Kihak Sung, chairman of Youngone Corporation and a pioneer in Bangladesh's readymade garments (RMG) and textile sectors, was awarded honorary citizenship of Bangladesh yesterday for his outstanding contributions to the industry and the country's economy.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus presented the citizenship document to Sung at the Bangladesh Investment Summit-2025 at the InterContinental Hotel.

Sung, who first arrived in Bangladesh in the mid-1990s, was one of five individuals and organisations recognised for their significant contributions to Bangladesh.

Expressing his gratitude, Sung said, "I am truly honoured to receive this honorary citizenship."

Sung's rise in the textile industry is closely linked to the success of Youngone Corporation, which he established in 1974. He has been a pioneering force in the RMG sector, with his investments spanning Chattogram, Dhaka EPZs, and, more recently, the Korean EPZ.

Born in 1947 in Seoul, Sung pursued a degree in international economics from Seoul National University. He then began his career in international trade through Seoul Trading. This experience laid the groundwork for his entrepreneurial journey and the founding of Youngone.

Youngone made history as the first investor in Bangladesh's textile and apparel export sector in May 1980. The company also played a key role in promoting female employment in the industry, contributing to Bangladesh's evolution into a global garment production hub.

Youngone's factories, located in Dhaka and Chattogram's export processing zones, produce high-quality jackets, trousers, sports shoes, and leather goods for international markets.

Currently, the company employs about 73,000 people across Bangladesh, making it one of the country's largest employers. In total, Youngone has approximately 95,000 employees globally. The company has invested $650 million and has annual exports worth $1 billion.

Sung served as president of the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) for the 2018-2020 term.

Azad Majumder, deputy press secretary to the chief adviser, highlighted Sung's unparalleled contribution in a Facebook post: "Sung has done something for Bangladesh that very few foreign investors do. He not only created jobs for 72,000 Bangladeshis in KEPZ in Chattogram but also reinvested all of Youngone Corporation's earnings back into Bangladesh."

With the honorary citizenship, Kihak Sung joins an esteemed group of dignitaries, including Kazi Nazrul Islam, Mohammad Ali, Father Richard Marino, Valerie Ann Taylor, and Gordon Greenidge, wrote Azad.