Jeongdo Hong

Born on November 11, 1977, Hong Jeong-do is the eldest son of Hong Seok-hyun, who holds the position of Chairman at JoongAng Holdings. He started college as a history major at Yonsei University and completed a bachelor's degree in economics at Wesleyan University. He furthered his academic pursuits by obtaining a master's degree in business administration from Stanford University. His career commenced in 2005 when he joined the Strategic Planning Office of JoongAng Ilbo. By 2014, he assumed pivotal responsibilities, assuming the roles of CEO and President at JoongAng Media Network(JMnet, precursor of JoongAng Holdings), JoongAng Ilbo, and JTBC. His held the position of publisher of JoongAng Ilbo from 2018 to 2022. In October 2021, he was appointed as the Vice Chairman and CEO of JoongAng Holdings, JoongAng Ilbo, and JTBC. Furthermore, he serves as the Chief Digital and Transformation Officer(CDXO) for JoongAng Ilbo and JTBC.

Master of Business Administration(MBA) from Stanford University Bachelor of Arts(BA) in Economics from Wesleyan University College of Liberal Arts, Yonsei University

April 2022 – Present CDXO of JoongAng Ilbo & JTBC
October 2021 Vice Chairman of JoongAng Holdings
October 2021 – March 2022 Vice Chairman & CEO of JoongAng Ilbo, JTBC
November 2018 – February 2022 Publisher of JoongAng Ilbo
January 2018 President & CEO of JoongAng Holdings, JoongAng Ilbo, JTBC
December 2015 President & CEO of JMnet, JoongAng Ilbo, JTBC
December 2014 Vice President & CEO of JoongAng Ilbo, JTBC
January 2014 CEO of JTBC, Executive Vice President of JMnet
January 2013 Executive Vice President of JTBC
January 2012 Executive Director of JTBC
December 2011 Founded and launched JTBC
April 2011 COO of JMnet, Senior Managing Director of JoongAng Ilbo
January 2010 Managing Director of Strategic Planning, JoongAng Ilbo
January 2009 Director of Strategic Planning, JoongAng Ilbo
May 2005 Strategic Planning Office, JoongAng Ilbo
2004-2005 Business Consultant, Accenture(Korea)

In 2010, Hong Jeong-do took on the role of overseeing strategic planning at JMnet's broadcasting headquarter. The culmination of his efforts came on December 31 of that year when he marked a pivotal achievement by clinching first place in a process to select general programming channel operators conducted by the Korea Communications Commission. This achievement marked a significant breakthrough in the revival of TBC (Tongyang Broadcasting Company), the leading commercial broadcaster in Korea during the 1960s and 1970s. TBC was forced to cease operations in 1980 in the then military government’s efforts to consolidate media. JTBC officially embarked on its broadcasting journey on December 1, 2011. Along this path, the network achieved remarkable milestones, notably the groundbreaking 'Newsroom' scoop on government affairs in 2016. For an impressive span of five consecutive years, Sisa Journal awarded JTBC with the esteemed title of the 'Most Trusted Media’. Furthermore, JTBC left an indelible mark in the realm of entertainment with a string of hit dramas, including 'SKY Castle', 'The World of the Married', 'Reborn Rich', and 'Doctor Cha'. In addition to these successes, the channel produced a lineup of hugely popular entertainment shows, such as 'Hidden Singer,’ 'Phantom Singer,’ 'Ask Us Anything,’ and 'A Clean Sweep.’ strengthened JMnet's position in the entertainment industry.

In 2011, under Hong’s leadership, a significant merger and acquisition unfolded, bringing together the multiplex franchises Megabox and Cinus. In 2015, Megabox took another major step by acquiring the remaining 50% stake previously held by Korea Multiplex Investment(KMIC). This strategic move resulted in JoongAng Group obtaining complete control with a 100% stake, thereby consolidating ownership and securing full management rights. The merger and acquisition of Megabox represented a watershed moment for JoongAng Group, marking its entry into the dynamic entertainment industry. Building on this strategic milestone, the company leveraged its enhanced position to diversify its business endeavors. Megabox found success beyond the cinema screen business, expanding into production, investment, and distribution, with standout projects such as 'Hunt' and 'The Roundup' showcasing its growth.

In 2019, JTBC made history as Korea’s first non-terrestrial broadcaster to secure broadcasting rights for the Olympic Games. This achievement was the result of a significant meeting between Hong Jeong-do and IOC President Thomas Bach in Lausanne, Switzerland, during June of the same year, culminating in a formal signing ceremony. With the acquisition of the prestigious broadcasting rights, JTBC aims to exclusively broadcast the 2026 to 2032 Winter and Summer Olympics, reaffirming its commitment to premier sports coverage. Pioneering the Establishment of an IP-Centered Content Studio In 2020, JTBC Studio emerged as an independent content production entity, separating from JTBC in response to changing media trends driven by OTT platforms in the Korean media landscape. It was hailed as an innovative measure separating station(broadcasting) and studio(production) at the time. JTBC Studio swiftly ascended to become Korea's premier content production company. In 2021, it achieved remarkable sales of 558.8 billion won and an operating profit of 15 billion won. In 2022, JTBC Studio rebranded itself as SLL, boldly announcing its roadmap to lead in the global market as a content powerhouse. SLL expanded beyond captive content such as 'Reborn Rich,' diversifying into non-captive content production for platforms such as Netflix, giving rise to notable projects like ‘The Sound of Magic,' 'Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Zone,' 'Narco-Saints,' and content for Disney+, including 'Big Bet.'

Hong Jeong-do holds a prominent position as a member of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers(WAN-IFRA) Asia Pacific Committee. In recognition of his outstanding contributions and leadership, he received the prestigious title of World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2010. Additionally, he actively participated in the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council, further underscoring his commitment to global dialogue and leadership.

Grandfather: Hong Jin-ki (March 17, 1917 ~ July 13, 1986) - Distinguished as the Chairman & CEO of JoongAng Ilbo and served as Korea’s Minister of Home Affairs. Grandmother: Kim Yoon-nam (June 25, 1924 ~ June 5, 2013) Father: Hong Seok-hyun (October 20, 1949 ~) - Chairman at JoongAng Holdings. Mother: Shin Yun-gyun - Currently serves as the Director of Arumjigi Culture Keepers Foundation. Younger Brother: Hong Jeong-in (March 1, 1985 ~) - CEO of Contentree JoongAng, Megabox, Playtime, and Medialink.