Top Korean companies hire ex-diplomats as executives

Kim Il-bum, former presidential protocol secretary.

Major companies in South Korea are appointing executives with diplomatic backgrounds as they value the expertise that former diplomats possess in economic security, such as global supply chains.

According to industry sources on Sunday, Hyundai Motor Group established Global Policy Office earlier this month and hired Kim Il-bum, former presidential protocol secretary, as the head of the office. Kim is responsible for international policy tasks such as those related to the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).

Kim is reportedly expected to accompany Executive Chairman Euisun Chung on an overseas trip next month.

As a former diplomat, Kim previously served as director of the North America 2 Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign press spokesperson for President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol. He was also vice president in charge of global affairs for SK Group’s SUPEX Council.

In June, Hyundai Motor Group also appointed Kim Dong-jo, former foreign spokesperson for the presidential office, as an executive. He passed the 32nd foreign service exam and previously served as the first secretary of the Korean Embassy in Geneva. Kim is part of the Policy Coordination Office (PCO) that is responsible for policy tasks.

Kim Chang-beom, an advisor to Hyundai Motor Group.

Kim Chang-beom, an advisor to Hyundai Motor Group, in the meantime, is being mentioned as a potential candidate for the executive vice chairman position of the Federation of Korean Industries. The appointment is expected to take place early next month.

Kim also has a diplomatic background, having passed the 15th foreign service exam in 1981 and served as a presidential office secretary, ambassador to the EU, and ambassador to Indonesia.

Samsung Electronics Co. also has former diplomats leading its Global Public Affairs (GPA) team, including Vice President Kim Won-kyung.

The head of GPA passed the 24th foreign service exam and is the first U.S. lawyer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also served as the head of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) planning team.

At SK Group, Kim Yoo-seok, vice president of the World Expo Task Force, and Yang Seo-jin, vice president of the Chairman’s Office, have diplomatic backgrounds.

Kim passed the 29th foreign service exam and joined SK in 2009, previously having served as the head of the chairman’s secretariat. Yang passed the 39th foreign service exam and joined the group at the end of last year.

Steelmaker POSCO also has a former government official with a diplomatic background leading its trade affairs. Kim Kyung-han, formerly involved with the Korea-U.S. FTA planning team, currently serves as the head of POSCO Group‘s trade and economic affairs office.