Funeral service held on October 10 at Korea Zinc headquarters in Seoul, attended by Chairman Yun B. Choi, family members, and employees
Chairman Yun B. Choi pledges to carry forward his father’s entrepreneurial spirit that grew Korea Zinc into a true global leader in smelting
Korea Zinc achieves record first-half sales as it expands into new businesses, carrying on the late Chairman’s legacy
SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A funeral service for the late Choi Chang-gul, Honorary Chairman of Korea Zinc (KRX:010130), was solemnly held this on the morning of October 10 at the company’s headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The ceremony, attended by his family, including Chairman Yun B. Choi and Mrs. Yoo Jung-geun (former President of the Korean Red Cross), as well as Vice Chairman Lee Je Joong and other executives and employees, lasted about an hour and was conducted privately. The proceedings included a biographical tribute, memorial video, eulogies, and flower offerings.
Choi Chang-gul (1941–2025), Honorary Chairman of Korea Zinc, who built the company into the world’s leading nonferrous metals smelter and laid the foundation for its global leadership in the industry. (Photo courtesy of Korea Zinc)
In the biographical address, Baek Soon Hum, President and Head of the Management Division at Korea Zinc, who was Chairman Choi’s protégé in areas such as HR and organizational management, said, “Honorary Chairman Choi inherited the entrepreneurial spirit of his father, the late Founder Choi Ki-ho, and built Korea Zinc into a truly world-leading smelting company. He devoted his life not only to the growth of the company but also to the advancement of the nation and society. He will be remembered as a leader of his era who championed people-oriented management, shared growth with society, and responsible leadership for future generations.”
In his eulogy, Vice Chairman Lee Je Joong, who had worked alongside Choi for decades in establishing Korea Zinc as the world’s No.1 nonferrous metals producer, said, “Chairman Choi dedicated his entire life to pioneering Korea’s barren nonferrous metals industry with a belief and passion to make our nation a resource powerhouse. Korea Zinc’s rise to global industry leadership was possible because of his foresight and determination to overcome the turbulent times when Korea lacked technology, talent, and capital.” He added, “We will carry forward his pioneering spirit that expanded Korea’s economic footprint worldwide, continuing to challenge ourselves and innovate tirelessly.”
Born in Hwanghae Province in 1941, Choi graduated from Kyunggi High School and Seoul National University with a degree in economics and later earned an MBA from Columbia Business School in the United States. As a founding member of Korea Zinc in 1974, he led the company’s management with a strong sense of mission, passion, and sacrifice, contributing not only to its growth but also to Korea’s achievement of material self-sufficiency.
From 1992 to 2002, during his decade as Chairman, Choi oversaw the completion of the lead smelter, construction of a cogeneration power plant, expansion of the zinc electrolytic plant, establishment and completion of the SMC zinc smelter in Australia, and company-wide ISO 9001 certification. These achievements significantly strengthened Korea Zinc’s and the nation’s smelting industry competitiveness.
His leadership, grounded in continuous evolution and innovation, laid the foundation for Korea Zinc’s transformation into one of the world’s most comprehensive nonferrous metals companies, producing base metals such as zinc and lead, strategic minerals such as antimony and indium, and precious metals including gold and silver. Today, the company plays a central role in global supply chain resilience.
In a 2014 in-house interview commemorating Korea Zinc’s 40th anniversary, Choi shared his management philosophy. “When a company stops growing, it is like a person ceasing to live. It’s the law of survival. Without evolution, there is extinction. Like a person, companies also need to prevent aging.”
Choi’s belief in the power of teamwork over individual brilliance led Korea Zinc to achieve the unprecedented milestones of 38 years without a labor dispute and 102 consecutive profitable quarters, milestones that remain unique in Korean industry.
Reflecting on the company’s success, Choi once said, “Our success was never the work of a singular lead but the collective achievement of all employees. Star players are valuable, but a strong team matters more.”
Korea Zinc has pledged to continue the late Chairman’s dream of building a “Company to last a century” through its “Troika Drive” strategy. As Choi once said, “We still have much to learn and much to achieve. I believe a company that lasts a century is one that can be said to be a truly great company, and I hope to be remembered as part of such a company.”
Under Chairman Yun B. Choi, the company is realizing that vision through three growth engines, namely renewable energy and green hydrogen, secondary battery materials, and resource recycling.
In the first half of this year, Korea Zinc posted record revenue of KRW 7.66 trillion, driven by increased sales of strategic minerals and rapid growth in new business areas such as renewable energy and resource recycling. Despite external challenges, including a fending off a prolonged M&A attempt, the company was able to achieve remarkable results through unity and resilience among its employees.
Following the funeral service, the bereaved family held a burial ceremony at Moran Park in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.
Chairman Choi’s funeral was held over four days at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, organized as a company funeral. Many dignitaries from government, politics, and businesses paid their respects, including Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-gwan; Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sung-hwan; National Assembly members Park Sung-min (Ulsan Jung-gu), Seo Beom-soo (Ulsan Ulju-gun), Cho Seung-rae (Daejeon Yuseong-gu / Secretary-General of the Democratic Party), Kang Deuk-gu (Anyang Manan-gu); former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; Jeong Dae-chul, Chairman of the Korean Association of National Assembly Members; Ham Young-joo, Chairman of Hana Financial Group; Oh Chi-hoon, Chairman of Daehan Steel; and Seo Kang-hyun, President of Hyundai Steel.
Condolence wreaths were also sent by President Lee Jae-myung; National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik; Prime Minister Kim Min-seok; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yoon-chul; Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon; Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom; SK Group Chairman and KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won; FKI Chairman Yoo Jin; Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong; LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo; LS Group Chairman Koo Ja-eun; Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon; CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun; GS Group Chairman Huh Tae-soo; Doosan Group Chairman Park Jeong-won; and Hanwha Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, among others—honoring the late Chairman’s lifelong contribution to Korea’s material independence and industrial advancement.
