HD Hyundai Makes Executive Appointments, Names Vice Chairman Lee Sang-kyun to Oversee Shipbuilding

[The Financial News] HD Hyundai has carried out its 2026 executive appointments, focusing on strengthening the competitiveness of its shipbuilding business and safety management at worksites. It named HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Vice Chairman Lee Sang-kyun group vice chairman overseeing the shipbuilding business and promoted Vice President Cho Min-su to president, tapping him as CEO in charge of safety.
HD Hyundai announced its 2026 executive appointments on the 7th. Vice Chairman Lee Sang-kyun, who will oversee the shipbuilding business, will identify key initiatives to strengthen the capabilities of shipbuilding affiliates, including HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (HDKSOE), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Samho Co., Ltd. He will also oversee the development of company-specific response strategies and detailed implementation plans, as well as the coordination of work. At the group level, he will expand synergies among the shipbuilding affiliates and lead new businesses, including power generation using engines for data centers and entry into the small modular reactor (SMR) market.

Vice President Cho Min-su, who has headed the shipbuilding business at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, was promoted to president and tapped as CEO in charge of safety. Born in 1966, Cho, the incoming president, is a field expert who has spent his career on the front lines of the shipbuilding industry since joining the company. HD Hyundai expects him to draw on his field experience and expertise to strengthen the execution of safety management.
Under the appointments, Lee Sang-kyun, the vice chairman overseeing the business, and President Cho Min-su will serve as co-CEOs of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. President Geum Seok-ho will focus on his role overseeing management support.

Han Joo-seok, vice president of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Engine & Machinery Division, and Park Chan-hyeok, vice president of HD Hyundai XiteSolution, were also promoted to president. Han, the incoming president, was born in 1966 and studied mechanical engineering at the Korea Naval Academy before joining HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Engine Division in 1994. Over the following 33 years, he worked across all areas of the marine engine business, including design, research and development (R&D), production and sales.
The incoming president plans to pursue an expansion of the plant producing power-generation engines for data centers, for which HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is investing 830 billion won, as well as greater synergies among the group’s engine affiliates, including HD Hyundai Marine Engine and HD Hyundai Engine.

Incoming President Park Chan-hyeok was born in 1962 and studied mechanical engineering at Hanyang University. He built his career in construction equipment production and quality, and held positions including head of overseas subsidiaries in Europe and China, head of global production, and head of quality and production strategy. Last September, he was appointed co-CEO of HD Hyundai XiteSolution.
An HD Hyundai representative said, “These appointments demonstrate our commitment to strengthening the capabilities of shipbuilding, a core business of the group, while also making safety at worksites our top priority. We will preserve our standing as a world-leading shipbuilding industry, contribute to the development of Korea’s economy and grow into a sustainable company through continuous efforts to strengthen our competitiveness.”
HD Hyundai plans to finalize next year’s business plan after subsequent executive appointments and a management strategy meeting.
[email protected] Jeong Won-il Reporter