[Asia Exclusive] 'Tongtong' Kim Seongjin Vice Chairman is a Recognized Expert in the Real Economy

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy 27 Years of Service... Leading Regional Economic Development

Sungjin Kim, Executive Vice President of the Korea Display Industry Association.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] Kim Sungjin, the full-time vice chairman of the Korea Display Industry Association, who passed the 33rd Administrative Examination and worked for 27 years at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, is a recognized expert in the real economy. He is especially well-known as a 'regional economy expert' who led regional economic policies while managing the Economic Free Zone Planning Division and the Regional Economy Bureau. After leaving public office, he played a major role in designating Gwangju as an economic free zone while serving as the director of Gwangju Technopark last year. He demonstrated his on-site capabilities by attracting massive national projects worth a total of 1 trillion won, including the designation of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Energy Convergence Complex, the establishment of an artificial intelligence industrial convergence complex, and the creation of an air industry cluster.

Vice Chairman Kim is also a 'China expert.' Having earned a Ph.D. in Chinese Economy from the University of Leeds in the UK, he went to Beijing, China, and devoted more than two and a half years as a visiting scholar at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Given the fierce pursuit of Korea’s display industry by the Chinese government and companies, his theoretical foundation, which he has combined as a professor at Honam University and director of the Korea Regional Economy and Industry Research Institute, is expected both inside and outside to contribute to enhancing Korea’s response capabilities.

Now, his interests are focused on the future of the display industry. For the development of the display industry, which is a representative materials, parts, and equipment industry, he has already drawn a blueprint to create synergy by linking and cooperating with regions that have strengths in related industries such as the optical industry and precision chemical industry, based on clusters located in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, and Asan, Chungnam Province. He also has political ambitions. His dream, which began with his first challenge in the 21st National Assembly election where he faced defeat, is still ongoing.

Gohung, Jeonnam (age 57)

Daedong High School, Gwangju

Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Konkuk University

Ph.D. in Chinese Economy, University of Leeds Graduate School

Passed the 33rd Administrative Examination

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, Ajou Trade Division 2

Ministry of Industry and Resources, Resource Policy Division

Dispatched to the Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

March 2006: Head of China Cooperation Team, Ministry of Industry and Resources

March 2008: Director, Materials and Parts General Division, Ministry of Knowledge Economy

July 2010: Director, Energy Resource Policy Division, Ministry of Knowledge Economy

May?October 2011: 47th Director of Jeonnam Regional Post Office

November 2011?March 2013: Head of Economic Free Zone Planning Division, Ministry of Knowledge Economy

March 2013?June 2014: Head of Economic Free Zone Planning Division, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

July 2014: Regional Economic Policy Officer, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

March?June 2016: Spokesperson, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

November 2018?November 2019: 8th Director of Gwangju Technopark

June 2020?Present: Full-time Vice Chairman, Korea Display Industry Association

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