Lee Woongryeol in jeans "Are you going to undress?

Lee Woong-young (62), chairman of the Kolon group, announced on April 28: "I will give up the leadership of my group from next year".
It's not uncommon for chaebol owners to retire suddenly, but that's the result of longstanding concerns, explained President Lee and his group.

President Lee attended this morning's internal forum 'Success Puzzle Session'. bringing together 200 employees at the Kolon One & Only Tower, Magogok-dong, Seoul. The president, who had not often spoken at headquarters, spoke on the forum and stepped on the podium for a bomb statement.

"I'm dressed differently today," said Lee, president of the black turtleneck shirt wearing jeans. If you listen to me, I'll understand why you wear it. "In this article, he says," I'm leaving the company I've been working on since next year. We will also cease to be Chairman, Managing Director and Director of the Kolon Group. We will no longer participate in the management of the group in the future, "he said.By reading the letter, President Lee shook his voice as he felt blessed by himself. Some of the employees present were blindfolded.

After the forum, broadcast live in the group, he left the office after shaking hands with the employees in front of the podium. On the intranet of the company, I wrote a letter called "KOLON FAMILY FRIENY".
Lee said in a letter: "This will not be involved in future management, and it is the end of the year that you are called" president "in your company. "In 1996, when I was 40, I committed to driving for 20 years, but three years have pbaded," he said. "I'm leaving now because I'm afraid I do not have the courage to challenge myself now."

I explained about the future. Lee said, "I was born with a basket of gold.I will not deny that I lived a special life, but I felt a sense of responsibility." I will try to spread my experience and my knowledge outside of Kolon. He said: "I will go back to creating a new business. I am ready to see the sweetness of success on the new workplace. What would you say if you can not do what you want. I'm mad now. "

In the sudden retirement statement of the business owner, there was speculation about the context. However, one group leader said: "I realized my determination, as I wrote in the letter," he said. "I've always said:" I'm going to pull my hand as soon as I feel that I'm a stumbling block for the group. " "It's not just the jeans that came to me," he said.

Kolon is the first company to introduce synthetic nylon fibers in Korea. Founder Lee Wonman (1904 ~ 2004) Former president established in 1935 and founder of Korea Nylon, the first Korean nylon manufacturing company. His Honorary President, Son Dongchan (1922 ~ 2014), inherited the group, inherited management rights in 1977, and this honorary president succeeded Lee Woong-yeol in 1996, at age 74 years old.
This honorary president did not interfere with the management after handing over the management rights to his son. He won only the Korea Open Golf Tournament, which he created with his own honor, "The Leader of Friendship".

Lee also announced the meaning of "starting" after his retirement, but he did not know what to do. A business manager said, "I'm interested in" social value "with Chey Tae-won, president of the SK group, who knows the president well, and I do not want to start a social enterprise. "Another sales manager said:" After 20 years of investment, we have developed Invosa, the world's first drug for the treatment of arthritis cell gene therapy, and I know Lee is interested in to the bioenterprise sector I can challenge this case, "he speculated.

It should also be noted how the sudden departure of President Lee will affect the succession process of other large corporations. Lee holds a 49.7% interest in Kolon, a holding company. Lee Kyu-ho (35), Lee's son, who was named Chief Operating Officer of Kolon Industries' FnC division, has little stake in the holding company.

One group leader said: "The transfer of shares, like the succession of large conglomerates, has never been realized.It is up to the CEO to manage the main business instead of transferring. the management right to management, and the key decision of management will be made by the one and only board of management committee, "he said.

Kim Do-jin reporter [email protected]