11 deputy managing partners, 27 managing directors promoted

Emphasis on expanding capacity to support customer growth

Yoon Hak-seop, vice chairman of Samjong KPMG. [Samjong KPMG]
Yoon Hak-seop, vice chairman of Samjong KPMG. [Samjong KPMG]

Yoon Hak-seop, head of Samjong KPMG's tax advisory division, has been promoted to vice chairman.

Samjong KPMG held a management committee meeting Wednesday and announced its 2026 regular partner appointments. Along with Yoon's promotion to vice chairman, 11 partners were elevated to deputy managing partner and 27 to managing director. The promotions recognize contributions to supporting client growth and innovation through expertise and leadership across industry and service sectors. The appointments take effect July 1.

Yoon joined KPMG in 1991 and has served as head of both the audit division and the financial advisory division. As head of the tax advisory division, he has led efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of tax services and drive organizational growth.

The partners promoted to deputy managing partner are Kang In-hye, Kim Sung-bae, Park Geun-woo, Park Young-geol, Son Hyo-jin, Shin Dong-jun, Lee Sang-gil, Lee Sung-wook, Jin Hyung-seok, Cao Leah and Hyun Seung-im.

Kang In-hye is an audit and capital markets specialist in the ICT, platform, software and media sectors. She has handled statutory audits, IPO advisory, internal accounting management system implementation and accounting advisory work.

Kim Sung-bae is an audit and accounting advisory specialist in the energy and manufacturing sectors. He has carried out statutory audits, financial risk management, and the implementation and enhancement of internal accounting management systems.

Park Geun-woo is a tax advisory specialist who has handled tax diagnostics, tax investigation response and tax advisory work across a range of industries including telecommunications, IT and manufacturing. Drawing on his expertise in taxation, he has advised large corporations and their affiliates on tax risk management, tax strategy formulation and responses to tax investigations.

Park Young-geol is a specialist in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, corporate strategy and cross-border deals. He has led divestitures, mergers and acquisitions, and investment execution in key domestic industries — including semiconductors, shipbuilding, chemicals and media and content — and has supported clients' growth and value enhancement through new business development and portfolio restructuring.

Son Hyo-jin is a specialist in digital transformation, ERP, process innovation and information strategy planning. She has extensive experience particularly in data governance, master data management, operational innovation and systems integration.

Shin Dong-jun is an audit and accounting advisory specialist in the automotive, aviation and transportation, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. He has handled statutory audits, IFRS advisory, financial due diligence, and the implementation and enhancement of internal accounting management systems.

Lee Sang-gil is a tax specialist in the platform and IT, pharmaceutical and biotech, construction and heavy industry, and consumer goods sectors. He has handled tax investigation responses, tax advisory and restructuring advisory work, and has also built expertise in management succession, inheritance and gift tax.

Lee Sung-wook is an international tax specialist across a broad range of industries including manufacturing, logistics and retail, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and financial services. He advises on international and domestic tax matters, domestic and overseas fund taxation, M&A tax advisory, tax investigation responses and tax appeals, supporting companies' tax risk management and domestic and overseas business operations.

Jin Hyung-seok is a specialist in commercial real estate and real estate investment advisory. He has handled transaction advisory, feasibility assessments and portfolio strategy formulation across a range of asset classes including offices, logistics centers and hotels.

Cao Leah is a specialist in SEC financial reporting and US GAAP. She has extensive experience and expertise in SEC filings, overseas securities issuance and listing advisory, internal accounting management systems, and advisory related to PCAOB auditing standards.

Hyun Seung-im is a specialist in IFRS and accounting standards advisory. She has been seconded to the Korea Accounting Standards Board and to KPMG's global IFRS desk.

In addition, 27 partners were promoted to managing director: Kang Sang-hyun, Kang Sung-won, Ko Young-dae, Koo Ja-myun, Kim Dae-jin, Kim Byung-kook, Kim Yeon-jung, Kim Jung-tae, Min Woo-ki, Park Sang-hoon (audit division), Park Sang-hoon (tax advisory division), Park Jung-min, Park Chang-nam, Seo Min-ho, Shin Dong-myung, Lee Jae-seok, Lee Jae-han, Jang Joo-hang, Jung Yang-ki, Jung Jae-wook, Jung Hyun-jong, Cho Il-sang, Cho Hyo-sang, Choi Eun-young, Choi Jin-seok, Han Yoon-sung and Hong Young-jun.

"Technological innovation, industrial restructuring and shifts in the global economic order are presenting companies with new challenges and opportunities at the same time," Samjong KPMG Chairman Kim Kyo-tae said. "I hope you will serve as trusted capital market professionals who realize sustainable growth and value creation for our clients at the center of change and innovation."

Samjong KPMG, which operates on a March fiscal year-end, posted sales of approximately 875.5 billion won ($570 million) for the last fiscal year (April 2024 to March 2025), up 2.7 percent from the same period a year earlier.

The following is the full list of 39 promotees.

Vice chairman: Yoon Hak-seop

Deputy managing partners: Kang In-hye, Kim Sung-bae, Park Geun-woo, Park Young-geol, Son Hyo-jin, Shin Dong-jun, Lee Sang-gil, Lee Sung-wook, Jin Hyung-seok, Cao Leah and Hyun Seung-im

Managing directors: Kang Sang-hyun, Kang Sung-won, Ko Young-dae, Koo Ja-myun, Kim Dae-jin, Kim Byung-kook, Kim Yeon-jung, Kim Jung-tae, Min Woo-ki, Park Sang-hoon (audit division), Park Sang-hoon (tax advisory division), Park Jung-min, Park Chang-nam, Seo Min-ho, Shin Dong-myung, Lee Jae-seok, Lee Jae-han, Jang Joo-hang, Jung Yang-ki, Jung Jae-wook, Jung Hyun-jong, Cho Il-sang, Cho Hyo-sang, Choi Eun-young, Choi Jin-seok, Han Yoon-sung and Hong Young-jun


park.jiyeong@heraldcorp.com