“My vision for a world driven by green growth is one where humanity thrives in harmony with the planetary world, which is interconnected through partnerships that foster green innovation and solutions to combat climate change.”

Sang-Hyup Kim joined the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) as Executive Director on January 1, 2025, the organization he spearheaded in 2012 as a full-fledged international intergovernmental organization promoting sustainable development in developing countries. As the first national from the Republic of Korea to lead the organization, his 40-year professional journey weaves his experiences in media, academia, and policymaking and cements his lifelong dedication to advancing sustainable development and climate action.

As Executive Director, he leads the organization’s 700+ workforce in 51 developing countries supporting GGGI’s 53 Member States and regional organizations. He focuses on thought leadership and collaboration across sectors and drives GGGI as a key enabler for mobilizing the financing, technical expertise, and partnerships needed to build a resilient global economy that respects ecological boundaries.

Before joining GGGI, he was the Co-Chairperson of the Presidential Commission on 2050 Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth, allowing him to contribute to Korea’s national strategy and its global sustainability leadership for over 25 years. “Sharing Korea’s story is a testament to the transformative power of visionary planning and collective action. I hope to leverage these experiences to contribute to a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous world.”

He has held various prestigious roles, including Advisor for Green Growth & Sustainable Development at KAIST (since 2022), Visiting Professor at KAIST’s Graduate School of Green Growth (since 2013), and President of the Jeju Research Institute (2020-2022). He was also Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at KAIST (2020) and Chairperson of the Coalition for Our Common Future (2014-2020), which he founded. He is a member of the 30 Wisemen for Future Korea (since 2016) and Co-Chair of the Jeju Green Big Bang Committee (since 2015), as well as Chair of the CJK Cooperation Dialogue’s Environment Session (since 2014).

Sang-Hyup Kim holds an M.A. and a B.A. in Political Science from the Department of International Relations at Seoul National University.