y Dr. Chang, In Hwa Chief Executive Officer POSCO Holdings
Dr. Chang In Hwa was appointed Chief Executive Officer of POSCO Holdings in March 2024. Dr. Chang’s life career at POSCO Group began in 1988 when he joined the Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology (RIST) as a researcher. After rising through the ranks at RIST, he transitioned to POSCO in 2011 to assume more prominent roles is business operations. To manage the business of steelmaking, he advanced through diverse leadership roles in business development, marketing, R&D and production. After holding key positions at POSCO, i.e., COO, CTO, he took a brief break from the frontlines in 2021 by serving as Executive Advisor. Currently, he also chairs notable external organizations, such as the Korea-Australia Business Council (KABC) and the Korea Iron & Steel Association (KOSA).
Throughout over 30 years of his professional career at POSCO Group, Dr. Chang has built robust technical expertise, wealth of business experience and deep insight into the steel industry. Interdisciplinary knowledge combined with operational leadership has helped to drive exceptional enhancements across production processes, marketing, finance and research. He is revered for his communication skills and close attention paid to staff.
Dr. Chang holds a Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Prior to the terminal degree, he obtained his M.S. (1979) and B.S. (1981) degrees in Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering from Seoul National University (SNU) in Korea. Despite daunting schedules, Dr. Chang keeps a regular daily exercise routine and enjoys reading non-fiction science and engineering publications. He is married with 2 grown children, a son and a daughter.
Accepted by
Congressional Study Group on Korea Part of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC)
The Congressional Study Group on Korea (CSGK) was formed in 2018 to better showcase the economic and security partnership between the United States and the Republic of Korea. CSGK’s Capitol Hill programs and Study Tours create a unique opportunity to bring the history, culture, economic realities, politics and security concerns of our ROK ally to the Congressional Family. An annual highlight of the CSGK’s programming is a Study Tour to South Korea with a bipartisan delegation for Members of Congress that offers a deep dive into the key issues facing the bilateral relationship.
y Yoon Soo (Gene) Yoon Chairman of the Board FILA Holdings Corp. & Acushnet Holdings Corp.
Gene Yoon, also known in Korean as Yoon Soo Yoon, is the Chairman of the Board of Italian sportswear company FILA Holdings Corp. and American golf product company Acushnet Holdings Corp., which owns the Titleist and FootJoy trademarks. He is widely credited with not only introducing FILA to the Korean market in 1991, but also restoring its global popularity, having acquired the global brand trademark in 2007 and reintroduced ‘90s classics like the Disruptor sneaker as vintage-inspired FILA designs have been a hit with younger generations.
Before establishing himself as a businessman in his home country of South Korea, Gene Yoon’s studies took him from Seoul High School to Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, where he majored in political science and diplomacy. His career began in earnest in 1973 with a stint at Korea Shipping Corp., before he joined JCPenney as a Korea-based distributor in 1975 and then took on the position of export director for international trading and shoe company Hwaseung Co. in the early ‘80s.
Gene Yoon’s FILA journey started in 1991 when he led the brand’s entry into South Korea with the foundation of FILA Korea, which grew into the role of global cornerstone for FILA Group. In 2005, it achieved management independence before taking over the global FILA business in 2007.
Accepted by
Seri Pak CO-CEO of BAZ International Chairman of SERI PAK Hope Foundation
In 1998, during the IMF crisis when South Koreans were struggling, she won a dramatic victory at the US Women’s Open, a major event of the LPGA, with her ‘miracle barefoot shot’, providing courage, hope and comfort to the nation.
Until her retirement, she achieved a total of 25 victories on the LPGA Tour, including 5 major wins, and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. Inspired by her success in the US, young Korean female golfers, known as “Seri Kids,” began their careers, subsequently raising the profile of Korean women’s golf on the LPGA Tour.
In 2016, as the coach of the women’s golf team at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, held for the first time in 116 years, she led the team to a gold medal, once again moving the nation.
In 2020, Seri Pak received the Bob Jones Award from the USGA, which is considered the Nobel Prize in golf, for her contributions to the sport. This award placed her alongside golf legends like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, as well as former US President George H. W. Bush, who made significant contributions to golf.
In 2024, Seri Pak became the first Korean player to host an LPGA Tour event named after her, the “FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship,” providing a new tournament for many golfers around the world to experience.
Additionally, Seri Pak was selected by the American economic magazine “Business Insider” as one of the 36 symbolic figures who contributed to the development of women’s sports globally, being the only Asian player on the list. After retirement, she has been active as a businesswoman, promoting the popularization of golf and the development of the sports industry through golf and sports marketing. Through the Seri Pak Hope Foundation, she annually hosts junior golf tournaments in the US and Korea, nurturing junior golfers. Domestically, she is active as a businesswoman, entertainer, and commentator, leading the way in promoting “K-Golf” beyond K-pop, K-beauty, and K-food.
Accepted by Brian P. Kemp Governor State of Georgia
Governor Brian P. Kemp is currently serving his second term as Georgia’s 83rd governor. Throughout the Kemp administration, Georgia has consistently broken economic records with jobs and investment in every corner of the state. Korea has become the state’s largest source of foreign direct investment in recent years, with a mission to Korea as Kemp’s first overseas mission as Governor in 2019. During Kemp’s term, Korean investment in the State of Georgia has increased nearly 600% through state-worked economic development projects alone. Under Kemp’s leadership, Georgia’s commitment to bringing opportunity to all of its citizens has led to a partnership with Korean job creators that is bringing generational investment to hardworking Georgians.
A native of Athens, Georgia, Brian Kemp started his first small business over 35 years ago. His experience as a small business owner has driven his mission as governor to put hardworking Georgians first, and his leadership is yielding historic economic results. Thanks to his decision to reopen first during the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia’s unemployment rate is at its lowest point in state history, there are more Georgians working than ever before, and Georgia has been named the Top State for Business for an unprecedented nine consecutive years.
Governor Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp, and their three daughters live on their family farm in Athens and are committed to building a safer, stronger Georgia for all who call the Peach State “home.”
Accepted by
Korea International Trade Association (KITA)
Accepted by Christopher Koo Chairman Korea International Trade Association (KITA)
Christopher Koo is Chairman of Korea International Trade Association (KITA). In his capacity, he oversees the overall trade policies and promotion activities aimed at bolstering the Korean economy. Koo is concurrently Chairman of the Board at the LS Group while serving as Chairman of the Korea-US Economic Council (KUSEC), contributing to enhancing long-standing Korea-U.S. relationship.
Prior to his appointment to this position in February 2021, he dedicated his entire life to the world of business. Koo began his career in 1978 at the Bando Trading (currently LX International) where he held a position at the New York Office (1980-1984) and assumed the role of Regional Director of the Southeast Asian Regional Office in Singapore (1990-1992). He was also the Chief Sales Officer and later became Vice President of Sales (1997-2001) at the LG Investments & Securities (currently NH Investment & Securities). In October 2001, he joined LG Cable (currently LS Cable & System) and served as the Chairman of LS Group (2001-2021). Under his outstanding leadership, LS Group successfully transformed itself into the world’s 3rd largest wire and cable manufacturer.
As a former Chairman of Korea Cycling Federation (2015-2022), Mr. Koo is a renown cycling enthusiast and the first Asian cyclist to complete the Trans Alps Challenge. He is also a former Chairman of Korea Invention Promotion Association (2014-2021) and incumbent Chairman of Korea International Art Fair (Kiaf Seoul) Organizing Committee with tremendous contribution to the development of art, culture and science in Korea.
Known as a highly recognized business leader, he was honored with Korea’s Most Admired Executive Award in 2015 and Gold Order of Industrial Service Merit in 2009 for his unrivalled meritorious service in the growth of domestic industry.
Christopher Koo earned his B.A. in Business Administration from Korea University and completed degree coursework at London Business School. In 2023, he received an Honorary Ph. D. in Philosophy from Korea University.
Accepted by Jin Roy Ryu Chairman and CEO Poongsan Group
In 2001, Mr. Jin Roy Ryu succeeded his late father and founder of Poongsan Group, one of the largest manufacturers of copper products and munitions worldwide, as Chairman and CEO. He has also served and continues to serve as a Trustee of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Vice President of the Seoul Forum for International Affairs (SFIA).
Mr. Ryu supports a number of philanthropic and educational organizations as a member of the Board of Trustees of the George & Barbara Bush Foundation and the Board of Governors of the PGA Tour’s First Tee Program. In 2015, Mr. Ryu collaborated with the PGA Tour to host the President’s Cup Golf Tournament in Korea and chaired the Tournament Organizing Committee. Domestically, he serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Pearl S. Buck Foundation and the Seoae Memorial Foundation which was established in honor of his grandfather thirteen generations prior, the most celebrated Confucian scholar and statesman of sixteenth century Korea.
In 2005, the Korean Government awarded Mr. Ryu the Order of Industrial Merit, the Gold Tower Award. In 2012, Mr. Ryu received the Order of Civil Merit, the Moran (Peony) Medal for his distinguished service and steadfast efforts to enhance Korea’s visibility and participation in the global community.
Mr. Ryu remains actively connected to his alma mater, Seoul National University, and co-chairs the University’s Social Responsibility and Contribution Committee.
Accepted by
Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS)
Accepted by John J. Hamre President & CEO, and Langone Chair in American Leadership CSIS
John Hamre was elected president and CEO of CSIS in January 2000. Before joining CSIS, he served as the 26th U.S. deputy secretary of defense. Prior to holding that post, he was the under secretary of defense (comptroller) from 1993 to 1997. As comptroller, Dr. Hamre was the principal assistant to the secretary of defense for the preparation, presentation, and execution of the defense budget and management improvement programs. In 2007, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates appointed Dr. Hamre to serve as chairman of the Defense Policy Board, and he served in that capacity for four secretaries of defense.
Before serving in the Department of Defense, Dr. Hamre worked for 10 years as a professional staff member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. During that time, he was primarily responsible for the oversight and evaluation of procurement, research, and development programs, defense budget issues, and relations with the Senate Appropriations Committee. From 1978 to 1984, Dr. Hamre served in the Congressional Budget Office, where he became its deputy assistant director for national security and international affairs. In that position, he oversaw analysis and other support for committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Dr. Hamre received his Ph.D., with distinction, in 1978 from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C., where his studies focused on international politics and economics and U.S. foreign policy. In 1972, he received his B.A., with high distinction, from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, emphasizing political science and economics. The following year he studied as a Rockefeller fellow at the Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Mary Barra is Chair and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors. She was elected Chair of the GM Board of Directors on Jan. 4, 2016, and has served as CEO of GM since Jan. 15, 2014.
Under Barra’s leadership, GM envisions a world with zero crashes, to save lives; zero emissions, so future generations can inherit a healthier planet; and zero congestion, so customers get back a precious commodity – time.
She is focused on improving the customer experience and strengthening GM’s core vehicle and services business, while also working to lead the transformation of personal mobility through advanced technologies like connectivity, electrification and autonomous driving.
Prior to becoming CEO, Barra served as GM executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain since August 2013, and as senior vice president, Global Product Development since February 2011. In these roles, Barra and her teams were responsible for the design, engineering and quality of GM vehicle launches worldwide.
Previously, she served as vice president, Global Human Resources; vice president, Global Manufacturing Engineering; plant manager, Detroit Hamtramck Assembly; and in several other executive engineering and staff positions.
Barra began her career with GM in 1980 as a General Motors Institute (Kettering University) co-op student at the Pontiac Motor Division. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1985, followed by a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1990.
Barra serves on the Board of Directors of the Walt Disney Company, the Duke University Board of Trustees and the Detroit Economic Club.
Additionally, she serves as the Chair and founding member of GM’s Inclusion Advisory Board. She is also a member of The Business Council and a Board Member of the Business Roundtable, where she chairs the Education and Workforce Committee and a subcommittee by the same name for the Special Board Committee on Racial Equity and Justice.
Van Fleet Awardee
LG
Virtual Acceptance Speech by
Kwang Mo Koo
Chairman and CEO
LG
Kwang Mo Koo is chairman and CEO of LG Corporation(LG Corp.), the holding company for industry-leading LG businesses, in the fields of consumer electronics, display technologies, household appliances, electronic components, industrial chemicals, electric vehicle batteries, health and beauty products, and telecommunications.
Since his appointment to the position in June 2018, Koo’s focus has been to optimize LG’s business portfolio and to strengthen the competitiveness of its core businesses in the electronics, chemical, and telecommunications sectors operating in Korea as well as across Europe and the United States.
Under Koo, LG continues to actively invest in future growth engines to enhance the competitiveness of its diverse subsidiaries, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) and fundamental research capabilities.
In addition, Koo spearheads the refining of LG’s management philosophy, Creating Value for Customers, stressing the importance of delivering exceptional customer experiences. Through this customer-first approach, and his dedication to fostering a company-wide culture of diversity and inclusion, Mr. Koo is fulfilling his responsibilities to key stakeholder groups, and contributing to the realization of a better society.
Prior to his current role, Koo was head of LG Electronics’ high-growth information displays business. He was also part of LG Corp.’s Synergy Team, responsible for capital allocation across the LG’s business portfolio, acquisitions, and strategic external relations.
Accepted by Honorable Charles B. Rangel Congressman 1970-2016 Statesman-in-residence The City College of New York
Charles B. Rangel, war hero, history-making congressman, master lawmaker. A founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, he made history as the first African American member of Congress to lead the powerful Ways and Means Committee. He served for 23 terms in the House of Representatives and was cited as the most effective lawmaker in the House, leading all of his colleagues in passing legislation. He was a prime contributor to President Obama’s historic health care reform law.
Growing up on the other side of the tracks on Lenox Avenue in Harlem, he was transformed from high school dropout to war hero after volunteering for service in the Army during the Korean War. Wounded in an attack by waves of Communist Chinese troops, he was awarded a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for Valor after leading his surviving comrades from behind enemy lines.
With the aid of the G.I. Bill, he earned degrees from New York University and St. John’s University Law School. He began his public service as an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and was later elected to the New York State Assembly. He went to Washington in 1971 to serve in the House after defeating the legendary Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
Congressman Rangel is currently Statesman in Residence at The City College of New York for the City University of New York. Demonstrating his commitment to education, he created financial mechanisms to construct and rehabilitate public schools across the country. In Congress, following Saint Matthew’s teaching, he has been a stalwart champion for the “least among us,” advocating powerfully and persistently to improve the lives of working people. He is a defender of veterans and treated education as a national security issue.
A leading advocate for equal rights and equal opportunity, Congressman Rangel boosted the incomes of millions of working families with the Earned Income Tax Credit, and pumped billions of dollars into revitalization of communities across the nation, including Harlem. His unparalleled foreign policy record focused on Africa and the Caribbean. In 1986, Congressman Rangel sounded the death knell for apartheid in South Africa with the “Rangel Amendment,” which forced the largest U.S. investors to abandon the country. He created trading and investment opportunities for struggling nations in the Caribbean and Africa. In 2010, he successfully promoted vital investment incentives for earthquake ravaged Haiti.
Among his proudest achievements is founding the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program in the State Department, in cooperation with Howard University. As of 2015, most of the 200 Rangel Fellows who completed the program were serving as U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officers in U.S. Embassies around the world. Congressman Rangel retired from the United States Congress in 2016. Mr. Rangel still resides with his wife, Alma, in Harlem where he was born. They have two adult children and three grandchildren.
Accepted by Salvatore Scarlato President Korean War Veterans Association Department of New York
President Korean War Veterans Central Long Island Chapter 64
Salvatore Scarlato joined the Korean War Veterans Central Long Island Chapter in September 1989. He began by being a Member then was voted in as a Director, Event Chairman, 1st Vice President and, today is the President. He has been the President of this Chapter and the Korean War Veterans Association Department of New York from 2009 to present time (11 years.)
Born in Brookyn, New York on January 14, 1933, Salvatore Scarlato was raised in Bedford Stuyvesant, Williamsburg in Brookyn. His parents, Damiano and Carmela Scarlato, were born in the United States in 1905. He attended public school 157 first, then Boys High School in Brookyn, NY.
On October 15, 1951, at the age of 18 ½ years old, Salvatore Scarlato joined the United States Marine Corps. He trained 12 weeks in Boot Camp at Parris Island, SC. After Boot Camp, he was sent to Camp Pendleton, CA for 12 weeks of combat infantry training; part of the 19 replacement draft to Korea. He arrived in Inchon Harbor (Korea west coast) on April 1952 and proceeded to Ascom City where he was assigned as a Browning Automatic Rifle (B.A.R.) man to Baker Company 1st Shore Party Battalion, 1st Marine Division attached to Kimpo Provisional Regiment (K.P.R.) with the 7 Marine Regiment above the Kimpo Penninsula on the main line of Resistence (M.L.R.) This is called the Jamestown Line. He was combat wounded and spent five months in Camp Lejuene Naval Hospital in SC and received an Honorable Medical Discharge from his military service.
Salvatore Scarlato is the recipient of the Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps President Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation with one Bronze Star, Navy Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation with one Bronze Star, United Nations Medal, the Korean War Service Medal and the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, New York State Conspicuous Service Star.
Salvatore added to his education by using the G.I. Bill by attending the Mondell Institute in Jamaica, NY for electro-mechanical design drafting; he graduated in 1955. Then, he attended Community Brooklyn College at night for two years and took a home study course from the International Technology of Electronics School in Chicago, IL, which he received a Certificate of Completion.
In 1990, he met his first American South Korean, John SJ Ha, who is his 1st Vice President and best friend. Because of John and his important contacts, Salvatore is well known all over the East Coast Metropolitan area of New York and many Korean Communities, as well as, the Blue House in Seoul Korea. He has received many medals and awards from numerous Korean Presidents, Korean Government Officials, Korean Organizations and Korean Retired Generals. Salvatore has been back to Korea eight different times, as an Honored Guest of the Korean Government.
In civilian life, Salvatore was an electro-mechanical designer and worked for various electronic and aircraft companies doing military and commercial designing of electronic equipment, black boxes for aircrafts and ground support equipment.
Salvatore Scarlato married his beautiful, lovely wife, Teresa on June 1, 1957 (married 63 years.) They have two beautiful children, Karen and Thomas and three wonderful grandsons, Nicholas, Steven and Matthew and son-in-law, Wayne. He and his wife reside in Hauppauge, NY.
Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Accepted by Yongmaan Park Chairman Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Acknowledged for his leadership and expertise, Mr. Park was elected Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in August 2013.
Moreover, he has served as executive member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) since June 2014. Mr. Park has played a key role in representing diverse voices of businesses and building close partnerships between the private and public sectors, both domestically and globally.
Mr. Park received a Commander of the Order of the Star from the Italian government in 2016, the Van Fleet Award from the Korea Society in 2014, and Gold Tower Industry Award from the Korean government in 2012. Mr. Park holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Seoul National University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Boston University.
Bangtan Sonyeondan/Beyond the Scene Global Superstars
BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene,” is a South Korean boy band that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since their debut in June 2013. The members of BTS are RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. Gaining recognition for their authentic and self-produced music, top-notch performances, and the way they interact with their fans, the band has established themselves as global superstars breaking countless world records. While imparting a positive influence through activities such as the LOVE MYSELF campaign and the UN ‘Speak Yourself’ speech, BTS has mobilized millions of fans across the world (named ARMY), topped prominent music charts, performed multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world and has been named as one of TIME 100: The Most Influential People of 2019. The band has also been recognized with numerous prestigious awards like the Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards.
Van Fleet Awardee The late Yang Ho Cho Former Chairman and CEO Hanjin Group
Yang Ho Cho was former chairman, CEO and major shareholder of the Hanjin Group, a global transportation conglomerate in the aviation, maritime and ground transportation industries. Companies in the Hanjin Group include Korean Air, Hanjin Transportation as well as educational institutions and non-profit foundations.
Mr. Cho was named chairman and CEO of Korean Air in 1999, having previously served as the company’s president and CEO. He began working for Korean Air as a manager in the Americas Regional Headquarters in 1974, and worked his way up the company’s administrative ranks.
In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Mr. Cho is vice chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries and co-chairman of the Korea-U.S. Business Council. He is also the co-chairman of the Korea-France High Level Businessmen’s Club and served as the co-president of l’Année France-Corée 2015-2016, aimed at celebrating 130 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and France. He serves on the Strategy Policy Committee and the Board of Governors at the International Air Transport Association.
Mr. Cho was the head of the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee, which was successful in winning the bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018. He later served as the president and CEO of the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Inha University (Incheon, Korea), Mr. Cho received an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California (USC) and a doctorate from Inha University. He has received honorary doctorate degrees from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (Florida) and the Ukraine National Aviation University. He is currently the Board of Trustees chair of the Inha-Jeongseok Foundation which includes Inha and Hankuk Aviation universities, and is also a Board of Trustee member at USC.
Mr. Cho’s leadership has been widely recognized over the years. He was awarded the title of `Grand Officier’ in France’s Légion d’Honneur, ‘Polaris’ in Mongolia and also the `Mugunghwa Medal’ in Korea – all of which are the highest order of civil merit awarded in these countries.
Van Fleet Award Received by
Walter Cho Chairman and CEO Korean Air
Walter Cho, Chairman and CEO of Hanjin Group and Korean Air, is a leader in the global aviation industry.
Mr. Cho started his career at Hanjin Information Systems and Telecommunication, an IT affiliate of Hanjin Group in 2003.The following year, he joined Korean Air and gained experience in core business areas. Mr. Cho led the Passenger Business, Corporate Strategy and Planning, Cargo Business until 2017 when he was named President and COO of Korean Air.
He played a pivotal role in launching Korean Air’s trans-Pacific joint venture with Delta Air Lines in May 2018. It has strengthened Korean Air’s network competitiveness, which has resulted in attracting premium demand. It is considered the most comprehensive trans-Pacific joint venture. He also guided the introduction of the airline’s next-generation environmentally-friendly aircraft including B787-9s, B747-8is, B777-300ERs, A321neos, and A220-300s, solidifying a long-term foundation for growth.
Equally important is Mr. Cho’s successful implementation of IT initiatives, producing a committed digital flight plan for the airline. He made the pioneering decision to migrate Korean Air’s entire IT system to Amazon Web Services’ cloud, empowering the airline to quickly and flexibly respond to market changes and customers’ needs. Korean Air has transformed its internal system to Google’s G-Suite, a cloud-based software that promotes productivity and collaboration.
Mr. Cho also is passionate about industry projects and expanding Korean Air’s presence in the global aviation community. He is a member of International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors, the highest policy-making body of the airline industry association. Mr. Cho also is Chairman of the SkyTeam Alliance Board. In June 2019, he served as President of the 75th IATA Annual General Meeting in Seoul.
Mr. Cho has a management style built on the values of communication and kindness, and is committed to establishing an open, constructive corporate culture within the airline.
Van Fleet Award Received by
Ihssane Mounir Senior Vice President Commercial Sales & Marketing The Boeing Company
Ihssane Mounir is senior vice president of Commercial Sales & Marketing for The Boeing Company, the world’s largest aerospace company and the leading manufacturer of commercial airplanes and service provider of aftermarket support. Appointed to this position in 2016, Mounir is responsible for the sales and marketing of commercial airplanes and related services to airlines and leasing customers around the world.
Prior to his current role, Mounir held senior leadership positions in Boeing’s Commercial Sales & Marketing organization. For over five years, Mounir served as vice president of Sales for Northeast Asia, responsible for leading sales in the world’s largest and fastest growing market. Mounir and his team managed airline customer relationships and market development in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Previous to that, Mounir served as vice president of Marketing, Sales Strategy and Operations. Prior to that assignment, Mounir led commercial airplane sales efforts in many regions around the world, including serving as vice president of Sales for Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean.
Mounir also served as business director and deputy vice president of Sales for Europe, Russia and Central Asia, a role he assumed after he served as sales director for East, West and North Africa. He also served as sales director for British Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and other leading global carriers.
Mounir joined Boeing as a senior aerodynamics engineer in 1997. He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in aerospace engineering from Wichita State University.
Throughout his career, Mounir has contributed to the aerospace community by authoring papers in the field of experimental and applied aerodynamics. His work and research have been honored with several awards by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Mounir serves on the National Advisory Board of Wichita State University, the Advisory Board of Wichita State’s School of Engineering, and is on the board of directors of FIRST Washington. He is married with four children.
Mr. Sohn Kyung-Shik is Chairman of the CJ Group, one of Korea’s most innovative conglomerates. He also serves as Chairman and CEO of CJ Corporation and CJ CheilJedang Corporation. Since 1994, Mr. Sohn has led CJ’s successful efforts to spread Korean culture and content worldwide. Founded in 1953 as Korea’s first sugar manufacturer, CJ has grown into a global lifestyle brand that provides consumers with a diverse array of products and services through its businesses in food and food service, bio technology, retail and logistics, and entertainment and media.
On February of 2018, Mr. Sohn was appointed as the Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation (KEF), an organization dedicated to building a collaborative relationship between management and labor. Prior to serving as head of KEF, he was the Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry from 2005 to 2013. He also remains as the Chairman of the Korea-Russia Friendship Association since 2010 and the Korea America Friendship Society since 2008.
Mr. Sohn continues to be recognized as a major contributor to the development and promotion of Korea. In honor of his contributions, Mr. Sohn has been awarded the Order of Civil Merit – Mugunghwa Medal by the Korean government in 2013. He was the recipient of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in 2017, a prestigious award presented by the Japanese government for his contributions to strengthen economic relations between Japan and Korea. In 2011, Mr. Sohn received the Order of Do’stlik from the Uzbek government in 2011, commemorating his role in promoting friendly relations as a global leader.
Mr. Sohn has completed the Business School Advanced Management Program at Seoul National University and received his Masters of Business Administration at Oklahoma State University. Mr. Sohn also holds a Bachelors of Law from Seoul National University.
The Honorable George W. Bush 43rd President of the United States Founder, George W. Bush Presidential Center
George W. Bush served as the 43rd President of the United States from 2001 to 2009.
President Bush was born on July 6, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut, to Barbara and George H.W. Bush – later the 41st President of the United States. In 1948, the family moved to Texas, where George W. Bush grew up in Midland and Houston. He received a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University in 1968 and a master’s degree in business administration from the Harvard Business School in 1975. He served as a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard from 1968 to 1974. Afterward, he settled in Midland, where he started an energy business and married Laura Welch on November 5, 1977. After working on his father’s successful 1988 Presidential campaign, George W. Bush joined a group of partners that purchased the Texas Rangers baseball franchise in 1989.
On November 8, 1994, George W. Bush was elected the 46th Governor of Texas. In 1998, he became the first governor in Texas history to be elected to consecutive four-year terms.
After the Presidency, George and Laura Bush founded the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas. The Center is home to the Bush Presidential Museum and Library, which houses George W. Bush’s presidential papers. The Center also is home to the George W. Bush Institute, a public policy organization that focuses on economic growth, education reform, global health, and human freedom. The Institute supports the rights of women with its Women’s Initiative and honors those who have served in the United States armed forces through its Military Service Initiative.
President Bush is the author of a bestselling memoir, Decision Points (2010), as well as a book about his father, President George H.W. Bush, entitled 41: A Portrait of My Father (2014). On February 28, 2017, President Bush released his latest book, Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors, a vibrant collection of oil paintings and stories by President Bush honoring the sacrifice and courage of America’s military veterans. He and Laura have twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna, a son-in-law, Henry Hager, and two granddaughters, Mila and Poppy Louise Hager. The Bush family also includes a dog, Freddy, and two cats, Bob and Bernadette.
2017 Van Fleet Award Honoree
Chey Tae-won Chairman and CEO, SK Holdings Chairman, Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies
Mr. Chey Tae-won serves as the Chairman and CEO of SK Holdings. He oversees and orchestrates 95 companies (as of March 1, 2017) that comprise the SK Group.
Mr. Chey began his career at SK Group in 1991 and was appointed Chairman of the Board and CEO in 1998. With his innovative and dynamic leadership, the Group has steadily expanded over the years. SK Group consists of 95 companies across many strategic industries in Korea, including energy, chemicals, telecommunications, semiconductors, and trading/services.
Mr. Chey has been a key contributor to numerous business and civic organizations, including the World Economic Forum and the Boao Forum for Asia. Furthermore, as a strong advocate of the comprehensive UN goal of responsible corporate citizenship, he served on the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Board. He has also been an important member of the Brookings Institution’s IAC (International Advisory Council) and the Advisory Board for the RAND Corporation’s CAPP (Center for Asia Pacific Policy).
In recent years, Mr. Chey has been deeply committed to strengthening the presence of Korea and its competitiveness in the global economy. In November 2010, he was appointed a Convener of the Working Group on Renewable Energy at the Seoul G20 Business Summit. In February 2016, he was named President of the Korea Handball Federation.
Mr. Chey has been serving as the Board Chairman of Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies (KFAS) since 1998. KFAS has been a major locomotive for fostering human resources in Korea through its generous scholarship programs including the Overseas PhD Scholarship.
In February 2015, Mr. Chey authored a book titled Social Enterprises: Building a Better World. The acclaimed book shares his long belief in—and passion for—socially responsible business management of commercial enterprises.
Mr. Chey holds a BA in Physics from Korea University and completed the PhD program in Economics at the University of Chicago.
Dr. Kwon Ohjoon is Representative Director and Chief Executive Officer of POSCO. Prior to his appointment in March 2014, he was President and Chief Technology Officer of POSCO since March 2012.
Dr. Kwon joined POSCO in 1986 and led the development of its technology and research division. He served as Head of Technical Research Laboratories of POSCO from 1996 to 2009 and CEO of RIST(Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology) from 2009 to 2011.
Since February 2014, Chairman Kwon has been serving as Vice Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries and the Korea Employers Federation. He was appointed as Chairman of the Korea Iron & Steel Association and the Korea-Australia Business Council in March 2014. Dr. Kwon was also elected as a Member of the Executive Committee of the World Steel Association in October 2014 and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at POSTECH Foundation in January 2015. In June 2015, he was appointed as Chairman of the National Academy Engineering of Korea.
Dr. Kwon was awarded the Outstanding Young Member Award from American Society for Metals in 1980. He was also awarded the IR52 Jang Young Shil Award from Korea Industrial Technology Association in 1996 and the Charles Hatchett Award from The Institute of Materials (UK) in 1997. Some of the other awards and recognitions Mr. Kwon received include the Order of Industrial Service Merit – Bronze Tower from Government of Korea in 2008 and The Best CTO Award from Korea Industrial Technology Association in 2013.
Dr. Kwon completed his doctorate in Materials Science & Engineering from The University of Pittsburgh in 1985. He also holds Bachelor of Science in Metallurgy from the Seoul National University in 1972.
Born on July 6, 1950, Dr. Kwon is married and has a son and a daughter.
