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Lee Gyu-lee

Korea Times Business Reporter

Lee Gyu-lee is a business writer at The Korea Times, focusing primarily on IT & telecommunications, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA. Prior to this, she has covered a wide range of cultural news, from film, television and K-pop to lifestyle and fashion.

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Companies

GPTW Galderma Korea GM named among Most Respected CEO in Korea

Galderma Korea General Manager Lee Jai-hyuck has been named one of Korea’s Most Respected CEOs for the second consecutive year by Great Place to Work (GPTW) Institute. The Switzerland-based company has built a decades-long legacy in skin science, offering innovative solutions across injectable aesthetics, therapeutic dermatology and skincare. Established in 1998, Galderma Korea provides solutions for a broad range of skin concerns from acne and atopic dermatitis to aging and sensitive skin. Since 2024, Lee has led the company’s rapid growth, sharpening its portfolio to meet evolving market and consumer demands, pushing its revenue past 100 billion won ($69.5 million) in 2025. Lee credits its strong performance to its people. After relocating its headquarters in 2023, Galderma Korea revamped its workplace and operations to boost employee autonomy, efficiency and focus. The company introduced a flexible work framework, including selective working hours system, for employees tp work remotely up to two days per week, aiming to boost autonomy and productivity among its largely millennial w

Feb 25, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
[GPTW] Galderma Korea GM named among Most Respected CEO in Korea
Companies

GPTW Mundipharma Korea head brings integrity and people-first mindset

Daniel Cho, country lead of Mundipharma Korea, heads the company with a strong commitment to integrity, trust and people-centered leadership, driven by a growth mindset and patient focus. Under his guidance, the company continues to be values-driven, united for patients while fostering a culture of respect, transparency and accountability. Mundipharma Korea, part of the U.K.-based health care platform, delivers optimal health care solutions for patients around the world through its specialty care expertise. Cho believes that sustainable business success begins with strong ethics, open communication and a deep commitment to patients. By fostering collaboration and embedding these principles in daily operations, he empowers employees to speak up and take ownership, and meaningfully contribute to both business and patient outcomes. Cho’s values-driven and patient-centered leadership has earned him the Most Respected CEO in Korea award for the second consecutive year in 2026. The recognition underscores his reputation across the business community for his commitment to employee development

Feb 25, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
[GPTW] Mundipharma Korea head brings integrity and people-first mindset
Companies

GPTW BakePlus earns 1st Best Workplaces recognition

BakePlus, the Korean subsidiary of the French group Savencia Fromage & Dairy, has been named one of the Best Workplaces in Korea by Great Place To Work (GPTW) Institute for the first time in 2026, based entirely on an anonymous employee survey. The honor recognizes the high level of trust, pride and solidarity that defines BakePlus’ corporate culture. For Savencia Fromage & Dairy, it reflects the group’s strong corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments and its culture of “responsible entrepreneurship.” In Korea, the company embodies these commitments through close, attentive management and significant investment in employee skill development. The company places strong emphasis on workplace safety, mutual respect and work‑life balance, with actions such as training programs, strengthened social dialogue and daily well‑being initiatives, implemented in recent years. The GPTW recognition acknowledges the progress achieved and encourages BakePlus to continue improving its human resources practices. “We are very proud of this recognition, especially because it comes direc

Feb 25, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
[GPTW] BakePlus earns 1st Best Workplaces recognition
Companies

GPTW BeOne Korea GM lauded for people-first leadership

BeOne Medicines Korea General Manager Yang Ji-hye has been named one of the Most Respected CEOs in Korea by the Great Place to Work Institute, recognized for her people-centered leadership and efforts to build a workplace with trust, flexibility and shared purpose. Since entering the Korean market in 2019, the global oncology company has expanded access to innovative cancer treatments through research, strategic initiatives and partnerships. Under Yang’s leadership, it has become a key player in Korea’s oncology ecosystem and a trusted, family-friendly workplace. Yang has guided the company through a period of strong growth, focusing equally on how people work and what the company delivers. “Employee happiness, stability and autonomy are the foundation of sustainable excellence,” she said. This philosophy is reflected in the company’s flexible work system, where employees set their own working hours and locations, enabling better work-life balance while sustaining strong performance. Yang has fostered a culture of appreciation and open dialogue, strengthened by a recognition pl

Feb 25, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
[GPTW] BeOne Korea GM lauded for people-first leadership
Companies

GPTW Ecolab Korea president creates trust-driven workplace

Founded in 1923, Ecolab is the global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services, serving over 40 industries with data-driven insights and on-site expertise to advance food safety and help maintain clean, safe environments. Ecolab serves 3 million clients in more than 170 countries, including 10,000 in Korea, since entering its market in 1987. Its strength lies in integrating science-based innovation, digital analytics and field expertise to help customers optimize resource use, enhance reliability and improve operational efficiencies and sustainability. The company recently expanded into the semiconductor and digital infrastructure sectors, completing its first semiconductor materials production base outside the United States in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, this year. In the artificial intelligence data center sector, Ecolab offers proprietary solutions that improve cooling efficiency and operational reliability, turning its sustainability strategy into tangible outcomes. Ecolab Korea President Ryu Yang-kwon began his career in research and developme

Feb 25, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
[GPTW] Ecolab Korea president creates trust-driven workplace
Companies

GPTW Putting people 1st: Duke Nam on building a great workplace at Marriott Korea

As the hospitality industry undergoes rapid transformation, leadership rooted in people, purpose and long-term vision has never been more critical. Duke Nam, regional vice president of Marriott International for Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines, exemplifies this philosophy through nearly four decades of experience and a leadership approach that places people at the heart of performance. Nam has led Marriott International’s operations across the three regions since 2018, overseeing business performance, owner relations, strategic development and regional growth. After working in senior leadership roles across Asia, including as general manager of Westin Taipei and Westin Guangzhou, he returned to Korea in 2018, playing pivotal role in making the country a strategic hub in Marriott’s Asia-Pacific portfolio. Under his leadership, Marriott Korea has showcased strong financial and operational performance with steady growth in gross operating profit per available room and revenue per available room index, supported by data-driven revenue strategies, dynamic pricing systems and a robust

Feb 25, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
[GPTW] Putting people 1st: Duke Nam on building a great workplace at Marriott Korea
Tech & Science

GPTW Leadership that builds trust and purpose at Stryker Korea

Over the past six years leading Stryker Korea, General Manager Shim Hyun-woo has experienced many proud moments, including being recognized as a great place to work through staff surveys. At Stryker, a great place to work is not an abstract concept, but defined by clear standards and direction. As employees value different things from wage and growth to work-life balance, Stryker Korea consistently shares the culture it aspires to uphold, opening every meeting with its mission and values. Through repeated communication, the company clarifies the core principles and seeks to grow together. “No matter how strong an organization may be, there is always room to grow. If the past six years at Stryker Korea have brought valuable learning, the years ahead will offer even more opportunities for reflection and insight,” Shim said. “We will continue to uphold our principles, listen closely to our employees and remain committed to building trust.” Shim noted that clear communication is crucial to building trust, allowing team members to align their goals, understand each other’s values an

Feb 25, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
[GPTW] Leadership that builds trust and purpose at Stryker Korea
Companies

GPTW Atomy chairman: Visionary leads Korea’s most respected workplace for 6 years

For the sixth consecutive year, Atomy has been honored as one of the Best Workplaces in Korea. Chairman Park Han-gill was also named as one of the Most Respected CEOs in Korea, becoming the first figure to be given the title for six years. This recognition reflects the company’s philosophy that places people at the heart of management. Chairman Park explained Atomy’s ethos through an analogy comparing a cow to a baby, saying that cows are valued for their milk but babies are loved unconditionally just for being themselves, emphasizing that people are never just a means to an end at the company but rather partners in shared growth. While autonomy shapes Atomy’s culture, trust fuels its systems. This is reflected in the company’s initiatives, such as granting employees the freedom to make final decisions for their tasks, giving corporate cards to all staff and paying salaries in advance. These policies align with "amoeba management," a flexible, team-based structure that adapts to projects and fosters creativity and freedom through open seating. “Do not sacrifice yourselves for t

Feb 25, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
[GPTW] Atomy chairman: Visionary leads Korea’s most respected workplace for 6 years
Society

Gov't launches self-driving pilot program to fill transport gaps

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will allocate about 3 billion won ($2.08 million) to expand self-driving services in areas and during hours underserved by public transport. The ministry announced on Tuesday that it will fund pilot projects in eight regions, including Seoul, Daegu, Gyeonggi Province, Gangwon Province and Jeju Island, to operate autonomous shuttles and demand-responsive transit (DRT) services. The initiative aims to improve transit access in regions and during hours where public transport services are limited. It also plans to test new self-driving freight operations to accelerate a commercial rollout over the next few years. Gangwon Province will introduce a late-night self-driving DRT service in Gangneung, which will host the upcoming ITS World Congress, the world’s largest intelligent transport systems event, in October. The service will run between key hubs such as Anmok Beach, Gangneung Station and the express bus terminal, offering late-night public transportation for tourists and event attendees. South Gyeongsang Province will continue operating

Feb 24, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
Gov't launches self-driving pilot program to fill transport gaps
Tech & Science

About 60% of KakaoTalk users annoyed by ad messages

Kakao is facing criticism over its advertising practices on KakaoTalk, after a civic group survey showed a majority of users are unhappy with the surge in promotional messages on the messenger platform. According to a survey by Seoul YMCA of 2,000 KakaoTalk users released Tuesday, 59.2 percent of respondents said they experience discomfort with the messenger’s Brand Message service, a promotional format that delivers business ads through its chat interface. Notably, only 11.8 percent of respondents said they remembered giving consent to receive advertising messages, while 45.7 percent said they did not recall ever doing so. “This reflects a lack of transparency in Kakao’s consent process and suggests it should more clearly inform users at the time of service sign-up,” the civic group said. When asked about the need to regulate advertising messages, 62.1 percent of respondents said government oversight is necessary. Seoul YMCA demanded that Kakao revise its policies to more explicitly seek user consent before sending marketing messages and to clearly disclose that personal informat

Feb 24, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee
About 60% of KakaoTalk users annoyed by ad messages
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