The Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, the flagship company of the business group, is now the world's top shipbuilder, according to the UK-based shipping service group Clarkson.
The company is being managed by professionals, mostly SNU graduates who majored in navel, electrical or mechanical engineering.
MIN Keh-sik'65, head of the business group and chief executive officer of Hyundai Heavy, is a case in point. MIN earned a bachelor's degree in naval engineering from Seoul National University and a doctorate in oceans engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has published 180 papers in local and overseas journals and won 220 local and foreign patents. Min, nicknamed 'the silver-haired marathoner', has run 200 full marathons. He has worked from overtime nearly every day for 20 years to develop new products, according to company officials. He was recruited by founder Chung in 1990 from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.The business group has many other executives who majored in naval engineering in SNU.
One of them is CHOI Kil-seon'69, president and CEO of Hyundai Heavy. He joined the company in 1972, when the ground-breaking ceremony for its Ulsan shipyard was held. He served as president of Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co., and Hyundai Mipo before landing his current position in 2004. He now focuses on development of the shipbuilder's new growth engines, including offshore plants and renewable energy business.
SONG Jae-byoung'70, the current president and CEO of Hyundai Mipo, is also an SNU graduate with a degree in naval engineering. He has endeavored to remake shipbuilding systems so that mass production can be made possible in a limited site and to extend business scope to construction of high-value-added ships, such as Pure Car/Truck Carriers. Under his leadership, Hyundai Mipo is establishing itself as a shipbuilder focusing on high-end mid-size vessels. The Hyundai Heavy, which accounts for three quarters of the business group's total sales, has two important senior executive vice presidents under the two CEOs who graduated from SNU.
Among them is CHOE Weon-gil'74, who leads the shipbuilding business division. He has worked for the shipbuilder since 1972 and been involved in various areas, including planning and marketing. He has been leading the construction of the company's Gunsan shipyard in North Jeolla. He is said to have an efficiency-oriented Western management style that does away with unnecessary meetings and grants more autonomy to workers.
And KIM Young-nam'70, head of the electronic system business division, has helped that business expand. He now focuses on parts manufacturing for solar photovoltaic power generation and wind power, the company's new growth engines.
KIM and CHOE both majored in electrical engineering at SNU.
LEE Choong-dong'77, executive vice president of Hyundai Heavy, also has an SNU bachelor's degree in naval engineering. Lee has led various research and development projects ranging from improving the structural soundness of ships and offshore plants to industrial robot intelligence.
Feb. 17, 2009
SNU PR Office