KOREA WHO

TAM Chul Gon is the chairman of the Orion Group. He established independence from the Dongyang Group and has been leading the Orion Group.

While diversifying the business into areas such as distribution, media, film, and dining, he struggled to achieve notable results. He is now refocusing on the food industry, aiming to transform Orion into a comprehensive food company.

Born on June 6, 1955, in Daegu, Gyeongsangbuk-do, he hails from a Taiwanese-Chinese family that operated a traditional Korean medicine clinic.

During middle school, he attended the Seoul Foreign School and later graduated from George Washington University with a degree in business administration.

At Seoul Foreign School, he met Lee Hwa Kyung, the second daughter of Dongyang Group founder Lee Yang Goo, and they eventually married.

TAM joined Dongyang Cement as a manager, and within a year, transitioned to Dongyang Confectionery. He worked as vice president and, after the passing of founder Lee Yang Goo, inherited managerial control and was appointed CEO and president of Dongyang Confectionery.

After separating Dongyang Confectionery from the Dongyang Group, he renamed the company Orion and became its chairman. However, both he and his wife, Vice Chairwoman Lee Hwa Kyung, stepped down as registered directors of Orion.

TAM is praised for his keen ability to read trends and prepare the company for the future.

However, he has faced criticism for exacerbating owner-related risks, particularly due to controversies including a conviction for embezzlement.

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