Project Management Team

Ki Man Kim leads the Project Management Team at Samoo Architects & Engineers and is responsible for business management, risk management, project resource & outsourcing managements. After joining Samsung C&T Engineering & Construction Group in 1989, Mr. Kim has over 25 years of on-site experience regarding construction and project managements. From 2001, Mr. Kim has lead many construction projects including the Kim Koo Museum & Library, High-tech R&D Center, and Sustainable Training Institutes. For the recent 3 years, Mr. Kim contributed his experience and expertise in leading business & risk managements of domestic construction site at the headquarters of Samsung C&T. With these proven expertise, Mr. Kim will continue his role in transforming Samoo into a truly global company with sustainable growth plans.

Studio 3

Kim Byungsung, Senior Principal of SAMOO Architects and Engineers, is in charge of Residential Design Studio. He studied architecture at Hanyang University in Korea. He experienced construction field at Cheju Shilla Hotel, belonging to Samsung Construction Co, going through the Air force Officer in Facility. Since he joined SAMOO in 1991, he had conducted various and remarkable residential projects design such like the Seocho Garden Suite near the Gangnam Station; Time-bridge at Bundang in suburb of Seoul; and D-cube City, a complex of residential towers, hotel ,office, retail and culture center, at the Shindolim Station, a south-west center of Seoul. Mr. Kim had also conducted a large scale residential redevelopment projects including Chamsil-3 block of about 4000 units and Kangdong city-run block of about 5000 units. Mr. Kim is served as an expert of urban regeneration, complex building design and furthermore is extending his concerns and performances to the masterplan and high-rise building design, adding to his experiences the masterplan of the Samsung Industrial complex at Tangjeong and participating in the research project of high rise building by the Government.

Studio 2 / KIRA

Mr. Kim studied architecture in Kookmin Univ, and under prof. Kim Swoo Geun, who was a prominent architect and patron of artists who had considerable influence on his design philosophy emphasizing the transculturation.
In this light, he always tries to understand the relationship between his design and the environment where the building sits within by communicating clients and his design team. After graduating Graduate School of Hanyang Univ, Mr. Kim joined Samoo Architects & Engineers in 1991 participating in numerous representative projects.
By designing Seoul Museum of Art, MOCA in Deoksugung Palace, and Asian Cultural Complex, Mr. Kim tried to regenerate urban space with the preserved historical values in urban context. Kumho Asiana Main Tower, Kyobo Life Insurance Headquarter remodeling and Hana Bank Headquarter project are the results of his design team’s efforts to realize the client's identity in the urban context while providing decent public space.

Advanced Technology Division / KIRA

Mr. Sohn has wide and diverse experiences through design, marketing and strategic planning. He graduated Yonsei University Graduate school of Architecture in 1989 with Master degree. In 1990, he started his professional career in Samsung Corporation as a construction engineer. After 2 years, He joined SAMOO Architects & Engineers and has accumulated a lot of project experiences including Offices, R&D facilities, Training centers and Manufacturing facilities for over 20 years. Besides design works, he worked as a manager of International Business, Marketing & Consulting and promoted to Principal in 2010. Now he is working as head of Advanced Tehnology Division. Also, Mr. sohn is a member of Korean Institute of Architects and Gang-Dong Gu provincial architecture committee.

Studio 1

Jong Hee Shin graduated from Korea University's Department of Architecture and joined SAMOO in 1988. Having been involved in a variety of projects including offices, auto-industry facilities, mixed-use residential and cultural facilities, Mr Shin also concentrated his efforts in turn-key & design competition projects in Samoo's Strategic Design Team. With over 24 years of experiences in major projects including Samsung Insurance Building, Samsung-Renault Busan Factory, Tower Palace-II, National Science Museum, Seoul City Hall, Sung-Nam City Hall, Taekwondo Park, and Korea Coast Guard Academy, he is now in charge of Samoo's Studio 1.

Architectural Environment Laboratory / KIRA

Ji-taek Shim pursued both bachelors and masters degrees at Hongik University's School of Architecture. He began his career at Samsung C&T, where he was involved in planning of the Suwon Outdoor Concert Hall and Mugunghwa Electronics, a factory designed exclusively for the disabled. After building a strong foundation, he became a designer at SAMOO A&E. His works range from cultural spaces, offices, to high-end residences. He frequently works with installation artists and "Korean traditional architecture" professionals. He collaborated with world renown architects, Jean Nouvel and Rem Koolhaas, on Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art. When designing, he consults with clients to translate their identities into an architectural language. With a passion for design exploration, he played a critical role in the planning of Samoo Design Workshop and several in-house educational courses in technological tools. He was also a chief designer in placing runner-up of the Bering Strait Project sponsored by Union Internationale des Architectes.

Architectural Design Division / KIRA

Mr. Seung-ho Yu is the design principle of SAMOO who is consistently applying his interest of environmental design theories in the public areas, which he started to take interest while studying at the Graduate School of Architecture at Korea University. His accumulated design experiences with cultural facilities promises successful execution of all projects including sustainable hi-tech facilities exemplified by the success of Opera House, National Science Museum, and the National Ecological Institute. And his passion for design can be easily recognizable in many of the design competition projects that he has been involved with. As a designer who pursues perfection, he takes great importance to three core values. Firstly a symbolic design which is not too excessive, secondly the efficient function of the building throughout its life-cycle, and lastly the economic feasibility of the project for the clients.

Global Marketing TF / KIRA, LEED AP

Mr. Rhie is an architect with over 20 years of experience and his extensive project portfolio covers planning and design of commercial, healthcare and masterplan projects. Currently, he is leading Global Marketing TF. For three years, he worked in SAMOO's New York City office to lead a team of diverse cultural backgrounds. Mr. Rhie serves for clients with clear communication skills, which ensures quality of design product and smooth project delivery. He helped many global and domestic clients to establish their business presence by proposing optimal project solution in Korea. Mr. Rhie also worked as a project coordinator for Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art. Before and after Leeum project, his involvement in major design competitions resulted in winning many coveted projects. The list includes Centennial Hall for Korea university and Seoul city hall turn-key design competition. He is an author of a book ？ Architectural Odyssey of the 20th century, which Rem Koolhaas wrote an early praise. He continues to contribute articles at major architecture and design journals which include GA of Japan. He is a frequent lecturer at major universities and museums in Korea. He was teaching at the School of Architecture+Design, Virginia Tech in USA, as a visiting professor.

Administration Division

Sang Gyoo Lee is chief of Administration Division and is responsible for strategic planning, human resources, and finance of Samoo Architects & Engineers. With many years of experience regarding business management and finance at Samsung C&T Engineering & Construction Group's Management Support Team, Mr Lee's experience in project investments and risk management have enabled global expansion in design-build(EPC) project operation and management. Mr Lee's valuable speciality will enable Samoo to combine design and engineering capabilities to become a Global Top Tier Company through the establishment of long-term strategies, solid financial structure, and advanced risk management systems.

Advanced Technology Division

Chan-Hun Jung, Senior Principal, is an expert and specialist for designing high-tech research and FAB facilities. While attending School of Architecture at Hanyang University, Mr. Jung enhanced his design capability through Korean Institute of Architects Convention and Exhibition as well as various other exhibitions. After graduation, Mr. Jung gained extensive and detailed hands-on experience in construction and building process.
With these strong basis combined with more than 20 years experience at Samoo, his prominent design and creativity brought many high-tech projects that are not only highly functional but also ideally optimized.
Mr. Jung continues to improve the competitiveness in designing high-tech projects by applying his extensive knowledges from various international projects in USA and China.

Engineering Consulting

Mr. Jae-Young Cha has worked as an architect at SAMOO Architects & Engineers since 1994, and became a senior principal of the firm in 2014. As a man of various experience, Mr. Cha has been responsible for a wide range of program types and scales of projects including Office Buildings, Retail & Wholesale Stores, Education & Research Facilities, Performance Halls, Military Facilities.
Mr. Cha received B.A. from Yonsei University in 1988 and M.A. in 1990. His major works are National Tax Administration, Garden Five Tool, KBIZ Global Support Center, KLID Tower, Chungmu Art Center, Korea Rural Development Administration, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Human Resource Development Service of Korea, Korea Army Cadet Military school.

Engineering Division / KIRA

Yong E. Choi is a registered architect in Korea and Senior Principal in SAMOO. Currently he is in charge of Engineering Division. Mr. Choi received bachelor of architecture, master of science and Ph.D. from Yonsei University. He also completed the Advanced Industrial Strategy Program(AIP) from Seoul National University.