Jingye Choi (EXEC PROG 07) : From floods to droughts, Korea’s challenges drive innovation

For nearly two decades, Jingye Choi (EXEC PROG 07) has led Veolia Korea. A graduate of ESSEC’s General Management Programme, he has dedicated his career to bridging industrial innovation and environmental responsibility, guided by values shared by both France and Korea — rigour, humanism, and openness.

ESSEC Alumni : You have been working with Veolia for nearly 17 years. How did you join this leading company, and what has kept you inspired and motivated throughout this journey? 
Jingye CHOI : I received a job offer in 2008 when I was about to return to Korea after working for three years at KOTRA Paris (Korea Trade & Investment Promotion Agency). It was very honorable for me to interview with a global environmental industry leader with 170 years of history. I had just completed the ESSEC Management General course, and I believe this qualification was the greatest recognition from Veolia. I have spent nearly half of my 48-year professional life working with France, which made me love France and its people. For this performance, I received the Chevalier, Order of National Merit from the French government in 2010. The cross-cultural management skills I learned at ESSEC have been extremely helpful during my 17 years at Veolia Korea. 

EA : What motivated you to enroll in the General Management programme at ESSEC, and how did it shape your leadership style and strategic vision?
J. Choi : During my 30-year career in a Korean public institution, I worked in Canada, Austria, Belgium, and France, where I became very interested in different national cultures and how global companies manage their business. When I had the chance to work for my final career in Paris, I really wanted to study at a French business school. Even though I lacked language skills as a foreigner, I wanted to challenge myself with French courses. ESSEC's General Management program fits my goals perfectly. Studying with executives from many French companies gave me a valuable chance to learn about their work ethic, leadership skills, and especially French negotiation behaviour. Through group projects, I could study mid-sized French companies and analyze their management styles and growth strategies, which helped me develop a strong business mindset. I am proud that what I learned at ESSEC is helping my professional career beyond my expectations.

EA : Sustainability and innovation are at the heart of Veolia's mission. How is the company adapting its global expertise to local environmental challenges in Korea? 
J. Choi : Veolia adapts its global "GreenUp" strategy to meet Korea's specific industrial and municipal needs. Veolia operates a specialized industrial training center in Korea to ensure its workers can handle complex local challenges in water, waste, and energy management. The company uses advanced technologies to solve Korea's industrial and resource problems. For example, it provides Ultrapure Water (UPW) production and high-rate wastewater recycling systems for the semiconductor industry. Veolia also promotes the circular economy through its PlastiLoop plant, which recycles industrial plastic waste into high-quality pellets for the car industry. Additionally, its facility converts non-recyclable industrial waste into Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF), providing a low-carbon energy option to help local manufacturing reduce emissions.

EA : What are the key challenges related to water, waste and energy management in Korea today?
J. Choi : Korea faces a serious water challenge because most of its annual rainfall comes during the summer monsoon season, causing both floods and droughts during different periods. For waste management, the main problem is that Korea has very limited available land and high population density, making it nearly impossible to build new landfills. This puts huge pressure on recycling and waste-burning solutions. For energy, the main challenge is reducing carbon emissions from Korea's large manufacturing economy, which depends heavily on imported fossil fuels and nuclear power.

EA : How do you perceive the evolution of environmental awareness in Korea?
J. Choi : Environmental awareness in Korea has grown significantly. The country has shifted from focusing only on rapid industrial growth to addressing the real effects of pollution and climate change. This increased public concern comes from direct experiences with severe air pollution, recurring urban floods, and extreme heat waves. Strong public demand for a cleaner environment has led to robust government policies, including ambitious national recycling programs and stricter emission reduction targets. The new government has changed its strategy to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. It is strongly promoting renewable energy as a main energy source alongside nuclear power, seeing it as essential for providing stable, low-carbon electricity to the nation's large industrial sector.

EA : How do you see Veolia's development in Korea in the coming years, balancing economic growth with sustainability goals?
J. Choi : Veolia's future growth in Korea will directly align with the country's sustainability needs, building on its strong presence and capabilities in industrial services since 1999. This long-standing presence, especially in managing industrial water and hazardous waste for major industries, provides the perfect foundation for its "GreenUp" strategy. Growth will come from its specialized areas, such as using advanced water reuse technologies, including on-site industrial services, and providing innovative hazardous waste treatment solutions. In this way, Veolia will grow its business by becoming an essential partner for reducing carbon emissions and pollution in Korea's high-tech economy.

EA : What advice would you give to ESSEC students or young graduates who wish to start their careers in South Korea?
J. Choi : They already have a global mindset and extensive experience. Compared to when I was in their age, I think they are much more capable and competitive young people. ESSEC graduates can receive excellent opportunities in Korean companies or foreign companies. However, if I may humbly offer advice from my experience, in the long term, human relationships are important, so I want to say learn character development and wisdom. No matter how excellent your abilities are, in Korea, human relationships are an important factor for success. I am now reading a lot of French classical literature and learning wisdom from it. 

EA : What specific qualities or skills are particularly valued by Korean companies?
J. Choi : Korea is unique in having achieved developed nation status in the shortest period of time. It has a unique economic structure where trade dependence relative to GDP reaches 80%. Therefore, the strategy of international development is essential for Korean companies, so naturally, Korean companies value global experience and vision highly, and furthermore, they value perseverance and dedication. The year 2026 will mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Korea. I hope that ESSEC Alumni will contribute greatly to the development of relations between the two countries.