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Chairman of the Hoban Scholarship Foundation and Chairman of The Seoul Shinmun
Kim Sang-yeol
From Honam Roots to National Giant through Bold M&As
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Last Updated on Nov 3, 2025
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Chairman of the Hoban Scholarship Foundation and Chairman of The Seoul Shinmun
Life Summary
Kim Sang-yeol is the founder of Hoban Group. He also serves as Chairman of the Hoban Scholarship Foundation and Chairman of The Seoul Shinmun.
He was born on July 15, 1961, in Boseong, Jeollanam-do.
After graduating from the Department of Architectural Engineering at Chosun University, he began his career at a small construction company.
In 1989, he founded Hoban and entered the construction business, later expanding into finance by establishing Hyundai Finance.
He broadened his business scope to the leisure sector by acquiring Deokpyeong Country Club in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, and Seoseoul Country Club in Paju.
He also ventured into the media industry by acquiring The Seoul Shinmun and the economic cable channel EBN.
Among the subsidiaries of Hoban Group, The Seoul Shinmun is the only one where he holds an internal director position.
He is credited with growing Hoban Group from a regional company into a national enterprise.
Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, he has demonstrated a strong entrepreneurial and risk-taking spirit.
#HobanGroup #KimSangyeol #SeoulShinmun #Founder #Construction #Finance #MediaBusiness #MergersAndAcquisitions #Leadership #SouthKorea
He was born on July 15, 1961, in Boseong, Jeollanam-do.
After graduating from the Department of Architectural Engineering at Chosun University, he began his career at a small construction company.
In 1989, he founded Hoban and entered the construction business, later expanding into finance by establishing Hyundai Finance.
He broadened his business scope to the leisure sector by acquiring Deokpyeong Country Club in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, and Seoseoul Country Club in Paju.
He also ventured into the media industry by acquiring The Seoul Shinmun and the economic cable channel EBN.
Among the subsidiaries of Hoban Group, The Seoul Shinmun is the only one where he holds an internal director position.
He is credited with growing Hoban Group from a regional company into a national enterprise.
Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, he has demonstrated a strong entrepreneurial and risk-taking spirit.
#HobanGroup #KimSangyeol #SeoulShinmun #Founder #Construction #Finance #MediaBusiness #MergersAndAcquisitions #Leadership #SouthKorea