policy of valuing talent based on ability and expertise regardless of gender, age, or background in this regular executive appointment.

Seven female executives were newly appointed across various fields such as customer value, sales, finance, marketing, and human resources. The number of female executives at LG increased from 29 in 2018 to a record high of 65.

The number of executives born in the 1980s reached 17, tripling over five years. LG stated, "This is to provide competitive young talents with opportunities and environments to realize their growth potential and further accelerate the pace of change within the group."

External talent recruitment was also not overlooked. This year, 10 external experts with specialized skills were brought in. Notably, LG Chem strengthened its geopolitical risk response capabilities by recruiting Ko Yoon-joo, a former international relations ambassador of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, recognized as a North American diplomacy expert.

Meanwhile, LG Corp. promoted Executive Director Lee Sang-woo to vice president, appointing him as head of management and electronics teams, and promoted Manager Lee Jang-hwan to managing director as head of the secretarial team. Jeong Soo-heon, head of LG Uplus Consumer Division, was appointed as the new CEO of LG Science Park.