The ruling People Power Party on Monday recruited Koh Dong-jin, a former president of Samsung Electronics who was considered to be the driving force behind the launch of the Galaxy range of mobile devices.
On the same day, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea brought in Kong Young-woon, a former president of Hyundai Motor dedicated to the company's strategy planning and communications.
Both figures, who formerly represented South Korea's largest business conglomerates, are likely contenders in the forthcoming general election in April.
Koh, 63, joined Samsung Electronics in 1984 and has worked there for four decades. He was promoted to president of the mobile communication business at Samsung Electronics in December 2015. Koh stepped down from his role as president in December 2021 and has since taken up an advisory role at the chip-to-mobile giant.
Han Dong-hoon the interim leader of the People Power Party, introduced Koh as “a symbol of South Korea’s development in the field of information communication over the past 40 years” at a welcoming ceremony held at the National Assembly in Seoul.
Meanwhile, Kong, 60, became president of the Strategy Planning Division of Hyundai Motor in 2018, about 10 years after the former journalist joined Hyundai Motor in 2006. He served in the role until he stepped down in November 2022. Kong has since been an adviser to the auto manufacturer.
Democratic Party Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung said he had high hopes for Kong's role in setting up "an environment in which South Korean companies compete better at the global stage," should he win a parliamentary seat.
Koh stressed the National Assembly's role in drawing up the policy to support the lives of young South Koreans.
“I’ve thought a lot about how to contribute to the lives of the young citizens if I leave Samsung,” Koh said, recalling memories of meeting young citizens and authoring a book about the young generation’s lives that was published in July.
“Should I be able to work (at the National Assembly), my top priority goes to the future of the young generation,” he added.
Kong's remarks were similar to Koh's.
“I’m sure South Korea’s young generations excel at their (work) performance than in any other countries,” Kong said. “But I doubted if topics currently being discussed at the parliament are of interest to them.”
Kong added that the national budget for this year, which suggests a decline in state spending in the field of research, development and education, was concerning to him.
“It is undoubtedly an error,” he said.
