January 2021 is not only the beginning of a new year for Hankook’s Hungarian plant, but also the welcoming of a new Managing Director, Mr. Hyung Yun Kim, to the management. The new Managing Director succeeds Mr. Hwang Seong Hak, who managed the company’s only European plant since 2017 and will take up a new role within the company group this year.
Hyung Yun Kim came to us as an experienced manager who has taken a remarkable journey within the company in recent years. We want you to get to know him better, so we got the newly appointed 58-year-old Head of the factory at the end of the microphone, on one of his first working days, who was happy to answer our questions.
This year will be 20 years since you are worked at Hankook! What is the motivation that has bound you to the company for so long?
Allow me to go back a little bit in time to answer the question. I graduated from Inha University in Korea with a degree in chemistry; and then, I completed my master’s degree in physical chemistry, also here. During my university years, I was greatly influenced by the spirit of the institution, which taught me that intellectual development means not only the acquisition of theoretical knowledge, but also the unfolding of human values and creativity. At Hankook, I was given the opportunity to do all this, no matter in what position, in what country it was called for.
What specialties did you have the opportunity to learn about from close?
In 1991, I joined the Hankook Research and Development Center, where I worked as a composition researcher for 7 years. I spent the next two years at the Chinese Technical Center and then returned to the Korean R&D Center, where I worked as a composition developer for 3 years and then as a leader of the process research team for another 2 years. From 2008, I worked in the Kumsan factory unit in Korea, first leading the quality control department, then leading the production team, and, finally, in 2010 I was appointed the Deputy Executive. I was the Managing Director of the Jiangsui plant, in China, for 6 years from 2011 and spent the last 3 years again at the Hankook headquarters, as a Production Planning Director. From January this year, I was honored to be the Managing Director of the Rácalmás factory.
With what plans and goals did you come to Hungary?
My only goal with the work is, to capitalize on my experience of the past decades, so that the Rácalmás plant remains a thriving unit for Hankook. And, on the road to success, I count on all employees, I believe in the collective strength of the team. I also have plans as a private person: I love to travel! With my wife and two children we have always surrendered much to this passion. Now there are mainly two of us doing it, our children are adults, one of them is a popular singer at home in Korea, they are now treading their own path. Our plans include visiting as many European countries as possible, but first we want to discover the wonders of Hungary and at the same time get acquainted with Hungarian history and culture.
Once again, we wish you much success in your work!