Hanjin (002320) said on the 30th that it has appointed Choi Jong-seok, former chief safety officer, as vice president for policy planning. The company created the post to respond preemptively to shifts in its business environment at home and abroad.
Choi, born in 1970, graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in social welfare and earned a master's degree from Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Choi later received a doctorate in business administration from Korea University. After passing the higher civil service examination, Choi began a career as a deputy director at the Ministry of Employment and Labor and went on to serve as an administrative official in the presidential secretariat for employment and labor affairs, director general of the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission and labor attaché at the South Korean Embassy in Washington. Choi then worked as a senior editorial writer at the Korea Economic Daily before joining Hanjin as chief safety officer, where the company's internal safety and health framework was established.
In the new role, Choi will monitor market conditions and external policy changes, analyze their impact on the company and prepare responses in advance. Choi will also strengthen networks with outside institutions and work to deepen Hanjin's environmental, social and governance management.
"Choi has experience across public service, the media and corporate operations, giving a broad understanding of both policy and management issues," a Hanjin official said. "Through the creation of this position and this appointment, we will strengthen our ability to respond to rapidly changing conditions at home and abroad, while deepening ESG management through advanced safety practices and labor-management culture to drive sustainable growth."
