# Steve Hong

> Steve Hong, also known as Hong Seong-wan (홍성완), is the founder and CEO of Cloocus, a Seoul-based cloud, data and AI managed services company founded in May 2019. A former Samsung SDS developer and game-company operator, he initially focused on Microsoft Azure before expanding into multi-cloud services, data governance and AI operations, with company operations in South Korea, the United States, Malaysia and Japan.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at Cloocus
- **Organizations:** Cloocus, Samsung SDS, SecuGen, GamePrix, GTPlus
- **Nationality:** South Korean
- **Education:** Kyung Hee University
- **Known for:** Founded Cloocus in May 2019., Led Cloocus during its Microsoft Korea Partner of the Year awards in 2021, 2022 and 2023., Led Cloocus during its 2024 Databricks Data and AI Governance Partner of the Year for South Korea award.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2009** — Worked as a developer at Samsung SDS and later at SecuGen in the United States; exact employment dates are unverified.
- **2009** — A 2019 interview dates his online game business to 2009.
- **2016** — Provided Azure solutions through GTPlus, according to a 2019 interview.
- **2019-05** — Founded Cloocus.
- **2020-08** — Cloocus attained Azure Expert MSP status.
- **2021** — Opened New York and Malaysia operations; Cloocus won Microsoft Korea Partner of the Year.
- **2022-05** — Opened Cloocus’s Busan campus with a Microsoft-linked Global Tech Hub.
- **2023** — Cloocus won its third consecutive Microsoft Korea Partner of the Year award.
- **2024-07** — Announced a KRW 20 billion Series B investment from Stonebridge and Helios PE.
- **2025-04** — Cloocus opened its Japan branch.
- **2025-11** — Cloocus became a global finalist in the Microsoft Partner of the Year Gaming category.
- **2026-04** — Discussed IPO preparations and U.S. SMB expansion.

## Achievements

- Founded Cloocus in May 2019.
- Led Cloocus during its Microsoft Korea Partner of the Year awards in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
- Led Cloocus during its 2024 Databricks Data and AI Governance Partner of the Year for South Korea award.
- Led Cloocus as it became a 2025 Microsoft global Gaming finalist.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Cloocus’s company history lists OpenAI Select Partner status.
- **2026-04** — Hong discussed IPO preparations and U.S. SMB expansion; revenue and profit figures in that interview were targets.
- **2026-01** — Announced a Fivetran partnership for enterprise data integration and AI adoption.
- **2025-12** — Presented a ClooSphere-centered global AI MSP strategy at the December 5 town hall.

## Links

- Website: https://cloocus.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-hong-74ab9062/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/steve-hong
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-07