Korea Automotive Technology Institute, Na Seung-sik Appointed as 12th President

An Expert with Extensive Experience in Key Positions in Industry, Trade, and Energy Sectors

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] Na Seung-sik, former standing member of the Trade Commission at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, was inaugurated on the 3rd as the 12th president of the Korea Automotive Technology Institute.

Na, the new president recognized as an industrial policy expert, graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Psychology and earned a master's degree in Information and Communication Engineering from the University of Colorado, USA. He entered public service in 1992 through the 36th administrative examination and served as head of the IT SME Venture Team, director of the Knowledge Information Industry Division, and ministerial secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communication.

During the 2008 government reorganization, when IT industry policy was transferred to the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (now the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy), his affiliation changed accordingly. He has held key positions across industry, trade, and energy sectors, including head of the New Energy Industry Policy Division, director of Industry, Science and SME Policy at the Office for Government Policy Coordination, director of the Trade and Investment Office, deputy minister for trade, and standing member of the Trade Commission.

In particular, amid the paradigm shift in the future car industry accelerating the convergence of the traditional automotive sector with semiconductor, electronics, electrical, and software ICT industries, he is evaluated as the ideal candidate to contribute to the Korea Automotive Technology Institute’s innovation and development as a leading institution supporting the future car transition of the automotive parts industry, based on his extensive ICT industry policy experience.

In his inaugural speech, he stated, "The rapid paradigm shift in the automotive industry brings both crisis and opportunity simultaneously," and added, "I will focus on strengthening the institute’s core capabilities in research and development, policy functions, and corporate support to lead the flow of change and achieve greater leaps."

Specifically, to ensure that the institute’s outcomes provide practical benefits to companies, he plans to promote tailored support such as technology development, prototype production, and technical consulting based on a thorough analysis of the automotive parts industry. He will also strengthen support for manufacturing process innovation and new business creation by integrating D·N·A (Data, Network, Artificial Intelligence (AI)) technologies.

To this end, he intends to enhance research capabilities across the entire automotive industry lifecycle from production to disposal, as well as the overall industrial ecosystem including manufacturing and services, while also strengthening policy planning and support functions. For example, he will proactively pursue research and development and corporate support linked with policy functions such as supply chain analysis and early warning system establishment to address recent supply chain issues involving automotive semiconductors, urea solution, and rare earth elements.

Furthermore, to swiftly respond to the rapidly changing future car technology development and business environment, he plans to secure human and organizational expertise and strengthen support capabilities for acquiring and analyzing industrial and technological data.

President Na said, "I will strengthen the role as a facilitator connecting and supporting the government and companies, large corporations and SMEs, manufacturing and services, and domestic and overseas sectors," adding, "While solidifying the status of the Korea Automotive Technology Institute as a global research institution leading the future car era, I will do my best toward the grand vision of ‘Mobility Industry Powerhouse Korea.’"

Reporter Kiho Sung kihoyeyo@

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