Road professionals of exception - IRF names top individual award

Dr Kyung-Soo Yoo, an IRF Fellow (Class of 1979) and one of the chief architects behind Korea's world-class road connectivity programs has been nominated to receive IRF's most distinguished individual honour
November 13, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
South Korea’s roads have benefited in terms of safety in particular from Dr Kyung-Soo Yoo’s influence
Dr Kyung-Soo Yoo, an IRF Fellow (Class of 1979) and one of the chief architects behind Korea's world-class road connectivity programs has been nominated to receive IRF's most distinguished individual honour


Established in 1951, 2462 IRF's Professional of the Year award recognises eminent public, private and education sector professionals with an outstanding track record of leadership and commitment to the road transport industry. Over the years, the award has recognised some of the world's most influential transport leaders for their work in the field of advocacy, policy, research and educational programs in support of better, safer, and more sustainable road networks globally.

An IRF Fellowship Scholar, Dr Kyung-Soo Yoo graduated from Ohio State University in 1980 before returning to the Korea Highway Corporation as a Highway & Traffic Engineer. In 2005, Dr Yoo was appointed to run the Highway & Transportation Technology Institute affiliated to the Korea Highway Corporation. He later took on a series of leadership roles across Korean and International Associations, including the Korea Road Association, the Korea Society of Intelligent Transportation Systems and the 6432 Road Engineering Association of Asia & Australasia. These positions were successively held as Korea grew in the international ranking of countries with the highest performing road system and a continuous record of declining road traffic injuries.

Accepting the award, Dr Yoo stated: "Being an IRF member and receiving an IRF Fellowship has had a positive and dramatic impact on my whole life. With much responsibility, I am honoured to be the 2017 recipient of the IRF Professional of the Year and I will do my best to continue to have a meaningful contribution to the road industry for the rest of my career."

IRF Chairman Eng. Abdullah A Al-Mogbel noted, "The award crowns an exceptional professional whose vision and efforts have contributed significantly to Korea's international standing and strengthened relations with the International Road Federation."

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • IRF Geneva promotes certified road programme training
    February 26, 2015
    The IRF Geneva is promoting its Senior Road Executives Programme. This is part of a strategy that has seen the IRF helping deliver certified professional training for the last 20 years. The Senior Road Executives Programme (SRE) provides continuing professional development for those working in the road sector. By so doing, this strategy has contributed to the dissemination of knowledge and expertise throughout the world. Using an inter-disciplinary approach, the programme is designed to advance the understa
    Read More
  • JCB North America has new chief after John Patterson CBE retires
    January 7, 2014
    JCB’s John Patterson CBE, who rose through the ranks from field service engineer to Group chief executive, has retired after 43 years’ service. Arjun Mirdha is the new president and CEO of JCB in North America, where Patterson had led operations as chairman and CEO since 2008. After joining JCB in 1971, Patterson went on to work in Canada and America before returning to the UK in 1988 as managing director of JCB Service. In 1993, he was appointed managing director of JCB Sales before becoming Group CEO –
    Read More
  • Kofi Annan helps formwork specialist Pilosio take CSR to the next level
    September 16, 2014
    Italian formwork specialist Pilosio held its fourth annual Building Peace Award in the historic setting of Venice’s Scuola Grande on Friday 12 September. This year’s winner was politician Samia Yaba Nkrumah, the daughter of Ghana’s first democratically elected president, highlighting her planned project to build a new library and learning space in Akosombo, near Lake Volta, dedicated to her father. Over 300 guests from around the world, including 150 Pilosio clients, attended the event and heard keynote sp
    Read More
  • SBG is laying the foundations for growth and economic development in the Middle East
    September 27, 2013
    Considered one of the largest construction firms in the world, the Saudi Binladin Group (SBG) is a family-owned business which has grown over the years into a highly diversified group with operating divisions spread across key business sectors. The Group’s portfolio of construction projects is an array of Saudi Arabia’s most iconic landmarks that includes Princess Nora University’s new campus, Jeddah’s Kingdom Tower and Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District, a new development consisting of 34 towers tha
    Read More

Highlighted Content