Chung Yongjin Makes a 'Return' as E-Mart CEO After 13 Years; Shinsegae Accelerates Generational Change

Kim Honggeuk to Serve as CEO of Both E-Mart and SSG.com
Record-High 36 New Executives; 18% in Their 40s

Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yongjin is returning as CEO of E-Mart after 13 years. He will directly lead a key affiliate, strengthen its core business, and oversee new businesses as part of a push for responsible management. In recent years, Shinsegae Group has carried out sweeping personnel changes to find new ways forward amid weak domestic demand. While previous changes focused on reshuffling senior executives, this year the group accelerated its generational change, appointing a record 36 new executives.

Shinsegae Group announced its regular executive appointments for 2027 on October 23. Chairman Chung and Kim Honggeuk, CEO of Shinsegae Casa, have been named the new co-CEOs of E-Mart. Kim will also serve concurrently as CEO of SSG.com. Chairman Chung will lead the group’s mid- to long-term growth strategy, while Kim will work to strengthen the competitiveness of its online and offline retail businesses.

The group also reshuffled key posts at its management strategy office, the group’s control tower. The heads of major affiliates with strong performance will remain in their posts, while the number of newly promoted executives rose to a record 36. Shinsegae Group said the changes were “a personnel reshuffle aimed at swiftly addressing the challenges facing the company and implementing its future growth plans without a hitch.” It added that Chairman Chung, who has declared a commitment to responsible management, selected partners to lead change and innovation across the group based on a single criterion: “ability.”

Chung Yongjin, chairman of Shinsegae Group (left); Chung Yookyung, chairwoman of Shinsegae Co., Ltd.

Chairman Chung’s return as E-Mart CEO follows up on the responsible management policy he announced in June 2026. He served as E-Mart CEO when it separated from Shinsegae in 2011, but stepped down in March 2013. Since then, he has overseen group management as an unregistered executive. After taking office as CEO of Shinsegae Property in June 2026, he is also expected to be formally appointed E-Mart CEO following a shareholders’ meeting and other procedures.

Chairman Chung will lead the two companies as co-CEO alongside Kim Honggeuk at E-Mart and Lee Hyeongcheon at Shinsegae Property. He plans to discuss key management issues with the two executives, strengthen the core businesses, and incorporate the group’s mid- to long-term strategy into affiliate operations. The move reflects his intention to take responsibility for both the existing retail business and future growth businesses.

Kim Honggeuk to Lead E-Mart and SSG.com; New Lineup at Management Strategy Office

Kim Honggeuk, who will lead both E-Mart and SSG.com, was born in 1964 and is a merchandising and sales expert. He has held positions including head of home appliances and culture at E-Mart and head of its merchandising division. During his time as CEO of Shinsegae TV Shopping, he led the company to profitability, and since 2022 he has worked to improve Shinsegae Casa’s profitability. The group said his strong reputation within E-Mart and his ability to manage business risks were also factors in his appointment. Kim will also be responsible for identifying and nurturing talent to lead the group’s future.

Kim’s concurrent appointment is also expected to strengthen business ties between E-Mart and SSG.com. The plan is to combine E-Mart’s strengths in physical stores and merchandise with SSG.com’s online sales network to improve competitiveness across both online and offline channels.

At the management strategy office, Choi Taekwon, CEO of SSG.com, was appointed head of management support, overseeing human resources and auditing. Park Seunghak, head of the leisure business division at Chosun Hotel & Resort, was appointed head of external relations, which handles public relations and government affairs. Executive Vice President Jeon Sangjin will remain in his post, overseeing group-wide management and finance.

Choi Taekwon, the new head of management support, has held key positions at E-Mart, including in logistics and supply chain management and as head of sales. After becoming CEO of SSG.com, he focused on applying E-Mart’s strengths to the online business. The group said he was the right person to communicate innovation initiatives within the organization and put them into practice, given his strong understanding of the core business and recognized ability in new businesses.

Park Seunghak, the new head of external relations, has served as head of sales, head of corporate social responsibility, and head of the E-Mart Everyday business division. The group described him as a leader who has fostered harmony within the organization through his mild-mannered nature and who can also demonstrate his abilities in external relations. Park will communicate the group’s shift to expand beyond retail and development into artificial intelligence (AI), content, and entertainment, while helping renew its corporate image.

Record 36 New Executives; Those in Their 40s Make Up 18%

Shinsegae Casa has brought in Heo Minho, former CEO of CJ Olive Young, as its new CEO. Heo is a specialty retail expert who led CJ Olive Young for 10 years, expanding its store count and revenue. At Shinsegae Casa, he will pursue business expansion for Casamia and JAJU.

Shinsegae International is reorganizing into fashion and cosmetics divisions and introducing a separate professional management system for each. Current CEO Kim Deokju will lead the fashion division, while Heo Minho will concurrently serve as CEO of Shinsegae Casa and the cosmetics division. The move is intended to enhance expertise in each business and clarify management responsibilities. Ki Inju, CEO of SMPMC, has been named CEO of the Shinsegae baseball team. He will lead the team’s preparations ahead of the era of the Cheongna Dome Stadium.

The appointments also mark a continued generational change. The 36 newly promoted executives represent a record high. With the group actively appointing executives in their 40s, their share of all executives rose to a record 18%. The group said this reflects its efforts to develop talent based on capabilities and performance. Shinsegae Group plans to continue making appointments as needed after its regular personnel changes, placing suitable people in the right positions and improving organizational execution with a focus on younger executives. It also plans to continue making appointments based on ability and performance.

Shinsegae Group is expanding beyond retail into lifestyle, content, and entertainment. It is pursuing collaborative projects with Reflection AI in AI, Aman Group in real estate development, and Skydance in content. The group aims to appoint talent who can support Chairman Chung’s direct investments and partnerships with global companies, while spreading innovation within the organization.

Shinsegae Group said, “Chairman Chung has concluded that he should exercise direct leadership and lead the group’s transformation during an industrial transition centered on AI.” It added, “By identifying talent based on performance, we will maximize the competitiveness of our core businesses and deliver results in future growth businesses as well.”

Meanwhile, Shinsegae Group has reorganized its operations over the past three years, emphasizing “strengthening the competitiveness of core businesses” and “performance-based management.” In September 2023, it carried out a sweeping reshuffle, replacing around 40% of its CEOs. Han Chaeyang, then CEO of Chosun Hotel & Resort, was put in charge of E-Mart, E-Mart Everyday, and E-Mart24, while Park Joohyeong, CEO of Shinsegae Central City, was also appointed CEO of Shinsegae. The changes were intended to boost synergies among affiliates and restore the competitiveness of core businesses.

In 2024, a sibling-chairperson leadership structure was established. Chung Yongjin was promoted to chairman in March, followed by Chung Yookyung in October, ushering in the full-fledged independent management of E-Mart and the department store division. That year, Han Chaeyang, CEO of E-Mart, was promoted to president, and the CEOs of E-Mart24, Shinsegae Food, and Chosun Hotel & Resort were replaced.

The appointments in 2025 focused on rewarding performance and overhauling underperforming businesses. Among E-Mart affiliates, the CEOs of SSG.com, Gmarket, Shinsegae Food, Shinsegae Engineering & Construction, and Chosun Hotel & Resort were replaced. At Shinsegae affiliates, Park Joohyeong and Moon Seonguk were promoted to president, while the CEOs of the duty-free business and Shinsegae International were replaced. Of the 32 newly appointed executives, 14 were in their 40s.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.