April 27, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Samsung BioLogics CEO Kim Tae-han was the highest-paid among Korean pharmaceutical and biotech executives last year, according to a review of filings with the Financial Supervisory Service on April 4.

Kim, who took office in 2011 when the company was founded, was given a 66 percent pay hike in 2017 amounting to 3.86 billion won (US$3.65 million). Incentives far exceeded his basic salary of 746 million won that year -- he earned a bonus of 3 billion won after Samsung BioLogics posted its first operating profit and completed the construction of its third plant with an annual 180,000-liter capacity in Songdo. 

Botulinum toxin maker Medytox CEO Jung Hyun-ho was second on the list with 1.21 billion won, closely followed by Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin whose compensation reached 1.2 billion won. Hwail Pharmaceutical CEO Park Pil-jun and Kolon Life Science Chairman Lee Woong-yeol earned 1.17 billion won and 1.10 billion won, respectively. 

Samsung BioLogics CEO Kim Tae-han

However, no executive from Hanmi Pharmaceutical Pharmaceutical, Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Kwang Dong Pharmaceutical and Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical received more than 500 million won, the data showed.

By Park Han-na (hnpark@heraldcorp.com)