Current and Former KT Executives Apply as Candidates; Recruitment Closed on the 16th
Internal Voices: "Experts Welcome, No Parachute Appointments"
The open recruitment process, one of the ways KT selects its next CEO, closed on the afternoon of November 16. It has been confirmed that several former KT executives applied for the position, including Kim Taeho, former Head of IT Planning and former President of Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation; Park Yoonyoung, former Head of KT’s Corporate Division (President); Nam Gyutaek, former KT Vice President and current Vice Chairman of Zinus Air; and Hong Wonpyo, former President of Samsung SDS. Among current employees, Lee Hyunseok, Head of the Customer Division, was the only internal candidate to submit an application. It was also reported that Joo Hyungchul, former Blue House Economic Secretary, is included in the candidate pool.
Former President Kim stands out for his deep understanding of KT’s internal affairs as well as his experience managing public institutions. Former Vice President Nam, who joined KT in 1986, is recognized as a marketing expert who launched brands such as ‘Show,’ ‘Qook,’ and ‘Olleh.’ Former President Hong is evaluated as an expert in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, with strong external communication skills.
Former President Park competed for the KT CEO position in 2023, making it to the final three alongside current CEO Kim Youngseop and Seoul National University Professor Cha Sangkyun. In a phone interview with The Asia Business Daily on November 17, he emphasized, “KT is a company created with taxpayers’ money, and as a national key telecommunications operator, it has responsibilities and roles to fulfill. Above all, the overall security system for the telecommunications network must be reestablished, and KT must provide a solid platform for AI services to operate smoothly.” Professor Cha, who had previously been mentioned as a potential candidate, told The Asia Business Daily in a phone interview on the same day, “I did not apply this time.”
The ‘Director Candidate Recommendation Committee,’ composed of KT’s outside directors, has not yet disclosed the number or names of applicants. Notably, in addition to open recruitment, other methods such as recommendations from external professional agencies like headhunting firms or shareholder nominations (shareholders holding at least 0.5% of total shares for at least six months) are also used to form the candidate pool. Therefore, it remains uncertain who will become KT’s next CEO. Hyundai Motor Group, as KT’s largest shareholder, may exert influence, and there is also the possibility of a third-party candidate emerging.
Recently, KT has faced a crisis as security vulnerabilities, such as poor management of femtocell (ultra-small base stations) and server hacking, have come to light, significantly lowering employee morale. There are internal calls for an expert who can skillfully lead the core operations of a telecommunications company while also possessing strong communication skills to enhance external trust. Since KT’s privatization in 2002, there have been ongoing controversies over ‘parachute appointments,’ so excessive political intervention is also being cautioned against. Some have pointed out that securing the legitimacy of the governance structure should be a priority, noting that seven out of KT’s eight outside directors responsible for selecting the next CEO were appointed during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.
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