HD Hyundai President Chung to deliver keynote at CES 2024

South Korea's No. 1 shipbuilding group’s heir apparent Chung Ki-sun will deliver a keynote speech at the world’s biggest consumer technology trade show CES next year in what would mark his official global debut, signaling an acceleration in the generational leadership change in the family-owned conglomerate.

According to industry sources on Tuesday, Chung will join other globally renowned business leaders L’Oréal Group Chief Executive Nicolas Hieronimus and President and CEO of Siemens AG Roland Busch as keynote speakers of CES 2024 to be held Jan. 9-12, 2024 in Las Vegas.

CES picks chiefs of only a handful of companies – around four – leading new industrial trends as its annual event’s keynote speakers.

Past speakers have been those from the information technology and mobility sectors on the front line of rapid industrial transitions but leaders of long-established companies will share their insights and visions at CES next year.

The Nasdaq and Walmart CEOs will also deliver keynote speeches at next year’s CES.

GLOBAL DEBUT

Chung, 41, is the president and co-CEO of HD Hyundai Co., the holding company of Korea’s No. 1 shipbuilding group founded in 1972.

HD Hyundai Chairman Kwon Oh-gap is co-CEO.

As a major family-owned conglomerate in Korea, the company controls about two dozen affiliates in the shipbuilding, energy, industrial machinery and service sectors.

Global No. 1 shipbuilder HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. (HD KSOE) is the group’s intermediate shipbuilding holding company. Chung is also co-CEO and registered director of HD KSOE.

The keynote at CES 2024 will be his first official presentation to global audiences.

He attended CES 2023 earlier this year but introduced HD Hyundai’s marine mobility technology at the company’s own press conference crowded mainly with Korean media and companies.

With his official global debut, Chung is expected to gain attention from global media as spotlighting the next generation of leaders at Korea’s and the world’s largest shipbuilding group.

He is now considered the next in line to the throne after the current chairman leaves HD Hyundai, and the generational leadership shift in the group is gaining traction thanks to the solid performance of its businesses across the board.

Chung is the grandson of the late Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung. His father is Chung Mong-joon, the group’s former chairman and its largest shareholder.

Industry observers expect Chung would make more frequent public appearances in a show of confidence in his leadership in business management since he became the holding firm’s registered executive.  

PRESENTATION OF HD HYUNDAI’S FUTURE

During his CES 2024 keynote address, he is expected to talk about future technologies ranging from robotics to digital transition to eco-friendly vessels to hydrogen and how to incorporate new technologies to bolster traditional businesses.

His speech is expected to drum up more global interest in HD Hyundai’s affiliates such as HD KSOE, HD Hyundai Infracore Co., HD Hyundai Construction Equipment Co., HD Hyundai Electric Co. and HD Hyundai Robotics.

He is also expected to seek partnerships more actively with various global companies at CES next year as it is striving to nurture digital and green technologies as its next growth drivers.

Chung is currently accompanying Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on his state visit to Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia. 

During Chung's stay in Saudi Arabia, HD Hyundai Electric on Sunday bagged a 67 billion won order from the Middle Eastern country's Algihaz Contracting to supply electric power devices for power transmission and substations largely thanks to Chung’s broad networks in the region. 

Write to Hyung-Kyu Kim and Jae-Fu Kim at khk@hankyung.com

Sookyung Seo edited this article.