Mongwon Chung

EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2026 finalist, South Korea
Chairman, HL Group

Mongwon Chung is driving next-generation mobility and robotics.

Mongwon Chung has spent nearly five decades shaping HL Group into a global force in mobility. When he stepped into the chairmanship in 1997, after a succession of leadership roles, the company was reeling from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) crisis, leaving only one affiliate standing. Rather than retreat, he embarked on a long-term rebuild guided by a belief that meaningful progress is impossible without people. That conviction fueled his mission to reunify HL Group and reclaim Mando, the mobility company he brought back in 2008 after years of determined effort.

Under his leadership, HL has transformed into a leader in technologies powering autonomous and electric vehicles. The group has developed advanced radar, cameras and domain controllers; launched HL Klemove to focus on autonomous driving systems; and accelerated innovations such as SteerbyWire, Electro Mechanical Brake and Smart Damping Control. Its robotics arm is also emerging quickly, introducing indoor and outdoor parking robots. Today, HL operates across 61 locations in 14 countries, including the US, Europe, China and India.

Mongwon’s impact extends beyond business. His longstanding support for ice hockey has elevated the sport across Asia, earning him induction into the IIHF Hall of Fame as its first Korean member. For him, the shared spirit of challenge — on the ice and in industry — is what continues to move people forward.