The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry named Kim Young-jin, chairman and CEO of Handok Pharmaceuticals, as its new chairman of the board Wednesday.

“The KGCCI is grateful for chairman Kim’s commitment and is looking forward to further promoting economic exchange and cooperation between Korea and Germany under his leadership,” KGCCI secretary general and executive director Barbara Zollmann said in a statement.

Kim, 58, is also the chairman of the Korean-German society. He holds degrees in business administration from Yonsei University and Indiana University in the United States. Kim began working for Handok Pharmaceuticals in 1984 and has served as the company’s CEO and chairman since 2006.

The Handok chief will be taking over the position from Nara Holdings chairman Cho Hae-Hyeong, who has served on the KGCCI board since 2002 and as chairman since 2010.

With more than 500 members, the KGCCI is the second largest bilateral chamber in Korea and functions as an important contact point for German and Korean companies seeking to establish business in both countries.

(jys@heraldcorp.com)