Doosan Group chairman Park Yong-maan, 58, is actively engaging in socializing activities, not only at home but also overseas in a bid to strengthen brand image of Doosan as a global infrastructure giant.

Doosan boasts the longest corporate history in Korea, but it is a new player in infrastructure, as it transformed from a food and beverage giant into a heavy industry player through a number of merger-and-acquisition deals in the 2000s. 

In a year, the forum was scaled up as a leading global event in infrastructure, attracting globally renowned opinion leaders and CEOs of multinational firms thanks to Park’s leadership. It is rare to see such a global event in the business-to-business sector.

To offer group’s key customers ― most of whom are from infrastructure industries ― a valuable opportunity to have a better understanding of global agendas and their impact on their businesses, Park allegedly contributed to inviting speakers for the second forum using his personal network.

Under the topics of the global economic outlook, urbanization, and innovative information-communication-technology convergence, Doosan Forum attracted a group of globally renowned speakers including First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, professor Paul Krugman of Princeton University, professor Tyler Cowen of George Mason University and author of “The Great Recession,” and Steven Koonin, director of the NYU Center for Urban Science and Progress.

Industry watchers said the forum is helpful to Doosan as it offers chairman Park a network-building opportunity for future business expansion, while increasing Park’s visibility in the infrastructure sector.

Park, who is famous for his open-minded and people-friendly leadership, is also increasing his visibility at home, defying the stereotypical image of the media-shy owner of chaebol, or family-controlled South Korean conglomerate.

He took chairmanship of the Korea National Opera last week and is vying for chairmanship of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industries, one of the biggest business associations in Korea.

By Seo Jee-yeon  (jyseo@heraldcorp.com)