Executive Vice President, Hyundai Motor Group
Ilbum served as President Yoon Seok Yeol’s Secretary for Protocol. As the President’s Chief Protocol Officer, Ilbum was responsible for planning and implementing all of President Yoon’s domestic and overseas visits.
Ilbum started his professional career as a diplomat after passing the national diplomatic exam in 1999. He began working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Policy Planning Division, and during his time in government, he had the privilege of serving five Korean Presidents in various capacities. Ilbum was Assistant Secretary for National Security under President Lee Myung-bak and was also President Lee’s official English interpreter. He served as Protocol Officer and Interpreter to President Kim Dae-jung, and he was the Diplomatic Liaison for the President’s Spokesperson during the Roh Moo-hyun Presidency.
As a diplomat, he served in the Korean Embassy in Washington D.C. as Counselor for Congressional Affairs; First Secretary at the Korean Embassy in Iraq; and First Secretary at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations, in charge of the Third Committee. Ilbum was Director for North American Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he was in charge of the Republic of Korea’s relationship with the United States Congress, the South Korea–Canada bilateral relationship, and strengthening partnerships with various think tanks within the U.S. As Director, he was also in charge of South Korea’s public diplomacy in the U.S.
After twenty years in government service, Ilbum joined SK as Vice President for Global Affairs until he was appointed as Secretary for Protocol by President-elect Yoon in March 2022. Currently, Ilbum’s primary responsibility as Executive Vice President for Global Policy is to oversee Hyundai Motor Group’s global relations overall and to advise and assist Hyundai as well as Kia’s overseas operations.
