The Key Figure Who Made Korea Zinc No. 1 in Non-Ferrous Metals
from a Country with No Smelting Tradition
Choi Changgeol, Honorary Chairman of Korea Zinc, who developed Korea Zinc into the world’s number one company in the non-ferrous metals sector, passed away on October 6, 2025, due to a chronic illness. He was 84 years old.
Korea Zinc announced that Honorary Chairman Choi passed away from a chronic illness while receiving treatment at Seoul National University Hospital in Yeongeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. His wife, Yoo Junggeun (former President of the Korean Red Cross), and his son, Choi Yoonbeom, Chairman of Korea Zinc, were by his side at the time of his passing.
Born in 1941 in Bongsan, Hwanghae Province, Choi was recognized as the key figure who, since the founding of Korea Zinc in 1974, devoted himself to the company and transformed it into a global enterprise.
Korea Zinc paid tribute to Honorary Chairman Choi, describing him as a “towering figure in the non-ferrous metals industry” who, in just 30 years, led Korea Zinc to surpass world-renowned smelters with over a century of history, establishing it as the world’s top comprehensive non-ferrous metals company, despite Korea’s lack of natural resources and its underdeveloped zinc smelting industry at the time. Korea Zinc has risen to become the world’s leading company, representing global smelters in negotiations with the world’s largest mining firms over benchmark treatment charges (TC).
The funeral for Honorary Chairman Choi will be held as a company funeral for four days starting from October 7. The funeral committee will be chaired by Lee Jejoong, Vice Chairman of Korea Zinc. The memorial altar will be set up in Room 20 of the funeral hall at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, and the funeral service will take place at 8 a.m. on October 10.
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