The Federation of Middle Market Enterprises of Korea (FOMEK) said on the 1st it has appointed former Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR) President Kim Hyeon-cheol, 57, as its new full-time executive vice chair.
The term runs through May 31, 2029. FOMEK approved the appointment plan for Vice Chair Kim at its second board meeting of the year, held in writing from the 15th to the 28th on the previous month.
Kim is an expert who has served for about 30 years in economic and industry-related ministries, handling policies in industry, trade, technology and energy. Entering public service through the 28th technical civil service exam in 1993, Kim served as head of the climate change response team at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy; head of the steel and chemical division and head of the industrial technology policy division at the Ministry of Knowledge Economy; director general of Patent Examination Bureau 1 at the Korean Intellectual Property Office; and policy coordinator for industrial technology convergence and policy coordinator for regional economy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In Dec. 2021, Kim was appointed a standing commissioner of the Trade Commission at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and stepped down from public office in Aug. 2022.
After retiring, Kim took office as KTR president in Oct. 2022 and worked to strengthen the competitiveness of corporations based on testing, certification and technology support services. Leveraging a cooperation network built with 265 institutions in 55 countries, Kim led support for export companies to obtain overseas certifications and stepped down on the previous month.
Born in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla, Kim earned bachelor's and master's degrees in chemical engineering from Soongsil University. Kim received a Ph.D. in economics from Korea Polytechnic University.
Kim said, "I feel a heavy sense of responsibility to join the innovation and challenge of mid-sized companies, the center of overcoming the global polycrisis and restoring the corporate growth ladder," adding, "I will communicate and cooperate closely with the National Assembly, the government and related institutions to enhance the sustainable growth of mid-sized companies and elevate FOMEK's standing as a comprehensive economic organization."