In Memory of Tai Kyu Choi, Founder (1936 - 2021)

Tai Kyu Choi was a visionary South Korean entrepreneur and the founder of KBC Corporation and its affiliates, including KEMP, KBCI, and the Smart Card Research Center. Born into a prominent entrepreneurial family in Cheongju, Mr. Choi saw his father’s business empire collapse during the Korean War. Undeterred, he went on to graduate from Seoul National University—South Korea’s most prestigious institution. A true self-made businessman, Mr. Choi established a data entry processing firm in Seoul in 1971 named Korean Business Consultants, the namesake and forerunner of KBC Corporation. Fluent in Japanese, he traveled frequently to Tokyo, where he witnessed the burgeoning credit card industry. Foreseeing that this trend would soon reach South Korea, he worked closely with the banking task forces responsible for launching the nation's first credit card system, "BC Card." Under his leadership, KBC Corporation became the primary supplier of plastic cards, issuing systems, and direct mailing services for the industry. Mr. Choi’s influence extended globally as the first Asian president of the International Card Manufacturing Association (ICMA). Now retired in Vancouver, Canada, he continues to support the next generation as KBC Corporation evolves into an international real estate firm. It is Mr. Choi’s enduring wish that the KBC name thrives for more than a century.

Jacob Choi, President

Mr. Choi (the younger), based in New York and Los Angeles, serves as President and Co-Founder of the American division of KBC Corporation, alongside his father, the original founder, Tai Kyu Choi. Mr. Choi possesses extensive experience in real estate finance and development, specializing in international markets and institutional investment. In 2003, as Vice President and CFO of Daeseung USA Corp., Mr. Choi established the U.S. subsidiary of DS Networks, a premier South Korean real estate development firm. During this tenure, he spearheaded four major development projects across California, New York, and Florida. Following these successes, he relocated to DS Networks' headquarters in Seoul in 2005 to serve as Director of the International Real Estate Division. In this capacity, Mr. Choi gained a comprehensive understanding of the Asia-Pacific real estate landscape, managing projects and partnerships across South Korea, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan. Leveraging his vast network and proven track record, he successfully bridged the gap between global opportunities and South Korean institutional capital. In 2004, he played a pivotal role in organizing "KTB Silk Road IV," a specialized private equity real estate investment trust, in partnership with KTB Asset Management. Below are photos of several of his projects:

Seon Woong Kim, Chief Executive Officer

Based in Seoul, Korea, Mr. Kim served as the CEO of DS Networks. Prior to his leadership at DS Networks, Mr. Kim was a senior project officer at Daewoo E&C, a premier Korean construction conglomerate established in 1973. Throughout his distinguished 20-year career with Daewoo, Mr. Kim oversaw every phase of development and management for more than 15,000 residential units, representing billions of dollars in real estate value. He was specifically responsible for the strategic oversight of Daewoo’s urban activities across multiple cities, managing a diverse portfolio of 18 projects, including large-scale mixed-use developments. Under his direction, Mr. Kim’s project team achieved an exceptional track record, surpassing $1 billion in contract sales for three consecutive years and consistently generating over $100 million in annual net income. The following images showcase a selection of his landmark projects:

Jae Hyun Yoon, Managing Director

Mr. Yoon, based in Seoul, Korea serves as a Managing Director at KBC Corporation, bringing more than 20 years of comprehensive, hands-on experience across the real estate development and finance sectors. Mr. Yoon’s career is built on a robust academic background, having studied Architecture at Myongji University before specializing in Real Estate at the Hanyang University Graduate School. This unique combination allowed him to bridge the gap between technical architectural planning and complex real estate theory early in his career. He began his professional journey at P&D Holdings Group, where he spearheaded development planning and project management for prominent landmarks such as Doosan We’ve the State in Bucheon, KB Golden Lifecare Senior Housing in Pyeongchang-dong, Seoul, and Dongbu Centerville in Banghak-dong, Seoul. Expanding his scope into real estate finance and trust management, Mr. Yoon managed corporate loans at Moa Savings Bank and later held key roles at Woori Asset Trust and Korea Asset Trust. During this period, he successfully oversaw diverse large-scale projects, including: Sangam-dong Hanwha Obelisk PFV, Hotel Marina Bay Seoul. Prior to joining KBC Corporation, Mr. Yoon sharpened his expertise in the capital markets within the Real Estate Finance Division of Kakao Pay Securities and the Alternative Investment Division of OHA Asset Management. In these roles, he specialized in high-level financial advisory and Principal Investment (PI) strategies. Today, Mr. Yoon leverages his multifaceted background in architecture, trust management, and investment banking to lead KBC Corporation’s financial advisory and strategic investment initiatives, ensuring the firm’s projects are both visionary and financially sound.

Bong Gi Kim, Managing Director

Mr. Kim, based in Seoul, serves as the Managing Director of KBC Corporation. He possesses extensive expertise in the development of high-rise, multi-family residential projects throughout South Korea. Since 1993, he has successfully managed and delivered nine major condominium developments, totaling 3,636 residential units. Previously, Mr. Kim served as a Director at DS Networks, a leading multi-family development firm in Seoul. His most recent hallmark project was the Daewoo Prugio Yongsan-song in Chungju, a 474-unit residential condominium development completed between 2013 and 2017. Prior to his tenure at DS Networks, Mr. Kim successfully spearheaded five large-scale, for-sale multi-family projects in Daegu and Gimhae, accounting for an additional 3,162 residential units. The following photographs showcase a selection of his successfully completed developments:

Hoon Sub Choi, Managing Director

Hoon Sub Choi, based in Seoul, is a Managing Director of KBC Corporation. He shares overall responsibility for project co-management alongside Mr. Jacob Choi, with a strategic focus on portfolio and asset management, investor relations, business development, budgeting, and operations. The professional partnership between Hoon Sub and Mr. Jacob Choi began at DS Networks in Seoul, where they worked together from 2004 to 2008. During this time, Hoon Sub gained extensive real estate development expertise across the Asia-Pacific region, including South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan. Beyond residential developments, Hoon Sub’s diverse experience includes the development of a premier golf course in Chuncheon and a major timeshare and condominium project in Busan. The following photographs showcase a selection of his landmark projects:

Sukjin Henry Cho, Esq., Legal Counsel

Mr. Cho, based in New Jersey, serves as Legal Counsel for KBC Corporation in the United States. He is the founding partner of Pak & Cho, P.C., a New York-based law firm that has served clients across New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. for over 25 years. Mr. Cho’s practice is centered on Commercial Litigation and International Business Transactions. Throughout his distinguished career, he has litigated and tried an extensive range of contractual claims and commercial disputes arising from the complex business activities of corporate and international clients. His expertise in corporate law spans the full lifecycle of a business-from advising speculative venture capital startups to guiding established, profitable companies through restructuring and organizational planning. Mr. Cho is also highly experienced in high-stakes commercial transactions, including: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and Joint Ventures, Commercial Real Estate Transactions, Private Acquisitions, and Intellectual Property Protection, including Trade Secrets and Trademark Registration.

Humphrey Heo, Accounting & Administration

Humphrey Heo, based in Los Angeles, is the Associate of Accounting and Administration for KBC Corporation. In this role, he is responsible for managing the company’s diverse daily operations and ensuring organizational efficiency. Humphrey oversees all day-to-day financial management, including comprehensive accounting functions and corporate reporting, providing critical support to the firm’s executive leadership.