KT Koo Hyun-mo Style Reform Plan to Be Released This Week

KT Executive Personnel Countdown...'Post-KT Vision' Presented
Establishing Efficient Decision-Making System, New CEO to Show His Colors
AI-Focused Strategic Reorganization, Attention on Affiliate Presidents' Appointments

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The 'Koo Hyun-mo KT administration' is set to carry out personnel appointments and organizational restructuring within this week. The reorganization is expected to tidy up the internal and external organization, which had been disrupted due to Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu's lame-duck period, and present a blueprint for the 'Post-KT' era.

As an internally appointed CEO elected without political external pressure or interference for the first time in 11 years, the focus is expected to be on establishing an efficient decision-making system directly under the president and showcasing the new CEO's unique style. In particular, since KT declared its leap to an 'AI (Artificial Intelligence) Company' last year, there is speculation that a new AI organization will be established or expanded.

According to industry sources on the 14th, KT is expected to announce new executive appointments on the 16th or 17th. Koo Hyun-mo, the newly appointed KT president who made his first official appearance at the New Year's meeting of broadcasting and telecommunications personnel on the 13th, said, "The keyword for the organizational restructuring will be customer-centric," adding, "The core is to reorganize so that KT can be closer to customers and quickly and agilely provide what customers want."

Although he did not specify the details of the executive appointments, it is anticipated that a decision-making system capable of quickly responding to customer demands and market changes will be introduced. Since his appointment on December 27 last year, Koo has been refining his management plans by receiving reports from various departments. Unlike previous CEOs, he has not set up a separate office for the transition committee or management strategy task force, nor issued any messages as the CEO designate, but has quietly communicated with internal staff.

The personnel and organizational restructuring is expected to proceed in a way that erases traces of Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu while overcoming the limitations of the existing personnel pool through balanced appointments. It has been reported that some executives have already been notified of their retention, indicating that the outline of the reorganization and personnel plan has been somewhat finalized. While many executives appointed during Chairman Hwang's tenure are expected to be reassigned, some are likely to remain. Given Koo's deep experience in the telecommunications sector, there is also a possibility that he will appoint heavyweight personnel to senior positions through selections.

Particular attention will be paid to how KT will slim down its bloated organization and improve management efficiency. KT has about 23,000 employees, which is large compared to competitors (SK Telecom with about 5,000 employees, LG Uplus with about 10,000 employees as of September 30 last year), and correspondingly, the number of official executives reaches 120 (including registered and unregistered executives). There is a possibility that the number of executives will be reduced and functions consolidated. KT affiliate executive appointments are also likely to undergo a major 'reform personnel' change.

A shake-up of the affiliate presidents is also anticipated. However, since some appointments have not yet been finalized, the process may continue until next month. Overall business plans of KT, including combined regulation, AI organizational restructuring, paid broadcasting mergers and acquisitions, and the normalization of K-Bank management, are also expected to influence the organizational restructuring and personnel appointments. A KT official said, "There will be little change in the field organizations that need to immediately activate sales capabilities, but in other areas, the new CEO's philosophy will be reflected, and the scope of personnel changes will be quite large," adding, "Business divisions will be reorganized based on functions, and staff departments are likely to be slimmed down."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.