"Changing the Track of Challenge From Business Administration to Olive Young CTO"
- Interview with Alumnus Hwan Kim (Business Administration, Class of ’05) -
Kim Hwan, CTO and Executive Leader at CJ Olive Young
Connecting Technology and Business at Olive Young
October 02, 2025. I am Hwan Kim, currently serving as CTO at CJ Olive Young’s Tech Platform Center. It is meaningful to share my journey with fellow alumni and students of Kwangwoon University.
I lead the development and innovation of Olive Young’s omni-channel platform, which integrates online and offline experiences. As CTO, I oversee technology strategy, service architecture, platform stability and scalability, and the alignment between business objectives and technical capabilities across development, operations, and infrastructure.
Innovation That Creates Customer Value
For me, technological innovation is not simply about building new systems. Ultimately, it is about making the customer experience more convenient and seamless. AI- and data-driven personalization, omni-channel integration, and operational efficiency are key areas I currently focus on.
What matters most is not technology itself, but whether it delivers value to customers and the organization. Innovation only succeeds when it changes organizational culture alongside systems. In leading major projects, I introduced elements of large-scale agile frameworks to align priorities across teams and strengthen collaboration, helping the organization absorb change quickly and grow together.
Olive Young’s ‘Ol-Yong Pick’ service expands through digital transformation.
Where My Dreams Began — Kwangwoon University
My career began in the Department of Business Administration at Kwangwoon University. I originally hoped to major in MIS, but the IT industry at the time was known for its demanding environment. I dreamed of becoming someone who could bridge technology and business rather than simply a technical specialist.
Unsatisfied with MIS alone, I pursued a double major in Computer Software Engineering. During the era of Web 2.0 and the iPhone revolution, I closely followed societal and technological change. Through extracurricular activities and startup experiences, I learned how to define problems and create solutions through technology.
Leaving the Expected Path and Creating a New Track
Inspired by the idea of forging one’s own path, I consistently sought opportunities beyond the standard curriculum. I believed that creating a different track allows you to move ahead in your own way.
To Juniors: There Is More Than One Path
IT, retail, and digital business evolve rapidly, bringing endless opportunity. Olive Young values individuals who embrace change, use data to solve problems, and create value through collaboration. An open mindset is as important as technical skill.
True innovation connects past, present, and future. My experiences across startups and large corporations shaped who I am today. There is more than one path, and what matters most is how you walk it.
Olive Young Store
From Retail to Tech — Running Toward the Future
My goal is to build a Unified Commerce Platform by integrating global customer experiences across online and offline channels and positioning Olive Young as a leading technology-driven company. I strive to pursue both performance and growth while advancing technology and people together. Creating new standards and a culture of innovation will be my greatest reward.
