The state-run Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency named financier Kim Yong-kook as its new head of Invest Korea on Thursday.

Kim will head Invest Korea, KOTRA’s arm to attract foreign investment, for the next two years starting on Feb. 11, according to officials

“With the experiences gained from the international financial industry, I will strive to increase foreign investors (and) undertake the responsibility to create new jobs, increase the international competitiveness of domestic industries and develop the local economies as attracting foreign investment has a profound impact on the domestic economic market,” Kim said.

Newly appointed Kim Yong-kook received a master’s degree in international finance from University of Michigan after receiving a bachelor’s in mathematics and German from Haverford College, in a suburb near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He then gained domestic and international experience in the financial industry in Hong Kong and Seoul while working at various financial firms, including Samsung Securities, Standard Chartered Securities Korea Limited and Seguin Partners.

By Lee Seo-young (seoyounglee@heraldcorp.com)