Samyang names Kim Ji-seop, Jeong Ji-seok as next CEOs in executive reshuffle

Samyang Group has designated Executive Vice President Kim Ji-seop of Samyang Holdings and Food Group Head Jeong Ji-seok of Samyang as its next chief executives. Eom Tae-ung, who spent 43 years with the group, will step down from active management.

Samyang announced Monday that it had carried out a regular executive reshuffle focused on organizational stability and sound management. The changes took effect Nov. 1 and are characterized by the appointment of executives who rose through the ranks to lead key business divisions.

Kim was promoted to head of the Staff Group at Samyang Holdings, concurrently serving as chief financial officer. Born in 1961, Kim joined Samyang in 1988 and held roles including head of the secretarial team and head of the accounting team before being promoted to executive vice president in 2019. A finance specialist, Kim subsequently served as CFO of Samyang Holdings, among other positions.

Samyang said it plans to work with Kim to entrench a culture of legal compliance and strengthen financial soundness. Kim is set to be formally appointed CEO of Samyang Holdings following the required procedures, including the regular shareholder meeting next March.

Eom is stepping down from active management with this reshuffle. The company said Eom, who joined in 1983, decided to retire after concluding that he had helped restore the organization's morale following a price-fixing case and laid the groundwork for expanding the specialty food business through the acquisition of a Japanese flavoring company in June.

Jeong Ji-seok, head of the food business unit, was named to lead the food group at Samyang. Born in 1971, Jeong joined Samyang in 1995 and has served in roles including head of the food marketing team, marketing director, head of human resources and head of the food business unit.

Jeong was recognized for stabilizing the organization this year while concurrently serving as acting food group head and food business unit head — both positions had been vacant. Jeong is also expected to be formally appointed CEO of Samyang following the regular shareholder meeting next March and other required procedures.

Through this reshuffle, Samyang said it plans to strengthen the holding company's financial and compliance management capabilities while focusing on building competitiveness around specialty products in its food business.