KOREA WHO
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Chairman of Global Sae-A Group
Kim Woong-ki
Built a $4 Billion Empire Through Bold M&A
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Last Updated on Jun 25, 2026
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Chairman of Global Sae-A Group
Life Summary
Kim Woong-ki is the Chairman of Global Sae-A.
Starting with initial capital of KRW 5 million (US$ 3,600), he built the company into the world's largest textile, fashion, construction, and energy group, with annual revenue of KRW 6 trillion (US$ 4.3 billion) in 2026.
He was born on September 28, 1951, in Boeun, North Chungcheong Province.
He graduated from the Department of Textile Engineering at Chonnam National University.
At the age of 36, he founded Sae-A Trading, an apparel trading company.
In 2015, he established the holding company Global Sae-A through a spin-off from Sae-A Trading and has served as its Chairman ever since.
Building on its core apparel manufacturing and export business, he expanded the group's business portfolio into construction, energy, and other industries through mergers and acquisitions (M&A). As a result, the group was designated as a large business conglomerate in 2023.
Starting with initial capital of KRW 5 million (US$ 3,600), he built the company into the world's largest textile, fashion, construction, and energy group, with annual revenue of KRW 6 trillion (US$ 4.3 billion) in 2026.
He was born on September 28, 1951, in Boeun, North Chungcheong Province.
He graduated from the Department of Textile Engineering at Chonnam National University.
At the age of 36, he founded Sae-A Trading, an apparel trading company.
In 2015, he established the holding company Global Sae-A through a spin-off from Sae-A Trading and has served as its Chairman ever since.
Building on its core apparel manufacturing and export business, he expanded the group's business portfolio into construction, energy, and other industries through mergers and acquisitions (M&A). As a result, the group was designated as a large business conglomerate in 2023.