HD Hyundai names Lee Sang-kyun shipbuilding vice chairman in executive reshuffle

HD Hyundai announced Wednesday that it has carried out its 2026 executive reshuffle, with a focus on preparing for uncertainty in the shipbuilding sector while further strengthening safety management.

The group appointed HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Vice Chairman Lee Sang-kyun as vice chairman overseeing all shipbuilding operations, aiming to enhance capabilities and generate synergies across its shipbuilding affiliates.

In the role, Lee will identify key priorities for strengthening the group's shipbuilding subsidiaries, develop company-specific response strategies and detailed action plans, and coordinate operations to expand synergies across the group's shipbuilding business. He will also actively pursue new ventures, including engine-based power generation for data centers and entry into the small modular reactor market.

HD Hyundai also promoted Jo Min-su, who led HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' shipbuilding division as executive vice president, to president and named him the company's safety chief representative director. Born in 1966, Jo is a seasoned shipyard veteran who has spent his entire career on the shop floor and is regarded as the right person to maximize workplace safety execution based on his hands-on experience and expertise. With the reshuffle, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will be co-led by Lee as vice chairman and Jo as president, while incumbent President Geum Seok-ho will concentrate on his role overseeing management support.

Han Ju-seok, executive vice president of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' engine and machinery division, and Park Chan-hyeok, executive vice president of HD Hyundai Xitesolution, were also promoted to president. Han, born in 1966, studied mechanical engineering at the Korea Naval Academy and joined HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' engine division in 1994. Over the following 33 years he gained experience across all areas of marine engine development — design, research and development, production and sales. He is expected to lead the scale-up of a data center power generation engine factory that HD Hyundai Heavy Industries plans to invest 830 billion won ($618 million) in, as well as drive synergies with subsidiaries HD Hyundai Marine Engine and HD Hyundai Engine.

Park, born in 1962, studied mechanical engineering at Hanyang University. A production and quality specialist with deep shop-floor experience in construction equipment manufacturing, he has served as head of overseas subsidiaries in Europe and China and held roles including head of global production and head of quality and production strategy. He was named co-representative director of HD Hyundai Xitesolution last month.

"This reshuffle reflects our commitment to strengthening capabilities in shipbuilding — the group's core business — while placing workplace safety as the top priority," an HD Hyundai official said.