Early Life
Koo Kwang-mo was born on January 23, 1978, in Seoul, South Korea. He is the eldest son of Koo Bon-neung, the former chairman of Heesung Group, and the great-grandson of Koo In-hwoi, the founder of LG Group. He graduated from Youngdong High School in 1995 and earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from Rochester Institute of Technology in the United States. Initially, Koo did not anticipate leading LG Group, having pursued studies in the US and gaining experience in the tech sector.
Rise to Success
Koo joined LG Electronics in 2006 in the financial division. In 2004, he was adopted by Koo Bon-moo, the former chairman of LG Group, after Koo Bon-moo's son died in an accident. He then pursued an MBA at Stanford University but did not graduate. He worked in various management roles within LG. On June 29, 2018, following the death of his adopted father, Koo Kwang-mo became the chairman of LG Group at the young age of 40. He inherited 8.8% of LG stock, increasing his stake to 15%, making him the largest shareholder.
Key Business Strategies
As chairman, Koo has emphasized execution, internal growth, and collaboration. He has focused on preparing the company for the future, investing in human resources, and promoting "morally-correct management". Under his leadership, LG has sought to secure a competitive edge in the latest technologies, including AI and the Internet of Things. Koo has been known to be open to discussions with employees and values cooperation with external parties. He is also known for his "technology leadership" and interest in new technologies and startups.
Philanthropy
Information about Koo Kwang-mo's specific philanthropic amounts could not be found. LG Group, however, has a history of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.
