Meet the Team: Zhoongkeun Kim, Country Manager LOC Korea

Across LOC, Longitude, Innosea and JLA, our teams are united by a shared commitment to support clients globally with practical and pragmatic solutions, de-risking operations across energy and oceans, and driving energy transition in shipping, renewables and oil and gas markets. You know our teams, but do you know our people?

This week we meet Zhoongkeun Kim – Country Manager for LOC Korea, Naval Architect and Marine Warranty Surveyor.

What do you do at LOC? 

I joined LOC in September 2013 as the Country Manager for Korea. My first mission was to set up the Seoul office, hire staff and take on local site attendances. Throughout the year, I am often out of the office and working on site as a Marine Warranty Surveyor. I believe the best way to advertise our work is in our on-site attendances around the globe, and our commitment to always providing the highest quality and performance of works for our clients and projects.

LOC Korea has successfully landed on the local market and we are lucky and pleased to have acquired a number of returning clients, who seek our support at various project stages, and from various areas of the marine market.

What excited you the most about our industry?

With my colleague Seoc Joo, we provide professional MWS & engineering consultancy services to marine and other offshore industries in South Korea and Japan. In the past, due to fluctuating project levels, and the fact South Korea has no commercial offshore oil wells, there was less of an influx of knowledge and best practice in local marine and offshore industries. Recent years has marked a change in this area.  Last year President Moon committed to cutting emissions to net zero by 2050, resulting in offshore windfarm technology being chosen as one of the core areas of project development.

It is really exciting to work in this new dynamic sector of the offshore market, contributing to the introduction, adoption and transition of advanced technologies, codes and guidelines on best practice, to provide suitable solutions to help develop the country’s green offshore market.

What made you join LOC?

The offer from LOC for the Korean Country Manager position was attractive for two reasons: finally I had the opportunity to apply my knowldedge and experience of marine operations to the local market, and thus, the chance to complete my long journey as a nomad in the marine sector, having travelled and worked abroad significantly, to then settle down and apply my skills in my motherland.

What do you do when you are not working? 

Usually I am away working on site over 180 days per year. Therefore, when I am not working, I try to stay and play with my wife and twin sons whenever I am available.  Most of the time I take care of our young boys at home, but we also often go out to play ball and to ride kickboards together. I live near the River Han, which has wide open spaces – perfect for playing and having fun, whilst keeping sufficient distance from anyone else who might be in the same area.