Source: Daesung Group
Chairman Younghoon David Kim began his career in 1981 with Citibank in Seoul. He joined Daesung Group in 1988 as Vice President, served as President from 1994 to 2000, and has been owner and CEO of Daesung Group since 2000.
Chairman Kim has led the Group’s growth through a two-tiered approach to management. The first tier involves the energy side of the business where his focus has been on ensuring safe delivery to 20 percent of the residential natural gas market in South Korea. In addition, Daesung has developed electric power and renewable energy sources including landfill gas-to-energy, a combined cycle gas power station and Korea’s first solar power tower system.
The second tier comprises new revenue streams in the areas of venture capital and creative contents. Daesung Private Equity is a subsidiary with 25 years of experience and investments in 350 start-up companies. A leader in creative contents, Daesung’s affiliate, the portal site Korea.com, has over 2 million overseas Facebook fans.
Over the years Chairman Kim has served as Vice Chair for Asia Pacific and South Asia, WEC (2005-2011), The 8th & 9th Chairman, Korea City Gas Association (2002-2008), Korea Representative, APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Business Advisory Council (1999-2011), Honorary Consul, Mongolia (2001-2011), Chairman, Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (2009-2012), and Chairman, Daegu Athletic Association (2005-current). In August 2012 he was appointed to the Energy Council of Korea, providing direct input to the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, which is responsible for Korea’s energy policy and securing energy resources.
Chairman Kim has had extensive experience as speaker, panellist and participant in numerous international events. In 2004 he was asked to appear as a panellist at the World Economic Forum in Davos at a session entitled the “The Korean Peninsula and Stability in East Asia” where he spoke on the North Korea nuclear issue. In addition, Daesung Group
has hosted two of Korea’s major energy forums: the Daesung World Energy Forum in 2007 and the World Green Energy Forum in 2008.
Chairman Kim is the recipient of many awards including the PBEC (Pacific Basin Economic Council) Award for his global contribution to environmental causes in 2003, the Order of Industrial Merit (Bronze Tower) at the 12th Gas Safety Promotion Convention in 2005, and Recipient of Order of the Pole Star from the Mongolian government in 2008, the highest award given to a civilian in recognition for his contribution to the fight again desertification in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. He received in August 2012 the Order of Sport Merit (Maengho “Tiger” Medal) given by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for his contributions to the promotion of sports in Daegu.
Younghoon David Kim received his MA in Theology from Harvard Divinity School in 1987. Previous to that he was a Special Student of International Economics at Harvard University Graduate School. He received his MBA (1981) and Master of Comparative Laws (1979) from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and his Bachelor of Laws from Seoul National University Law School in 1975.
His hobbies are traditional Korean archery, swimming and hiking. He is married to Kim Jeong-yoon and together they have four children.
Related articles
Younghoon David Kim, Chair & CEO, Daesung Group Elected WEC Co-chair
About the World Energy Council (WEC)
