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Chairman of Korea Machine Co., Ltd.
Boong-gu Cho
(Mike Cho)
Mr. Mike Cho founded KOMAC in 1997 and became a leader in the overseas export of construction machinery. He pioneered new markets across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, and Syria, and established a broad global network under the KOMAC brand, extending to the U.S., Europe, and South America. As a committee member for the "Trade Person of the Month" award, he actively discovered promising small and medium-sized enterprises and played a key role in helping them grow into global hidden champions. Additionally, he worked with the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy to jointly plan overseas logistics centers.
After suffering losses from the KIKO (Knock-In Knock-Out) financial products during the global financial crisis, Mr. Cho became actively involved in citizen movements, founding various financial and re-challenge organizations. He laid the foundation for improving financial systems and advocating for the protection of financial consumers.
Recently, he has actively responded to price competition from Chinese companies by expanding the market with newly developed products, such as drum cutters, rebuilt excavators, concrete pump trucks, wheel loaders, and electric forklifts. His company is expanding its global value chain and ecosystem by establishing branches in Dubai, Riyadh, and Rotterdam, and developing joint ventures with local partners in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, India, and Dubai.
Practice Areas
Education and Career
· Graduated from Daedong Tax High School
· Graduated from Cheongju University, Department of International Trade
· Completed the GLP program at Seoul National University's Graduate School of International Studies
· Completed the ESEL program at Korea University's Graduate School of Law
Career:
· 1997: Founded KOMAC Co., Ltd.
· 2010: Founded the Korea Financial Consumers Association
· 2015: Founded the Korea Corporate Restructuring Association
· 2007: Gyeonggi Province Governor's Citation
· 2002: Presidential Citation
· 2000: Selected as a 21st Century Next Generation Leader by Segye Ilbo
· 2000: Ministry of Industry and Resources Minister’s Citation
· 1999: Trade Person of the Month Award
Achievements
· In 2008, during the KIKO crisis, many leading export companies went bankrupt. Mr. Cho founded the Korea Financial Consumers Association and the Korea Corporate Restructuring Support Association to create a re-challenge survival ecosystem for affected businesses. His efforts helped establish a foundation for corporate recovery. He fought for the truth behind the KIKO crisis against the government, institutions, and banks, ultimately proving errors in the Supreme Court’s ruling and securing compensation responsibility from the Financial Supervisory Service.
(Social Activism:)
· President of the Korea Corporate Restructuring Association
· President of the Korea Financial Consumers Association
· President of the Financial Victims Alliance
· President of the KIKO Joint Countermeasure Committee
· Chairman of the Korean Re-challenge Federation
· Chairman of the North-South Construction Equipment Exchange Association
· Director of the Speculative Capital Monitoring Center
· Director of the Financial Justice Solidarity
· Director of the Association of Byeot (volunteer organization)
· Current Director at Jubilee Bank
(Economic Organization Activities)
· Director of the Korea International Trade Association
· Director of the Gyeonggi Province Export Enterprises Council
· Auditor of the Korea Construction Equipment Industry Association
· Member of the Korea Trade Issues Resolution Committee
· Member of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Civilian Committee
· Member of the Korea Intellectual Property Damage Response Committee
(Book)
· "Banks Are After Your Pocket" (Published by Sigongsa)