Daewoo Engineering & Construction is preparing to leap into a century-old corporation under new leadership with the appointment of CEO Kim Bo-hyun, enhancing its potential for sustainable growth.
During the CEO's inauguration ceremony held on the 17th at the Daewoo Engineering & Construction headquarters in Euljiro, CEO Kim Bo-hyun outlined management policies to overcome global crises, proposing, ▲Safe Daewoo Engineering & Construction ▲Strong Daewoo Engineering & Construction ▲Leaping Daewoo Engineering & Construction ▲Building a flexible and autonomous organizational culture together.
Kim Bo-hyun emphasized that to transition into a 100-year corporation based on the organizational culture cultivated by Daewoo Engineering & Construction over the last 50 years, it is essential to foster a horizontal organizational culture and establish an active and dynamic collaboration system based on trust and cooperation between teams and divisions.
Daewoo Engineering & Construction announced in early November that Kim Bo-hyun, Senior Executive Vice President, was designated as the new CEO and is expected to be appointed in December by the board of directors. Regarding the background of the appointment, a Daewoo Engineering & Construction official noted, 'The decision was made to enhance responsible management, as he possesses the ability to make rational yet quick decisions while carefully considering the organizational members based on the experiences accumulated over a long period in the military.'
Indeed, the new CEO Kim Bo-hyun has gained experience in domestic and international sites and businesses while serving as a consultant and senior executive vice president of Daewoo Engineering & Construction since its integration into Jungheung Group in 2022. He participated in critical decision-making across management and is said to have earned significant trust from employees by making rational decisions through constant communication with them.
After the designation of the new CEO, Kim Bo-hyun continued communication closely with all team leaders and executives at headquarters by conducting the 'visiting CEO communication relay' event. The relay communication event was carried out in a format similar to introductory meetings between organizations, allowing for free discussions on issues within each division and team while sharing directions to overcome crises. During this meeting, Kim Bo-hyun presented the company's management direction and annual business plans, as well as medium- to long-term vision, sharing various ideas and opinions from employees on overcoming challenges in the construction industry without reservation. Although the atmosphere was initially formal, it was later reported that a deep and meaningful dialogue took place as Kim Bo-hyun created a softer environment, leading to many ideas and proposals reflectively expressing the concerns and efforts of the practitioners.
Kim Bo-hyun emphasizes 'people' and 'communication' and has been actively engaging with employees not only at headquarters but also during continuous site visits.
During his site visit to the Wolsong nuclear waste facility on the 4th, he participated in an interview with Daewoo Engineering & Construction TV, the internal communication channel, responding candidly to employees' inquiries and formalizing communication with all employees. In June, he attended a meeting with site management personnel, listening to their challenges while sharing a drink late into the night. In September, he visited the Dangjin base port site to carefully check on the progress of the construction and the difficulties faced by site employees. In November, he visited the Gangnam data center site, conducting safety inspections and urging, with the resolve of 'protecting my family,' to thoroughly adhere to fundamentals and principles to prevent safety accidents.
Kim Bo-hyun has also actively engaged in communication with the labor union. When issues arose for discussion, he first approached the union, detailing the company's situation to seek understanding while accommodating the union's demands as much as possible, thereby fostering a culture of harmony and trust that benefits both the employees and the company. This facilitated smooth collective agreements, contributing significantly to wage negotiations, restructuring the grading system, establishing a refresh vacation system, and significantly improving maternal and child welfare benefits while introducing various welfare benefits.
As preparations for 2025 continue, Kim Bo-hyun has implemented organizational restructuring and regular executive appointments in November to ensure quick organizational stabilization and crisis management. Emphasizing 'communication' in both restructuring and appointments, he focused on deploying young and capable talents with excellent internal and external communication skills and expertise, enhancing the organization's response through a swift, practical operational approach.
Even on December 4th, when anxiety heightened due to the declaration and subsequent lifting of a state of emergency, Kim Bo-hyun convened and chaired an emergency response meeting to swiftly assess the impacts and responses to external issues. To preemptively allay concerns from overseas clients caused by sudden domestic issues, he proactively ensured that both headquarters and projects were conducted normally, striving to reassure clients. Kim Bo-hyun's actions are regarded as demonstrating management abilities during crises through rapid responses to maintain company credibility and stabilize the internal organization.
Regarding Kim Bo-hyun's management style of continuous communication since joining Daewoo Engineering & Construction, an official remarked, 'He values communication and an open organizational culture, showing a strong willingness to change the rigid atmosphere unique to the construction industry,' adding, 'With soft yet rational leadership, he is expected to establish a flexible organizational culture and efficient management culture, enhancing the company's competitiveness.'
Despite the increasing uncertainties in the external environment surrounding the construction industry, Daewoo Engineering & Construction is striving to transform into a corporation capable of sustainable growth through communication and solid management under new leadership, overcoming numerous difficulties. By focusing on two main objectives—strengthening solid management centered on profitability through risk management and expanding overseas market entries via diversification of the business portfolio—interest is growing in Daewoo Engineering & Construction's efforts to grow into a century-old corporation.