Established Deulgukhwa Company with Personal Funds While Serving as Naver CEO
Oversaw Reunion Album Project... Released in 2013
Choi Hwiyoung, the nominee for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is once again drawing attention ahead of his confirmation hearing for his role as the executive producer of the reunion album of the rock band Deulgukhwa.
Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister nominee Choi Hwiyoung expresses his thoughts as he arrives for his first day at the confirmation hearing preparation office set up at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 14th. Photo by Jo Yongjun
According to past media reports, Choi first met the late Joo Chankwon, the drummer of Deulgukhwa, by chance at a cafe in Bundang, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province in 2012, while he was serving as CEO of Naver. After this encounter, he connected with Jeon Inkwon and Choi Sungwon through Joo Chankwon, proposed the idea of a Deulgukhwa reunion, and personally led the album project.
In January 2013, he established 'Deulgukhwa Company' using his own funds, and in December of the same year, released Deulgukhwa's reunion album, the first in 27 years. His name was listed as 'executive producer' on the album.
As the album project neared completion, Joo Chankwon passed away from a heart attack, making this album the last one created by the original members of Deulgukhwa together. In a media interview at the time, Choi said, "Deulgukhwa was everything to my youth," and added, "This album is even more precious because it is the last one where I can hear Chankwon's drums and the vocals of Inkwon and Sungwon."
This background has resurfaced during the recent confirmation hearing preparations by the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, and is being highlighted again, particularly in political and cultural circles.
Choi began his career as a journalist, worked at Yahoo Korea in 2000, and joined NHN (now Naver) in 2002. He served as Head of Planning, and as CEO from 2007 to 2009. In 2016, he founded the travel platform 'Triple.' In 2022, he was appointed CEO of Interpark, where he led the merger with the Yanolja platform. Last year, he became co-CEO of the merged entity, 'Nol Universe.' On the 14th, upon being nominated as minister, he stepped down from this position.
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