LG Chem has appointed Ko Yoon-joo, a former ambassador for international relations in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and a recognized North American diplomatic expert, as its new Executive Director of Chief Sustainable Strategy Officer (CSSO). This move is seen as part of a strategy to prepare for the potential launch of a second Donald Trump administration, bringing in an expert with deep knowledge of the North American market and experience in ESG (environmental, social, and governance) practices.
According to the business community on the 18th, LG Chem appointed Ko, a former ambassador for international relations, as the new CSSO last month. Born in 1968, Ko Yun-ju, the new CSSO, is a U.S. expert who joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the 29th Foreign Service Examination in 1995 after graduating from Yonsei University and has served as the First Secretary of the United States, Consul General of New York, and the North American Council.
In 2019, during Trump's first term, he served as the North American director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in 2021, he was in charge of the political affairs of the U.S. Embassy in the U.S. and is known to have a high understanding of foreign policy toward the U.S. Based on his experience in promoting security and economic cooperation in the diplomatic department, he was appointed as the ambassador for international relations in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province in 2022 to advise and support various global issues such as Jeju's foreign economy, attracting international events, and international exchange and cooperation projects.
In October, the late Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer (CSSO) met Stuart McCotter, the U.S. Secretary of Economic Development for Tennessee, at the Magok LG Science Park in Seoul to showcase LG Chem's future technologies and key products. Last year, LG Chem began construction of the largest cathode material plant in the U.S. in Tennessee. Industry experts see the appointment of the late CSSO as a strategic move, positioning LG Chem to diversify its portfolio and expand into the North American market, especially amidst rising global uncertainties.