Team ― Perigee

Working together
to challenge the impossible

Meet Our Leadership

PUSHING THE LIMITS OF THE ROCKET EQUATION

For the human race to become a space civilization, space travel should become easier, much like getting on an airplane to go to the cities nearby.
To do so, rockets should become far more efficient than now.

Many technical problems out there are yet to be solved. The vehicle should be reusable without any major refurbishment between flights. Engines should be more reliable yet more efficient. Structures must withstand both fierce heat of reentry and extremely low temperature of propellant for thousands of times but should still be extremely lightweight. Flight control system should be smarter to handle more complex maneuvers.

Everyone at Perigee is dedicated to solving these problems. Together, we are changing the way people view the spaceflight.

LEADERSHIP

Founder & CEO

YOON SHIN 😎

Yoon Shin is the founder and the CEO of Perigee, as well as the chairman of the board.

Yoon is responsible for all sales and system developments at Perigee, particularly overseeing critical decisions in the launch vehicle development program. He is also an engineer who is directly involved in the company's major design process. In his "engineer mode," Yoon designed the initial layout of the 3-ton turbopump and the thrust chamber of the BW1 second stage engine.

Yoon envisions the future of humanity in exploring the unknown worlds and wants to be a part of that journey. He was born in 1997 when the film Contact was released. When he watched the film as a teenager, he was immediately captivated by it and decided to become an HAM operator. If you hear DS3PWS on air, please say hello. He is also an active amateur astronomer. During his university years, he ground a mirror and built an 8-inch reflecting telescope. He also crafted an equatorial mount for astrophotography.

Yoon is a Master's Student in Aerospace Engineering at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in the same department.

CTO

SEONGHYEON SEO, PH.D. 🚀

Dr. Seonghyeon Seo is the CTO of Perigee, responsible for all rocket engine development programs at the company.

Seonghyeon's passionate life has always been with internal combustion engines.
Prior to joining Perigee, Seonghyeon worked at KARI (Korea Aerospace Research Institute) for nine years and participated in the nation's earliest rocket engine programs including the 30-ton gas-generator and the 13-ton main combustor development program. Before KARI, Seonghyeon worked at the Powertrain Laboratory of Hyundai Motors Company and helped developing Korea's first domestically designed engine "Theta".

Seonghyeon holds a doctorate degree in propulsion and combustion from The Pennsylvania State University and his Bachelor of Science degree from KAIST.

VP Launch System

DAEHYUN HWANG, PH.D. 💪

Daehyun Hwang is the Vice President of Launch System, reporting to CEO Yoon Shin. Daehyun is responsible for the development and decision-making processes of the launch vehicle structural subsystem. This includes propellant tanks, system interfaces and separation mechanisms.

Daehyun is the developer of Perigee's cryo-compatible carbon fiber composite tanks. He also participates in the design and production of various launch supporting equipment, such as launch pads and heavy structures including Perigee's sea launch platforms.

Daehyun has always been curious about how far human technology can advance. And so, his ultimate goal is to live forever to see the future by himself.

Daehyun holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from KAIST and a bachelor's degree from Korea Aerospace University.

VP Propulsion

EUNKWANG LEE 🔥

Eunkwang Lee is the Vice President of Propulsion, reporting to CEO Seonghyeon Seo. EK is responsible for key design decisions for Blue 1S and Skyblue engines, as well as Perigee's in-space propulsion systems.

As a propulsion engineer, he established the design rule of the pintle injectors and cooling channels for the combustors used in Perigee's methane engines. The design concept of Blue 1S and Skyblue are his own works as well, from flow schematics and component layouts, all the way down to the ignition sequences.

EK's expertise in propulsion system design extends from chemical to ion propulsion. Before joining Perigee, EK worked at the earth observation satellite manufacturer, Satrec Initiative, where he was responsible for the development of ion thrusters and their feed units.

A distinguished graduate of KAIST, EK holds both a Master's and Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering.

VP Spacecraft

JUNSEONG LEE, PH.D. 🧭

Dr. Junseong Lee serves as the Vice President of Spacecraft at Perigee, where he oversees the development of avionics hardware and software for the company's vehicles.

Prior to joining Perigee, he spent a decade at KARI, playing a key role in the development of the KSLVs.

Dr. Lee holds a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from KAIST.

VP Global Marketing

SOOYEON SHIM 🌎

Sooyeon Shim is the Vice President of Business Strategy at Perigee. She joined Perigee in September 2023 and is responsible for business development.

Before joining Perigee, she worked as a foreign service officer for the Republic of Korea. Within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, her responsibilities included international rules related to space launch vehicles and missiles.

Sooyeon shares Perigee's vision and passion to become a starting point to space for humanity and is proud to be part of this journey.

Sooyeon holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Seoul National University and a master's degree in international policy studies from Stanford University.

Founder & Technology Fellow

YOUNGJIN SONG 🛰️

Youngjin Song is Perigee's Technology Fellow, responsible for defining technology roadmaps of the company.

Youngjin has helped guide Perigee's early days of technology development, where he played an important role in building Perigee-KAIST 3-ton engine test facility as well as the BW0.1 sounding rocket system.

Youngjin studied physics in Chungnam National University.