Lee Byung-sun Reappointed as 5th Head of Jeju Center for Creative Economy and Innovation

## CEO Lee Byung-sun Confirmed for 'Reappointment' as the 5th Head of Jeju Center for Creative Economy & Innovation! Stepping Up Efforts to Drive Regional Innovative Growth The Jeju Center for Creative Economy & Innovation has confirmed the reappointment of current Director Lee Byung-sun as its 5th CEO, signaling an expected acceleration in the development of the regional innovation ecosystem. CEO Lee will officially begin his term on October 1st. CEO Lee, who was selected as a candidate through a competitive public recruitment process that began in late July, received approval from the Center's board of directors and final endorsement from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, leading to his reappointment amid trust and high expectations. As a former Vice President of External Cooperation at Kakao, his extensive experience has already shone brightly during his previous term, and he is credited with bringing positive changes to Jeju's startup ecosystem. **Outstanding Achievements During His Tenure as 4th CEO** As the 4th CEO, Lee is credited with leading the remarkable growth of Jeju's startup ecosystem. In particular, he built active cooperation networks with relevant organizations inside and outside the province and made significant contributions to attracting funding for early-stage startups through the creation of venture investment funds. By leading the selection of TIPS (Tech Incubator Program for Startup) operators, a private investment-led technology startup support program, and the management of the 'Mother Fund' project, he elevated the regional investment ecosystem to a new level. Beyond simply attracting investment, he established customized growth support systems for local startups and expanded open innovation cooperation structures with large corporate partners, including Kakao, thereby facilitating tangible growth. Furthermore, by promoting the formation of a 10 billion KRW Korea-Japan Jeju Startup Investment Fund, he laid the groundwork for global market entry and took the lead in promoting the potential of Jeju startups to the world. These achievements clearly demonstrate how positively CEO Lee's leadership and drive have impacted Jeju's startup environment. **A Powerful Vision Presented with Reappointment** Alongside his reappointment, CEO Lee presented a clear vision for the Center's next leap forward. Key points include ▲advancing a virtuous investment cycle structure, ▲strengthening local startup support systems, and ▲deepening cooperation with the dedicated large enterprise Kakao and its affiliates. He expressed his commitment to further solidify the foundation for Jeju-based startups to grow stably and expand into global markets. In particular, he stated that he would further invigorate open innovation focused on Jeju's specialized strategic industries, such as aerospace, energy, AI, and bio, and fully support the global expansion of innovative technologies originating from Jeju by fully initiating global connections. This is interpreted as a strong message to foster globally competitive companies by leveraging the region's unique strengths. CEO Lee Byung-sun's reappointment is raising expectations that the Jeju Center for Creative Economy & Innovation will further solidify its role as a key hub for regional economic revitalization and startup growth. Attention is focused on what innovative footsteps the Jeju Center will leave under his leadership.