Production chief Lee Dong-woo to retire

Led 2-million-unit milestone, three consecutive years atop export rankings

Yun Ho-jung to take over as vice president

Company targets 500,000 units this year

Lee Dong-woo, vice president of production at GM Korea. [GM Korea]
Lee Dong-woo, vice president of production at GM Korea. [GM Korea]

General Motors' Korean operations are undergoing a generational shift in production leadership. The executive who oversaw three consecutive years atop South Korea's finished-vehicle export rankings and drove the success of the Trax Crossover is stepping down, triggering a broader reshuffle of the management team. GM Korea intends to reinforce its position as GM's global compact SUV production hub through large-scale investment even after the leadership change.

According to industry sources Thursday, Lee Dong-woo, vice president of production at GM Korea, will leave his post effective Sept. 1. The departure comes ahead of his mandatory retirement; Lee is expected to serve as a production adviser before formally retiring next year.

Lee oversaw GM Korea's domestic production network — including the Bupyeong, Changwon and Boryeong factories — and is credited with leading the company past 2 million units of compact SUV production, a landmark achievement. He joined Daewoo Motor, the predecessor of GM Korea, in 1994 and spent his career strengthening the competitiveness of global strategic models on the production side.

The Chevrolet 2026 Trax Crossover. [GM Korea]
The Chevrolet 2026 Trax Crossover. [GM Korea]

GM Korea focuses its domestic manufacturing on compact SUVs, primarily the Trax Crossover and the Trailblazer, which together have surpassed 2 million cumulative units and gained a strong following in global markets. In particular, the Trax Crossover has held the top spot among South Korean finished-vehicle exports since it began shipping abroad in 2023, capturing a 27 percent share of the US compact SUV market.

Lee's departure will prompt a wider reorganization of the production division's leadership. Yun Ho-jung, executive director and head of the Bupyeong factory, will be promoted to vice president of production as his successor. The company said the process of selecting a successor and managing the handover ahead of Lee's mandatory retirement next year is proceeding smoothly.

GM Korea plans to deepen its standing as a global production base through major investment even after the leadership transition. The company has set a production target of 500,000 vehicles this year, up 8.5 percent from last year's output — a figure achievable only when its domestic plants in Bupyeong and Changwon run at full capacity. Hitting that target would mark the first time GM Korea has exceeded 500,000 units since 2017.

A production line at GM Korea's Changwon factory. [GM Korea]
A production line at GM Korea's Changwon factory. [GM Korea]

GM Korea also plans to sustain large-scale investment to sharpen its production competitiveness. In March, the company announced plans to invest about 880 billion won ($591 million) in its Korean operations. That followed a December announcement of 440 billion won to enhance the product quality of its compact SUVs and upgrade factory performance, with the additional 440 billion won directed at strengthening production and operational infrastructure.

Through these investments, GM Korea aims to modernize its facilities — including upgrading production equipment and introducing new press machinery — while improving safety infrastructure, working conditions and operational efficiency, with the goal of sustaining its competitiveness in global markets.

"GM Korea's large-scale investment is helping dispel the long-running speculation about a potential withdrawal," an industry official said, adding that GM's headquarters holds the profitability of Korean-made compact SUVs in high regard and has been requesting expanded output.


eyre@heraldcorp.com