UnicoSearch Executive Personnel Series Analysis
Seoul National University Declines... Busan National University Leads in Provinces
This year, three out of ten CEOs of the top 1,000 companies were graduates of the 'SKY' universities, referring to Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. By birth year, those born in 1964 (aged 60) were the most common. Seoul National University alumni accounted for 14% of the total. Among regional universities, Busan National University had the highest number of CEOs.
Logos of Seoul National University, Korea University, Yonsei University (clockwise from the left). Photo by Asia Economy DB
According to the '2024 Analysis of Alma Mater and Majors of CEOs of the Top 1,000 Domestic Companies' released on the 25th by Unico Search, a global headhunting specialist, out of 1,380 surveyed (undergraduate basis), 188 (13.6%) were Seoul National University graduates. Yonsei University followed with 113 (8.2%), and Korea University with 107 (7.7%).
CEOs from SKY universities numbered 408 (29.6%). This ratio was 0.3 percentage points lower than last year's 29.9%. Since the survey of the top 1,000 companies began in 2008 (45.6%), the ratio dropped to the 30% range in 2013 (39.5%) after five years. Six years later, in 2019, it fell to the 20% range. Since then, it has remained in the 20% range for six consecutive years: 2020 (29.3%) → 2021 (28.4%) → 2022 (28.9%) → last year (29.9%) → this year (29.6%).
By age group, the largest number of CEOs of the top 1,000 companies were born between 1960 and 1963, totaling 310 (22.5%). This was followed by those born between 1964 and 1966 with 247 (17.8%), 1967 to 1969 with 163 (11.8%), 1970 to 1973 with 158 (11.4%), and 1957 to 1959 with 156 (11.3%).
Among single birth years, 1964 had the highest number with 107 (7.8%). Looking at CEOs born in 1964 by university, Seoul National University led with 24 (1.7%), followed by Korea University and Yonsei University with 12 each (0.9%). CEOs born after 1980 numbered 64 (4.6%). The youngest CEO among the top 1,000 companies was identified as Lim Dong-yeon, born in 1997 (aged 27), CEO of Gaon Group.
The proportion of Seoul National University alumni has steadily decreased: 2019 (15.2%) → 2020 (14.9%) → 2021 (14.1%) → 2022 (13.9%) → last year (13.8%) → this year (13.6%).
The senior-most Seoul National University alumnus CEO is Ko Eun-hee, chairwoman of Daelim Trading (born 1934). Other Seoul National University alumni entrepreneurs include Lee Chang-won, chairman of Korea Terminal Industry (born 1936); Lee Bu-seop, chairman of Dongjin Semichem (born 1937); Heo Nam-gak, chairman of Samyang Trading (born 1938); and Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of CJ CheilJedang (born 1939). CEOs from Seoul National University born in the 1980s include Koo Bon-sang, vice chairman of Shinseong Delta Tech (born 1980); Choi Soo-yeon, president of Naver (born 1981); and Seo Jin-seok, chairman of Celltrion (born 1984).
Seoul National University CEOs born in 1964 include Jang Deok-hyun, president of Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Electronic Engineering); Jang Yong-ho, president of SK (Economics); Park Byung-ryul, CEO of Jin Air (German Language and Literature); Cho Ki-seok, president of DB HiTek (Metallurgical Engineering); and Lee Ui-beom, chairman of SG World Material (Computational Statistics). Korea University CEOs include Jang Jae-hoon, recently promoted to vice chairman of Hyundai Motor (Sociology); Hong Won-hak, president of Samsung Life Insurance (Japanese Language and Literature); Jung Hae-rin, president of Samsung C&T Corporation (Economics); and Yang Tae-hoe, chairman of Visang Education (French Language and Literature). Yonsei University CEOs include Kim Kyung-bae, president of HMM (Business Administration); Sung Hoe-yong, CEO of Taekwang Industrial (Metallurgical Engineering); Kim Hwan-seok, president of Maeil Dairies (Food Engineering); and Cho Jae-cheon, CEO of Hyundai Elevator (English Language and Literature).
Non-SKY university CEOs were from Hanyang University (59, 4.3%), Sogang University (42, 3%), Sungkyunkwan University (38, 2.8%), Chung-Ang University (31, 2.2%), Busan National University (29, 2.1%), Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (28, 2%), Inha University (25, 1.8%), Kyung Hee University (23, 1.7%), and Dongguk University (20, 1.4%). Among regional universities excluding Seoul and Gyeonggi, Busan National University had the highest number. Yeungnam University (19, 1.4%), Dong-A University (14, 1%), and Kyungpook National University (13, 0.9%) followed.
The proportion of CEOs with science and engineering backgrounds was 45.5%. After reaching a peak of 51.6% in 2019 from 43% in 2010, it has maintained a mid-to-high 40% range for four years: 2021 (46.5%) → 2022 (44.9%) → last year (45.4%) → this year (45.5%).
By major this year, business administration majors were the most common with 209 CEOs (22.9%). Economics (9.2%), chemical engineering (8.1%), electrical and electronic engineering (6.7%), and mechanical engineering (6.1%) followed.
Among business administration major CEOs, 100 (7.2%) were from SKY universities. Yonsei University had the most with 36, followed by Korea University (35) and Seoul National University (29). Yonsei University business administration alumni CEOs include Jang Hong-seon, chairman of Geukdong Petrochemical (born 1940); Kim Young-jin, chairman of Handok (born 1956); Seol Beom, chairman of Daehan Textile (born 1958); Seo Kyung-bae, chairman of Amorepacific (born 1963); and Park Ji-won, chairman of Doosan Enerbility (born 1965).
Kim Hye-yang, CEO of Unico Search, said, "When talent evaluation criteria were not diverse, there was a tendency to prefer graduates from specific universities during the hiring process, but now the ability to demonstrate results is a more important criterion. Especially as we enter the era of artificial intelligence (AI), insight and execution skills that can grasp the trends of the times more quickly and accurately are becoming increasingly important."
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