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[Top 100 CEOs of South Korea]Global Sae-A Group Chairman Kim Woong-ki | From apparel to packaging materials, challenging to become a global leader

[1951년생/ 전남대 섬유공학과/ 1986년 세아상역 설립/ 글로벌세아그룹 회장(현)]

Chairman Kim Woong-ki has continuously strived to innovate methods of apparel production. For example, the Global Sae-A Group was the first to adopt the ODM trend in a market that had traditionally operated under the OEM method. Another example is the establishment of the fabric production subsidiary ‘WinTextile’ in Indonesia and the yarn production subsidiary ‘Sae-A Spinning’ in Costa Rica. By creating a system that covers all levels of apparel production, from yarn to fabric to the complete product, they are now able to produce high quality clothes in a quick turnaround time at a competitive price. Meanwhile, the new Sae-A Trading production subsidiary in the Dominican Republic that began operations this year is operating under the mottos ‘localization’ and ‘automation’. By adopting equipment that cuts fabric and attaches pockets automatically, and using the production management system (MES), they are continuously striving for innovation in production.

Chairman Kim has been continuously looking to actively enter and expand into new businesses, starting with the acquisition of the plant business Sae-A STX Entech in 2018. As a company that has technologies in the renewable energy sector, Sae-A STX Entech is playing an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in overseas offices. Recently the company received multiple orders to redevelop environmental equipment at major power plants both home and abroad. Last year’s turnover was over 20% higher than the previous year.

Chairman Kim acquired the corrugated cardboard specialist company ‘Tailim’ through the Global Sae-A Group, as he judged that there is a high likelihood that demand for corrugated cardboard would continue to increase due to the growth of the online/mobile shopping market, as it is the raw material in delivery parcels. On top of the synergy effect with existing textile businesses, he also calculated that they would be able to penetrate the product packaging and local e-commerce markets in the South East Asian and Central American regions, where their apparel production bases are located. Meanwhile, they were recently the first in Korea to successfully develop an eco-friendly clothes hanger that is made entirely from recycled paper. Because of that, In the F will no longer use plastic clothes hangers. Through Tailim, Chairman Kim plans to launch more ‘zero-plastic’ concept products in the future.