GS Group promoted third-generation Oner Heo Yong-su, president of GS Energy, and fourth-generation Oner Hur Sae-hong, president of GS Caltex, to vice chairman. With this personnel move, the existing leadership of Chairman Huh Tae-soo of GS Group and Vice Chairman Hong Soon-ki of GS Co. will shift to a system with Chairman Huh and three vice chairmen.
On the 26th, GS Group carried out executive appointments for 38 people through its regular 2026 reshuffle. The group said it planned appointments for a total of 38 executives, including two promoted to vice chairman, nine appointed as CEOs (including three promotions), two promoted to president, and four promoted to executive vice president.
The most eye-catching move is the promotion of two to vice chairman. In last year's reshuffle, then-GS Retail CEO (vice chairman) Huh Yeon-soo stepped down, and all vice chairmen from the "Huh" founding family left frontline roles, but with this reshuffle they are returning.
New Vice Chairman Heo Yong-su, a third-generation member of the Huh founding family at GS Group, is the son of the late Huh Wan-gu, chairman of Seungsan Group and the fifth son of the late founder Huh Man-jung. He served as head of the energy and resources division at GS Energy and as CEO of GS EPS, and has been CEO of GS Energy since 2019. He has worked to establish growth pillars, including the acquisition of Withincheon Energy and the launch of GS CHARGEV.
Vice Chairman Hur Sae-hong, the eldest son of GS Caltex Honorary Chairman Hur Dong-soo, is effectively the eldest of the fourth generation in the Huh family. After serving as head of the Singapore unit at GS Caltex and as head of the petrochemicals and lubricants division, he has led GS Caltex as CEO since 2019, pursuing structural improvements and competitiveness in the refining and petrochemicals businesses.
GS Group said of the vice chairman promotions that "with an overhaul of the energy industry imminent and amid a critical need to overcome challenges in the global refining and petrochemicals business simultaneously, this move is meant to go beyond ordinary leadership and assign stronger responsibility."
Executives born in the 1970s were tapped in large numbers for CEO posts at major affiliates. Kim Sung-won, executive vice president and CEO of GS E&R (born in 1970), was promoted to president and moved to become the new CEO of GS Global.
Executive Vice President Huh Cheol-Hong (born in 1979), head of planning and new business at GS Global, was named the new CEO of GS Entec. Huh is the eldest son of Huh Jeong-soo, chairman of GS Neotek, who is the younger brother of Honorary Chairman Huh Chang-soo and the older brother of current Chairman Huh Tae-soo.
Huh Jin-hong, managing director at GS Engineering and Construction and the son of GS Caltex adviser Hur Jin-soo, was promoted to executive vice president, and Huh Tae-hong, managing director at GS Futures and the son of GS Engineering and Construction adviser Huh Myung-soo, was promoted to senior managing director.
Hwang Byung-so, senior managing director and CEO of GS Donghae Electric Power (born in 1969), was promoted to executive vice president and will take over as CEO of GS E&R. At GS P&L, an intermediate holding company that oversees properties including the Parnas Hotel, Park Min-su (born in 1970) was named CEO, and at Xii C&A under GS Engineering and Construction, Kim Uk-su (born in 1969) was tapped as CEO.
The placement of key personnel from parent companies into subsidiaries also stands out. Managing Director Eun Jong-won of GS Energy moved to Boryeong LNG Terminal under GS Energy, and Managing Director Jang Jun-su of GS Retail moved to GS Networks, a GS Retail subsidiary. At GS Global, Executive Vice President Huh Cheol-Hong and Managing Director Lee Seung-yeop moved to become CEO of GS Entec and head of sales, respectively.
Another feature is the elevation of seasoned professionals who have built experience across the business. Kim Sung-min, promoted to president at GS Caltex, is seen as having deep understanding of production, operations and safety management across refining and petrochemicals. Kim Wan-soo, promoted to executive vice president at GS Engineering and Construction, is a field expert who has built core capabilities in scheduling and cost control over roughly 20 years in the building dwellings business.
Chairman Huh Tae-soo said, "If we lean on convention in the face of massive changes in the business environment, there will be no place for us," adding, "this is about assigning responsibility to keep pushing business innovation and to carry out bold challenges."