By Kim Tae-gyu
Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Vice Chairman Oh Young-ho will take charge of the country’s export promotion agency next week to succeed Hong Suk-woo, who is the new Minister of Knowledge Economy.
Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) said Friday that Oh outshined five other candidates to take the top position of the state-run institute. He will be inaugurated on Dec. 5.
Oh started his career at the nation’s commerce ministry in 1980 and climbed up the bureaucratic ladder to become vice minister in early 2007. He worked as the second-in-command of the minister for a year through early 2008.
After retirement he continued working in a university but the life-time bureaucrat returned to the main stage in early 2009 by becoming KITA vice chairman. He was in the spotlight late last year as the commissioner of the Seoul G20 Business Summit Organizing Committee.
The 59-year-old is famous for a democratic leadership with outstanding people skills. In particular, he gained a good reputation thanks to his brisk communication with his underlings at both the government and KITA.
KOTRA said that Oh will play a big role in raising Korea’s trade records in time with the effectuation of the free trade agreement between the nation and the United States beginning next year.
``On top of the much-touted leadership of Oh, he is an expert in trade and other international issues. Undoubtedly, we think that Oh is the right person to head KOTRA in these significant times,’’ a KOTRA official said.
``Plus, he takes into consideration the difficulties of small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs. In addition to boosting exports, we project that he will successfully deal with various aspects related particularly to small-sized companies too.’’
Oh studied chemical engineering at Seoul National University and got his Ph.D. in economics from Kyung Hee University.