EY Hanyoung Selects Chairman Mongwon Chung as Master Award Winner at the 19th EY Entrepreneur Of The Year

Family Business: Jongseok Kim, Chairman, and Jooyoung Kim, President of Pyeonghwa Group
Women Entrepreneur: Haeryun Kim, Chairman of Taekyung Group
Rising Star: Sungyeon Ban, CEO of Dalba Global

Global accounting and consulting firm EY Hanyoung announced that on the 14th, it held the 19th EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Awards ceremony at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, presenting awards to six entrepreneurs including Mongwon Chung, Chairman of HL Group.

At the 19th EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards ceremony held on the 14th at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, the awardees are taking a commemorative photo. From the left: Sungyeon Ban, CEO of Dalba Global; Haeryun Kim, Chairman of Taekyung Group; Mongwon Chung, Chairman of HL Group; Jongseok Kim, Chairman of Pyeonghwa Group; Jooyoung Kim, President of Pyeonghwa Group; Suin Lee, CEO of Enuma. Photo by EY Hanyoung

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards is a globally renowned business award that honors entrepreneurs who change the world through innovation and passion, boasting a 40-year history and tradition. It began in the United States in 1986 and now discovers around 1,000 entrepreneurs annually in 94 countries and regions worldwide. In Korea, the awards have been held since 2007, marking their 19th year in 2025. This year’s global theme, “The Shapers,” highlighted innovators who lead change, create new possibilities, and open bold futures.

An independent panel of judges, chaired by former Financial Services Commission Chairman Jongkoo Choi, evaluated the candidates based on four criteria: Impact, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Purpose, and Growth.

The highest honor, the Master Award, is given to an entrepreneur who has established a solid position within their industry through outstanding leadership. This year, it was awarded to Mongwon Chung, Chairman of HL Group. HL Group operates in future mobility, robotics, and construction through affiliates such as HL Mando, HL Klemove, HL Robotics, and HL D&I Halla. Chairman Chung is recognized for his entrepreneurial spirit, which turned the threat of group dissolution during the Asian financial crisis into an opportunity. He rebuilt the group by reacquiring the automotive parts company Mando in 2008 after it had been sold. His pioneering vision, which extends beyond automotive parts to electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and robotics in the future mobility sector, was cited as the core reason for his selection.

Chairman Chung’s spirit of challenge extends beyond management to realizing social value through sports. In 1994, he founded the ice hockey team Mando Winia (now HL Anyang), fostering lesser-known sports and fulfilling social responsibility. Thanks to sustained support, HL Anyang has become a nine-time champion in the Asia League. At the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, as President of the Korea Ice Hockey Association, Chairman Chung led the formation of the inter-Korean women’s unified team, creating a symbol of peace through sports. He has adopted the key values of speed, freedom, and team spirit from ice hockey as his management philosophy, guiding HL Group to become a global company with innovative leadership that overcomes crises and envisions the future.

The Family Business Award, given to family entrepreneurs who have carried on the founding spirit across generations, was presented to Jongseok Kim, Chairman, and Jooyoung Kim, President of Pyeonghwa Group, which has maintained a 75-year history over three generations. Pyeonghwa Group began in 1950 manufacturing rubber erasers. Under the leadership of second-generation Chairman Jongseok Kim, the company succeeded in localizing core automotive parts such as oil seals and O-rings. Third-generation President Jooyoung Kim then restructured the business around future vehicles such as electric and hydrogen cars, expanding into global markets. With the management philosophy that “people are Pyeonghwa Group’s greatest asset,” the company has maintained its reputation as a family business rooted in technology, trust, and community coexistence, without a single labor dispute in 75 years.

The Women Entrepreneur Award, given to a female entrepreneur leading a company with remarkable industry growth, went to Haeryun Kim, Chairman of Taekyung Group, who is recognized for her keen sense of trends and commitment to social responsibility. With insight into industrial changes, she has led the way in various materials markets, pioneering new sectors such as dry ice and eco-friendly packaging. Taekyung Group also operates the Songwon Kim Younghwan Scholarship Foundation, the oldest private scholarship foundation in Korea, supporting scholarships for 42 years. Chairman Kim emphasizes that the growth of Taekyung Group enhances the sustainability of the scholarship foundation, creating a virtuous cycle of giving back to society, which she sees as the company’s core purpose.

The Rising Star Award, given to an entrepreneur recognized for outstanding financial performance and sustained growth in a short period, was awarded to Sungyeon Ban, CEO of Dalba Global, who pioneered a new beauty category with the “Mist Serum.” Dalba Global has continuously introduced innovative products that address consumer inconveniences. To meet consumer demands for safe ingredients, the company focused on premium vegan beauty products featuring Italian white truffle as a key ingredient. As a result, despite being a latecomer, Dalba Global achieved 440-fold revenue growth within nine years of its founding, standing out in the global market with differentiated product competitiveness.

The Social Impact Award, presented to an entrepreneur who has driven sustainable change and solved social problems through an innovative business model, went to Suin Lee, CEO of Enuma. Enuma developed the game-based learning app “Todo Math” to help children who struggle with learning not give up. The company later created “Kitkit School,” enabling children in rural Tanzania to learn independently without teachers, which won the Global Learning XPRIZE competition co-hosted by Elon Musk, UNESCO, and the XPRIZE Foundation. In Korea, Enuma develops AI digital educational materials for public education and supplies basic education solutions to schools and refugee camps in developing countries, leading efforts to close the global education gap.

At the ceremony, Yonggeun Park, CEO of EY Hanyoung, stated, “This year’s awardees are creative leaders and innovators who have not only anticipated change but also discovered new possibilities and pioneered markets beyond industry boundaries. Through relentless challenge and innovation, they are expanding the boundaries of industry and continuously inspiring our society and future generations.”