OpenAI taps ex-Google Korea chief to spearhead Seoul office

OpenAI Korea's new head Kim Kyoung-hoon speaks during the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee's audit of the Korea Communications Commission at the National Assembly in Seoul, Oct. 21, 2022. Korea Times file

OpenAI has appointed Kim Kyoung-hoon, the former country head of Google Korea, as the inaugural head of OpenAI Korea.

The company announced the new head for its regional office on Monday, noting that Kim will be leading OpenAI Korea with the aim of supporting a major artificial intelligence (AI) transformation in the country, drawing on his extensive experience in global strategy and innovation.

This appointment comes as the company has been facing growing demand for its technologies in Korea. Over the past year, the number of weekly active users of the company’s ChatGPT has increased more than fourfold.

“By combining Korea’s strong capacity for innovation with OpenAI’s technology, I hope to help position Korea as a global leader in AI,” Kim said in a press release.

“With the rapid growth in the use of ChatGPT and OpenAI’s application programming interface platform, I plan to work closely with the industry, developer community, academia and government to establish responsible AI practices and create positive and sustainable change across Korean society.”

Kim served as the head of Google Korea from 2021 until earlier this year, growing the company’s advertising business while leading the organization. He also helped strengthen Korea’s digital and AI ecosystem through a wide range of developer and start-up support programs.

Kim previously worked as Google’s head of strategy and operations for marketing solutions APAC, then as the division’s director at the company, driving growth in mobile and search advertising. Earlier in his career, he worked at Bain & Company’s Seoul office, carrying out strategy projects across information and communication technology (ICT), consumer goods and manufacturing industries.

Kim graduated with a degree in computer engineering from Seoul National University and earned his Master of Business Administration from Duke University. He also serves as a board member at the American Chamber of Commerce Korea, actively contributing to policy and collaborative efforts for development in ICT, cybersecurity and the content industry.

“Korea is one of the fastest adopters of AI in the world, and Kyoung-hoon is the right leader to seize this opportunity,” said Oliver Jay, the company’s head of international. “With his experience and leadership, we expect OpenAI Korea to play a pivotal role in accelerating the nation’s AI transformation and supporting Korea’s ambition to become an AI G3 powerhouse through close collaboration with government, academia and industry.”