Mr. Tae-shin Kwon has been Vice Chairman and CEO of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) since 2017. The FKI is a non-governmental organization composed of Korea’s major business groups and business associations. Since its establishment in 1961, the FKI has dedicated itself to the development of the Korean economy, suggesting sound economic policies and promoting globalization of the Korean economy based on the free market system. Under his direction, the FKI is now developing Korean economic growth strategy and regulation reform measures, and establishing public diplomatic relations through multilateral and international organizations.

Prior to joining the FKI, Mr. Kwon served as President of the Korea Economic Research Institute for three years from 2014. He has built most of his career in the Korean government. From 2011 to 2013, he was Vice Chairman of the Presidential Council on National Competitiveness (PCNC), which was presided by the President himself, and played a leading role in discussing topics on enhancing national competitiveness. From 2009 to 2010, he served as the Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination. From 2006 to 2008, he served as Permanent Representative of Korea to the OECD in Paris, right after he worked for the Ministry of Finance and Economy as Vice Minister from 2005 to 2006.

In July 2004, Mr. Kwon was appointed as Secretary to the President for Economic Policy, the fourth Presidential Office position he has held over the course of his career and one of the positions he took for each of the four consecutive Presidents.

In 2003, Mr. Kwon was appointed as Deputy Minister for International Affairs of the Ministry of Finance and Economy right after his service as Director-General for International Finance of the Ministry. During his early career in government, he was dispatched to the Korean Embassy to the United Kingdom as Financial Counsellor in 1998. He has worked for the Korean government for over 35 years since he joined the Ministry of Finance and Economy in 1977.

Mr. Kwon served four years for the Korean Air Force as First Lieutenant. After his discharge from military service, he taught international finance as a lecturer at Kookmin University and Dongduk Women’s University between 1982 and 1985.

Mr. Kwon received a BA from Seoul National University (1972), an MA in Economics from Vanderbilt University (1982) and an MBA from CASS Business School, UK (2001).