Automotive Journalists Association Selects Kwak Jae-seon, Ssangyong Motor Chairman, for 2022 Merit Award

Innovation Award in Industry Sector, Song Hoseong Kia President
Public Relations Sector, Kim Byungsoo Korea GM Media Communication Manager
Seo Youngjin EOS Communications CEO Awarded

At the '2022 Automobile Person' awards ceremony, which selects individuals and organizations that contributed to the development of the automobile industry last year, Kwak Jae-seon, Chairman of Ssangyong Motor, received the Industrial Merit Award. Photo by Korea Automobile Journalists Association

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] At the ‘2022 Automobile Person’ awards ceremony, which selects individuals and organizations that contributed to the development of the automotive industry last year, Kwak Jae-sun, Chairman of Ssangyong Motor, received the Industry Contribution Award.

The Korea Automotive Journalists Association held the ‘2022 Automobile Person’ awards ceremony on the 21st at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul Nuri Ballroom and selected winners in four categories: ▲Industry Contribution Award ▲Industry Innovation Award ▲Public Relations (In-house) ▲Public Relations (Agency). After receiving candidate recommendations from all member companies of the journalists association by category, the final winners were selected through a vote by a judging committee composed of the board of directors and others.

The 2022 Automobile Person Industry Contribution Award was given to Chairman Kwak, and the Innovation Award was given to Song Ho-sung, President of Kia. In the public relations category, Kim Byung-soo, Head of Media Communications at Korea GM, and Seo Young-jin, CEO of EOS Communications, were honored with awards respectively.

Chairman Kwak, who received the Industry Contribution Award, was recognized for his contributions to the development of the domestic automotive industry by accepting a struggling company and striving for its normalization based on leadership of challenge and innovation, while laying the foundation for Ssangyong Motor to become a ‘sustainable company that enriches the world.’

Song Hoseong, President of Kia / Photo by Korea Automobile Journalists Association

President Song, who received the Industry Innovation Award, successfully led the brand relaunch pursuing Kia’s major transformation into a ‘smart mobility solutions company.’ He also successfully launched the brand’s first dedicated electric vehicle, the EV6, achieving the milestone of being selected as ‘European Car of the Year’ for the first time in Korean automotive history, earning Kia recognition as a leading global electric vehicle brand.

Byungsoo Kim, Head of Media Communication at Korea GM

Kim, who received the Public Relations Award, held various media events throughout the year such as new product test drives, GM Brand Day, and factory invitations, enhancing journalists’ understanding of the company and its products. In particular, he contributed to broadening the understanding of future global automotive technology trends through a top technology leadership meeting held in cooperation with the Korea Automotive Journalists Association.

Seo Young-jin, CEO of EOS Communications

CEO Seo has been active in the imported car public relations field for over 20 years, striving for the popularization of imported cars. He has conducted diverse promotional activities across the entire mobility sector, from luxury passenger car brands to commercial vehicles and tires, significantly enhancing the brand value of his clients.

Lee Seung-yong, President of the Korea Automotive Journalists Association, said, “I am extremely pleased that a place for exchange has been prepared where journalists belonging to the association and automotive company and institution officials can come together, and I send my congratulations once again to those who have been honored with awards.”

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