Park Tae-seong, former ambassador to Indonesia, has been appointed as the new full-time vice-chairman of the Korea Battery Industry Association (KBIA), with plans to assume his position as early as next month.
Established in 2011, the KBIA consists of approximately 150 member companies, including major battery manufacturers such as LG Energy Solutions, Samsung SDI, and SK On, as well as materials companies like POSCO Chemical and Ecopro BM. Recently, Kwon Young-soo, Vice President of LG Energy Solutions, took the helm as the association’s new president.
Park, a Seoul National University economics graduate, has held various government roles, including heading the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Trade Comprehensive Support Center at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In 2020, Park became Indonesia’s ambassador, serving in the post for two and a half years.
Indonesia has emerged as a vital economic cooperation partner, following LG Energy Solutions and Hyundai Motor Company’s joint venture to establish electric vehicle battery facilities in 2021. As the world’s second-largest nickel producer after Australia, Indonesia is also a critical location for battery material production.
Park’s appointment as vice-chairman is expected to significantly benefit Korean companies’ projects in Indonesia. Given that batteries are now designated as a national strategic technology, trade experts like Park will likely play crucial roles in the promotion and advancement of the industry.
