HiteJinro has appointed Jang In-seop as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking the first CEO change at the company in 14 years. The move follows the decision of Kim In-gyu, who has led the group since the 2011 merger of Hite Beer and Jinro, to step down after a long and influential tenure. HiteJinro is South Korea’s dominant spirits producer, commanding around two-thirds of the domestic soju market while remaining one of the country’s leading beer producers.
Jang In-seop, 58, has been promoted from Executive Vice President to Senior Executive Vice President and designated as CEO as part of the company’s regular executive appointments for 2026. He is expected to be formally appointed following an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting and subsequent board approval on December 30. Jang joined Jinro in 1995 and has held key roles across management strategy, legal affairs, external cooperation, logistics, and communications, most recently overseeing the management division.
Under Kim In-gyu’s leadership, HiteJinro strengthened its dominant position in South Korea’s soju market and narrowed the gap with the domestic beer market leader. His 14-year term made him the longest-serving CEO among major South Korean food and beverage companies.
The management change is part of a broader future growth strategy aimed at countering stagnation in the domestic alcoholic beverage market and accelerating overseas expansion. As the first company in the sector to reach its 100th anniversary, HiteJinro is positioning the new leadership team to guide the group into its next century, with a strong emphasis on generational renewal and global competitiveness.
Alongside Jang’s appointment as CEO, HiteJinro announced several executive promotions across management, sales, and production. At the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting, Jang In-seop, in his role as the new CEO, and Baek Myunggyu, Managing Director, are expected to be appointed as inside directors of the board, ensuring direct operational insight at board level.
