Sohn Kyung-shik honored as Bennett Global Fellow
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Media Contact: Hailey Rose Viars | Communications Specialist | 405-744-5496 | hviars@okstate.edu
Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of CJ Group and the Korea Enterprises Federation, has been named a Henry G. Bennett Global Fellow by Oklahoma State University — an honor that recognizes visionary global leaders who are shaping the world through innovation, diplomacy and service.
Bennett Fellows are distinguished global leaders who have contributed meaningfully to worldwide understanding and impact. Sohn, an OSU alumnus and one of South Korea’s most respected business figures, is only the second Korean to receive the award, joining former Prime Minister Nam Duck-woo.
The honor was formally presented to Sohn during the second annual OSU Global Alumni Reunion in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday, June 21.
For Sohn, the recognition marks a return to the place where his global outlook was first formed.
“My time at Oklahoma State University as a student in the Master of Business Administration program in the late 1960s was nothing short of life-changing,” Sohn said. “It was here that I gained not only academic knowledge but also unlocked the foundational principles of global management and expanded my horizon to embrace an international perspective.”
After graduating from OSU, Sohn went on to lead CJ Group, a powerhouse in South Korea’s food, entertainment and logistics industries. As chairman of KEF, he has been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen Korea’s global competitiveness, support innovation and advance economic diplomacy.
“This journey is not merely about economic success,” he said. “It is about elevating Korea’s soft power on the global stage and fulfilling our responsibilities as a member of the international community.”
The Henry G. Bennett Distinguished Fellows Program was established in 2001 to honor individuals whose leadership reflects the vision of former OSU President Henry G. Bennett. From 1928 to 1950, Dr. Bennett transformed OSU’s mission and later served under U.S. President Harry S. Truman as director of the groundbreaking Point Four Program, a forerunner to today’s international development efforts led by USAID.
Sohn joins a distinguished list of past recipients, including Gen. Colin Powell, former Secretary of State; Dr. Clifton R. Wharton Jr., former Deputy Secretary of State; Wes Watkins, former U.S. Representative and OSU alumnus; and Dr. Dell Felder, former provost of Zayed University.
Dr. Randy Kluver, associate provost and dean of OSU Global, said Sohn’s leadership and lifelong commitment to international cooperation make him an ideal Bennett Fellow.
“Chairman Sohn’s story is one of vision, values and global citizenship,” Kluver said. “He exemplifies the transformative impact of international education and the kind of leader we hope to inspire at OSU.”
Sohn continues to advocate for sustainable growth and global engagement, championing the next generation of Korean businesses and leaders, just as OSU once helped shape his own.