Which CEOs Are Born in the Year of the Snake in Business Circles... Those Born in 1965 Are Predominant

Chairman Gu Ja-yeol Born in 1953 Still Active in Management
Kwok No-jung SK Hynix & Lee Seok-hee SK On CEOs
Park Ji-won Doosan Enerbility Chairman and Same Age Born in 1965

As we welcome the new year of Eulsan, CEOs born in the Year of the Snake who are active across various industries are drawing attention. There are CEOs from a wide range of age groups, including those born in 1965 who are turning 60, those born in 1953 who are still at the forefront of management, and relatively younger CEOs born in 1977.

Gu Ja-yeol, born in 1953, is the chairman of the board of LS Group. He served as the chairman of LS Group from 2013 to 2021 before stepping down and currently holds the position of board chairman. Although he passed the chairman position to his cousin Gu Ja-eun, chairman of LS Group, he remains actively involved in frontline management by overseeing external investment activities as the chairman of the holding company's board. During his tenure as group chairman, he also served as the chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, one of the five major economic organizations.

Jang Se-ju, chairman of Dongkuk Holdings, is also a 1953-born Year of the Snake CEO. After serving a prison term, he was pardoned and reappointed as an inside director this year after eight years. He is also the largest shareholder of Dongkuk Steel, Korea’s first private steel company’s holding company. Kim Yoon, chairman of Samyang, which celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, is from the same zodiac year. After stepping down as CEO, Kim now serves as an inside director of the holding company and also chairs the Korea-Japan Economic Association.

Among the 1965-born executives, Park Ji-won, chairman of Doosan Enerbility, is actively leading the company. Despite the energy industry being at a crossroads and nuclear power-related businesses experiencing fluctuations depending on the administration, the business has been maintained thanks to the owner’s direct involvement in frontline management. Namgung Hong, CEO of Samsung E&A, who took office last year, marks his 30th year with the company this year. He began his career at Hyosung and moved to Samsung Engineering, the predecessor of his current company, in 1994.

Both Kwak No-jung, CEO of SK Hynix, and Lee Seok-hee, CEO of SK On, key affiliates of SK Group, were born in 1965 and started their careers as semiconductor engineers at Hyundai Electronics, the predecessor of Hynix. Although the 12 zodiac signs are part of East Asian culture, Jose Munoz, recognized as Hyundai Motor’s first foreign CEO, was also born in 1965. Currently serving as the global Chief Operating Officer (COO) and head of the North American division, he has been acknowledged for his performance and will become the CEO of the headquarters starting next year. Lee Kyu-seok, who moved from Hyundai Motor to Hyundai Mobis last year, is the same age.

Hyun Shin-gyun, CEO of LG CNS, was promoted to president in the year-end executive reshuffle and successfully renewed his term. The industry views this as a show of support for the current CEO amid preparations for the company’s initial public offering next year.

Among the 40-something Year of the Snake CEOs is Gu Bon-hyeok, CEO of Yesco Holdings. He is the eldest son of the late Gu Ja-myeong, former chairman of LS Nikko Copper, and was promoted to vice chairman in the year-end personnel reshuffle. Jin Jeong-hee, CEO of NC America, NCSoft’s U.S. subsidiary; Kim Seung-chul, CEO of Neowiz; and Ryu Geung-seon, CEO of Kakao Mobility, were all born in 1977.