Eighteen external applicants apply for KT’s CEO post

KT CEO Ku Hyeon-mo speaks during a New Year's Greeting event held at the company's office building in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on Jan. 2. [KT]

Eighteen external applicants applied for KT’s CEO post after the company reopened the candidacy, KT said Monday.

With 16 internal candidates — including incumbent CEO Ku Hyeon-mo — a total of 34 candidates will compete for the top post.

The external applicants include Yoon Jin-sik, former Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy, Kim Jong-hoon, former Minister for Trade, and Kim Seong-tae, the current advisory member of the Presidential Committee on the Digital Platform Government.

Internal candidates were selected by the KT governance committee, among those who are at the vice president rank or higher with experience of two years or more at KT companies.

After the screening process, which will last until next week, the governance committee will select candidates for interview.

KT announced on Feb. 9 that it wou;d reopen the candidacy for its CEO post for the second time, after the National Pension Service (NPS), the largest shareholder of KT, voiced opposition to the telecom company’s decision to select incumbent CEO Ku as the final and only candidate for the post in December.

The NPS holds 9.95 percent of KT and is the largest shareholder as of Jan. 18.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]