Hwang Hyeon-sik, the CEO of LG Uplus, has been named the "2024 Alumni of the Year" by the KAIST College of Engineering. The prestigious award, established in 2014, recognizes alums who have made significant contributions to industrial technology development or enhanced the university's reputation through academic achievements.

LG Uplus CEO Hwang Hyeon-sik / Courtesy of LG Uplus

Hwang, who earned his master's degree in industrial engineering from KAIST in 1987, has been praised for his leadership in driving both the growth and innovation of LG Uplus' wireless and wired communications businesses. Under his guidance, the company achieved a record 1 trillion won ($717.7 million) operating profit in 2022 and surpassed 20 million wireless subscribers in 2023. His success is attributed to a customer-centric management philosophy that has been key to the company's stability and expansion. Additionally, Hwang has played a pivotal role in advancing next-generation communication technologies, strengthening both LG Uplus's and Korea's telecommunications industry competitiveness.

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on Thursday at KAIST's main campus in Daejeon, with prominent figures from the university in attendance.

As part of the ceremony, Hwang will deliver a special lecture to KAIST students on the topic of "Customer, Collaboration and People-Centered Leadership," sharing insights into the values that have guided his career and leadership approach.

Hwang is the CEO and chairman of LG Uplus, a position he has held since 2021. He has been a key figure in the company's efforts to expand in the evolving telecommunications sector, with a focus on 5G technology and digital services such as content, the metaverse and smart mobility.

Hwang began his career at LG Telecom in 1999 and has been integral to the company's growth, moving through various leadership roles. He was named president of the consumer business in 2019 and was promoted to CEO after the retirement of his predecessor.