Daesung Group chairman Younghoon David Kim, 61, made an international debut as leader of the World Energy Council, the world’s largest independent network of global energy leaders and practitioners.

Kim was chosen as a co-chair of the WEC last December and took office on the last day of the World Energy Congress in Daegu that closed Thursday.

It is the first time for a Korean to take the top post of a global energy body. The London-based WEC, formed in 1923, is one of the most influential independent global energy organizations, representing the entire energy spectrum with an extensive membership made up of 94 countries.

Kim had served as a vice chair for Asia Pacific and South Asia at WEC between 2005 and 2011.

After a three-year-term co-chairmanship, he will lead the council on his own for another three years from 2016 to 2018, succeeding chair Marie-Jose Nadeau, an executive vice president of Hydro-Quebec.

His appointment, most of all, reflects the growing voice of Asia in the global energy scene. Asia, a mix of big energy suppliers and buyers, is one of the most dynamic regions in an era of change, but it has been slow to raise regional energy issues and build cooperative relationships to tackle global energy issues.

This is one of reasons why Kim emphasized communication in his leadership style. In a press briefing on Thursday, he said, “As co-chair of the council, I will put priority on supporting members of the council to seek a balance in many energy issues, and for this I will serve the body as a good communicator and coordinator.”

Korea also expects that Kim’s leadership would help the promotion and presentation of its energy initiatives, including a Northeast Asian oil hub project, to global energy leaders.

Kim, who has led total energy solution supplier Daesung Group since 2000, graduated from Seoul National University majoring in law, then received his master’s degree in theology from Harvard University.

His hobby is traditional Korean archery. Kim is married and has four children.

By Seo Jee-yeon (jyseo@heraldcorp.com)