Younghoon David Kim
Honorary Officer, World Energy Council
Chair for International Affairs, WEC 2013 Daegu World Energy Congress
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Daesung Group
Chair, Culture Industry Committee, Federation of Korean Industries
Chairman, Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange
Chairman, Korean Association of Athletics Federation, Daegu
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 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 (2005-2008), Co-Chair, Technology and Information Working Group of APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) (2008-2011), 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-current), Vice Chairman, Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry (2009-current), and Chairman, Daegu Athletic Foundation (2005-current).
Chairman Kim has had extensive experience as speaker, panelist and participant in numerous international events. In 2004 he was asked to appear as a panelist at the World Economic Forum in Davos at a session entitled “The Korean Peninsula and Stability in East Asia” where he spoke on the North Korea nuclear issue. In 2008 he was appointed to chair a presidential commission, Contents Korea Committee, tasked with making recommendations on new growth engines for Korea in the field of creative contents. 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, which is the highest award given to a civilian in recognition for his contribution to the fight against desertification in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.
Younghoon David Kim received his MA in Theology from Harvard Divinity School in 1987. Previous to that he was a Special Student of Global 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.
source: WEC
