Chairman and Full-time Vice Chairman Positions Simultaneously Vacant
Park Jinseon of Sempio vs. Hwang Jonghyun of SPC Samlip
First-Ever Head-to-Head Contest Expected
The Korea Food Industry Association is repeatedly deliberating over the selection method for its next chairman. Since the board of directors meeting and annual general meeting held on February 28 failed to decide on a successor, the chairman position has remained vacant for two months. Notably, this time, Park Jinseon, CEO of Sempio Foods (age 75), and Hwang Jonghyun, CEO of SPC Samlip (age 63), have both expressed their intention to run, raising the possibility of a contested election for the first time since the association’s founding.
According to the food industry on April 23, the association is currently revising its internal regulations and amending its articles of association regarding the chairman selection process. The election is expected to take place around June. An association official stated, "We plan to enter the official selection process after revising the articles of association and internal regulations," and added, "This time, as there are multiple candidates, discussions regarding the selection method are taking longer."
General Meeting Election vs. Board of Directors Nomination
The key issue is who will elect the chairman and through what procedure. Currently, the association’s board of directors consists of 25 CEOs representing major domestic food companies, including CJ CheilJedang, Dongwon F&B, Daesang, and Dongseo Food. Until now, the customary practice has been for the board to agree on a single candidate internally and then have that candidate approved at the general meeting.
However, this is the first time in the association’s 55-year history that multiple candidates have declared their intention to run simultaneously. According to the articles of association, the chairman must be elected at the general meeting, not by the board. Article 14 stipulates, "The chairman and vice chairman shall be elected at the general meeting and reported to the Minister of Food and Drug Safety," and Article 10 specifies, "Members have the right to vote and to be elected for executive positions." Currently, there are a total of 191 member companies registered with the association. The election of the chairman is not included among the board’s decision-making items. Nevertheless, the association has historically operated with a "board-centered structure." With multiple candidates running, this approach is unlikely to work this time.
It has been reported that even at the most recent board meeting, the members were unable to narrow their differences regarding the selection method. The association plans to hold an additional board meeting as early as next month to discuss and finalize the selection process.
On February 28, Lee Hyoyul, the chairman of the Korea Food Industry Association, is speaking at the '156th Board of Directors Meeting and 2025 Annual General Meeting' held at Lotte Hotel Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Korea Food Industry Association
Honorary Position, but Representation and Legitimacy Are Essential
The chairman of the Korea Food Industry Association is an unpaid honorary position, but serves as a communication channel representing the food industry to the government, National Assembly, and regulatory authorities. An industry official commented, "Previously, there were hardly any candidates willing to take on the chairman role, but this time, both candidates are highly motivated," and added, "This makes procedural legitimacy even more important."
The backgrounds of the candidates are also drawing attention. Park Jinseon is a third-generation owner of Sempio, and his father, Park Seungbok, served as chairman of the association from 1999 to 2009.
Hwang Jonghyun is a professional manager who worked at Dongwon Group for over 30 years and has been leading SPC Samlip since 2020. Hwang is currently still serving as CEO, with his term running until March next year.
The current chairman, Lee Hyoyul, chairman of the board at Pulmuone, has served as association chairman for six years since 2018, with his official term ending at the end of February this year. However, due to delays in appointing a successor, he continues to serve in the role.
Another key executive position within the association, the full-time vice chairman, is also currently vacant. Vice Chairman Kim Myungcheol completed his term in November last year, but as a successor has not yet been appointed, he continues to carry out his duties. The association plans to appoint a new full-time vice chairman along with the selection of the new chairman. The candidates being mentioned include Lee Yundong, former head of the Gyeongin Regional Food and Drug Administration, and Song Inhwan, former director at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
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