Kang Sunghee of Otek Carrier Elected as 20th President of Korea Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association

Kang Sunghee, Chairman of O-Tech Carrier, was re-elected as the 20th President of the Korea Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association for a third term. Provided by O-Tech Carrier

Kang Sunghee, Chairman of Otek Carrier, has been elected as the 20th president of the Korea Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. This reaffirms Chairman Kang’s innovative leadership within the industry, which has been instrumental in driving the technological advancement of Korea’s refrigeration and air conditioning sector and strengthening its global market competitiveness.

The Korea Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association elected Kang Sunghee, Chairman of Otek Carrier, as its 20th president during the 2026 Annual General Meeting held on February 26 at the Korea Air Science Testing & Research Institute in Cheongna, Incheon, with representatives from more than 70 member companies in attendance. Since taking office as the 18th president in 2020, Kang Sunghee has now secured a third consecutive term, after also serving as the 19th president, and will lead the association for the next three years.

Under the vision of “an energy solutions company that changes the world,” Chairman Kang has led Otek Group, continuously enhancing the competitiveness of Korea’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technologies through ongoing development and investment.

This management philosophy and leadership have seamlessly extended to his association activities. In April last year, he met with the executive board of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) of the United States to foster joint responses to global industry changes, demonstrating his broad outreach. In particular, he spearheaded the establishment of the Korea Air Science Testing & Research Institute, affiliated with the association, significantly reducing both the costs and time required for Korean companies to obtain overseas certifications, thereby substantially strengthening the industry’s practical competitiveness. Furthermore, he has reaffirmed industry trust by serving as a bridge between the government and the sector, leading responses to carbon neutrality and energy efficiency policies.

Looking ahead to the next three years, Chairman Kang plans to focus on the proliferation of smart air conditioning systems and the development of high-value-added solutions such as AI data center cooling technologies. Through these efforts, he aims to expand the global reach of Korea’s refrigeration and air conditioning industry and accelerate innovation across the sector.

Under Chairman Kang’s leadership, the Korea Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association will focus this year on several key initiatives: enhancing member services; pioneering new markets through HARFKO (Korea International Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Exhibition) 2026 and overseas exhibitions; strengthening product competitiveness by supporting AHRI certification and responding to international refrigerant regulations; fostering professional talent; and establishing international cooperation systems.

Chairman Kang stated, “As we mark the 50th anniversary of our founding and open a new century, I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility in taking on the role of association president at this critical juncture. By concentrating the capabilities of the Korea Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association and its members, I will dedicate all efforts to bolstering our ability to meet global standards and rapidly disseminating high-value-added solution technologies such as AI data center cooling in the field, so that our country’s refrigeration and air conditioning industry can lead the global market.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.