Early Life
Chang Pyung-soon was born in 1951 in Dangjin, South Korea. Growing up in poverty, he faced significant challenges early in life. His parents worked in Incheon, leaving him in the care of his grandparents until he was five. These early experiences shaped his determination to escape poverty through education.
Rise to Success
Chang graduated from Incheon High School in 1968 and entered Yonsei University. After failing the civil service exam, he briefly worked as a cabbage salesman. In 1985, he founded the Central Education Research Institute, which later became Kyowon Group. Chang focused on selling educational books, and the company grew rapidly throughout the 1990s, becoming dominant in its field. In 2000, he diversified the business by acquiring real estate and constructing hotels, expanding into various industries.
Key Business Strategies
Chang is known for his strategic vision and willingness to adapt. He expanded Kyowon into areas like educational travel, leisure activities, and hospitality. The launch of Kyowon Travel was a bold move that embraced experiential leisure. He also introduced the Red Pen Homeclass, a home-tutoring service leveraging a data-driven approach to personalize learning. Chang has been focused on innovating, even as Kyowon is celebrating its 40th anniversary, with plans to meet rising post-pandemic demands in education, lifestyle, and leisure.
Philanthropy
While specific amounts are unavailable, Chang has demonstrated his commitment to giving back to the community. His contributions through Kyowon Group shows his continuous support for projects and organizations that are based in South Korea. Further details about the amounts are unavailable.
