Regular executive reshuffle was carried out for a total of 34 people.
Vice Chairman of Hanjin Group revived after 6 years
Woo Ki-hong Korean Air and Ryu Kyung-pyo promoted to vice presidents of Hanjin KAL
Vice Chairman Woo Ki-hong, owner appoints two new chairman ↑
“Asiana Airlines integration leading achievement”
Korean Air and Hanjin KAL conducted regular executive personnel reshuffles in 2025. This personnel appointment also included promotions for executives of Asiana Airlines, which is scheduled to be integrated. The position of vice president, which had been vacant since 2019, was revived for the first time in about six years.
Korean Air and Hanjin KAL announced on the 15th that CEO Woo Ki-hong and Hanjin KAL CEO Ryu Kyung-pyo were promoted to vice chairman, respectively. A total of 34 people (18 from Korean Air, 15 from Asiana Airlines, and 1 from Hanjin KAL), including Vice Chairman Ki-hong Woo and Kyung-pyo Ryu, were regularly reshuffled as executives. The term begins on the 16th.
With the two presidents being promoted to vice president, the vice president position within Hanjin Group was revived. The position of Hanjin Group Vice Chairman has been vacant for about six years since Vice Chairman Seok Tae-soo resigned in November 2019.
Woo Ki-hong, Vice Chairman and CEO of Korean Air, was selected by the late former Chairman Cho Yang-ho in 2017 when he was Vice President and became CEO of Korean Air. Afterwards, he helped Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae overcome the COVID-19 crisis and led Korean Air to its highest-ever performance in 2022. It is evaluated that it played a leading role in the Asiana Airlines integration process, including the corporate combination review. Vice Chairman Woo Ki-hong, who has proven his management ability through various achievements, appears to have gained strong trust from the two chairman of the Hanjin Group’s owner family. Vice Chairman Ryu Kyung-pyo, who was selected as CEO of Hanjin KAL, the holding company of Hanjin Group in 2022, is known as an expert in finance and planning. It is evaluated that it stabilized the financial structure of Hanjin KAL, which was unstable due to the overlap of the COVID-19 crisis and the integration of Asiana Airlines, and also assisted in the integration of Korean Air with Asiana Airlines.
In addition, Korean Air Executive Director Park Hee-don and Eom Jae-dong were promoted to Vice Presidents, and Executive Directors Ko Kwang-ho, Lim Jin-gyu, and Jeong Chan-woo were promoted to Executive Directors. Twelve people, including Chief Kwon Ho-seok, were newly appointed as managing directors.
Asiana Airlines’ executive reshuffle consisted of 15 people. Three people, including Doo-seok Kang, were promoted to vice presidents, and five people, including Jin Kim, were promoted to executive directors. Seven people, including Kang Ki-taek, became new executives as managing directors.
An official from Hanjin Group said, “This executive reshuffle focuses on taking a new leap forward together as an integrated airline,” adding, “Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are preparing for a successful launch as a next-generation integrated airline based on safety and service, which are the fundamentals of airlines, and are leading the global aviation industry. “We will continue to strive to further enhance our leadership status so that the Korean aviation industry can develop and strengthen its competitiveness,” he said.
Below is a list of those eligible for regular executive personnel promotions.
(Korean Air) Total 18 people
◇ Promotion to vice president (1 person)
▲Vice Chairman Woo Ki-hong
◇ Promotion to Vice President (2 people)
▲Vice President Park Hee-don
▲Vice President Eom Jae-dong
◇ Promotion to executive director (3 people)
▲Executive Director Go Gwang-ho
▲Executive Director Lim Jin-gyu
▲Executive Director Jeong Chan-woo
◇ Appointment of managing director (12 people)
▲Director Kwon Ho-seok
▲Director Kim Gyeong-nam
▲Director Myungjun Kim
▲Director Kim Woo-hee
▲Director Kim Hee-jun
▲Managing Director Ma Seong-ryeol
▲Director Park Bong-hee
▲Director Ki-won Song
▲Director Eun Hee-geon
▲Director Seunghyuk Lee
▲Director Choi Young-ho
▲Director Choi Hee-jeong
(Hanjin KAL) Total 1 person
◇ Promotion to vice president (1 person)
▲Vice Chairman Ryu Kyung-pyo
(Asiana Airlines) Total 15 people
◇ Promotion to Vice President (3 people)
▲Vice President Kang Doo-seok
▲Vice President Song Bo-young
▲Vice President Cho Seong-bae
◇ Promotion to executive director (5 people)
▲Executive Director Jin Kim
▲Executive Director Jongman Park
▲Executive Director Seo Sang-hoon
▲Executive Director Seo Jun-won
▲Executive Director Cho Young
◇ Appointment of managing director (7 people)
▲Director Kang Ki-taek
▲Director Park Jun-ha
▲Director Park Hyo-jeong
▲Director Seo Jong-woo
▲Director Jeon Young-do
▲Director Jeong Hwan-soo
▲Director Cho Yong-soon
Kim Min-beom, Donga.com reporter mbkim@donga.com
Source: www.donga.com
