Hanjin Group conducts major executive reshuffle

Major affiliates under South Korea’s Hanjin Group, including Korean Air Lines Co., Hanjin KAL, and Asiana Airlines Inc., carried out their regular executive reshuffle on Wednesday. Woo Kee-hong, President and CEO of Korean Air, who led the Asiana Airlines merger, was promoted to Vice Chairman while retaining his CEO role. This marks the reinstatement of the Vice Chairman position at Korean Air after a six-year gap following former Vice Chairman Seok Tae-soo’s resignation in 2019. While there was speculation about Choi Jung-ho, Vice President and head of the Asiana merger task force, being promoted to CEO, Woo maintained the role and was also promoted. Woo, who joined Korean Air in 1987, played a pivotal role in the Asiana acquisition process, which began in late 2020 and culminated in a successful merger after over four years of negotiations. He is also credited with guiding Korean Air to make profit during the Covid-19 pandemic through effective cost management. Asiana Airlines promoted 15 executives, including Song Bo-young, a senior managing director and passenger service expert who joined Korean Air in 1988. Song, now Vice President and CEO-designate of Asiana, will oversee the airline’s restructuring and preparations for the integrated airline’s launch in about two years. Meanwhile, Asiana’s low-cost carrier affiliates, Air Busan Co. and Air Seoul, appointed Jeong Byeong-seop and Kim Joong-ho as respective CEOs without promotions.<br/>