OpenAI announced on Monday that Kim Kyoung-hoon, the former president of Google Korea, has been appointed as the first General Manager of OpenAI Korea. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in the global IT and consulting industries, Kim will lead strategic partnerships and expand the AI ecosystem in South Korea.
OpenAI stated that this appointment is in response to the rapidly increasing demand for its technology in South Korea.
Since 2021, Kim served as the president of Google Korea, driving the growth of its advertising business and guiding the organization. Born in 1976, Kim holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Seoul National University and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. After working as a strategy consultant at Bain & Company, he joined Google Korea in 2015, overseeing domestic digital marketing operations. Kim has also played a pivotal role in expanding South Korea’s AI and digital ecosystem through various initiatives supporting developers and startups.
Oliver Jay, Head of International Business at OpenAI, remarked, “South Korea is among the world’s fastest adopters of AI, and Kim is ideally suited to drive innovation in this landscape.” He added, “With his experience and leadership, we expect OpenAI Korea to accelerate Korea’s AI transformation, strengthen its position as a global innovation hub, and propel it to the forefront of AI leadership.”
Kim expressed his commitment, stating, “I will contribute to establishing South Korea as a global AI leader by combining the country’s innovative capabilities with OpenAI’s technology. As the use of ChatGPT and OpenAI’s API platform surges, I will work closely with industry leaders, the developer community, academia, and the government to promote responsible AI usage and foster positive, sustainable changes throughout Korean society.”
