Goo Hyun-mo: "KT Must Leap Forward as a Telecommunications-Based Platform Operator"

On the morning of the 22nd, send an email to executives and employees
Share contents of the 'Executive Strategy Workshop' held on the 16th
Must leap forward as a 'Telecommunication-Based Platform Operator' through innovation
Identify finance, AI, and super-collaboration as growth engines for the second half of the year

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] KT CEO Koo Hyun-mo (photo) stated, "KT must transform from a telecommunications operator into a 'platform operator based on telecommunications' to achieve sustainable growth and development." He emphasized that 5G and AI are key platforms driving innovation in other industries, and through them, KT should seek growth opportunities in the B2B market.

In an email sent to KT employees on the morning of the 22nd, CEO Koo said, "Last Thursday, we held our first executive strategy workshop via a non-face-to-face video conference. I want to share with you the important points that the management team agreed upon during the workshop."

CEO Koo pointed out, "The specific role of the 'platform operator based on telecommunications' we aim for is to bring changes to customers' lives and innovations in other industries." He diagnosed, "5G, combined with AI, big data, and cloud, is a core infrastructure leading the digital transformation of other industries, and we must turn its potential into reality."

Positive Evaluation of On-site Changes, BDO Launch, and Customer-driven Innovation

CEO Koo cited recent changes at KT as ▲on-site changes, ▲the launch of BDO, and ▲customer-driven self-innovation. He evaluated that the six metropolitan headquarters system, which combines network, B2C, and B2B launched this year, has quickly settled and is producing collaborative results. He said, "The change from the 11 regional headquarters system that has continued since the company's founding was an inevitable choice due to technological advancement, sales environment, and workforce structure changes, and under the metropolitan headquarters system, customer-centric synergy and performance improvements are actively occurring."

He also mentioned the launch of BDO as an innovation case. He said, "The BDO group, which plans and executes projects from an enterprise-wide perspective, currently has 309 personnel working on 24 large-scale projects," citing representative projects such as AI call center development, B2B business system improvement, and cloud core platform innovation. CEO Koo expressed confidence, "By the end of this year, when these projects conclude, problems that have been dormant for years will be resolved."

He also referred to customer-driven self-innovation, which he emphasized as his inaugural message. CEO Koo mentioned the Teacher Manager service as the first example of customer-driven self-innovation. The Teacher Manager service elevated the call and reception service, which had been regarded as a supplementary service for landlines for over 20 years, to the level of 'privacy protection' for customers, contributing to the privacy protection of over 9,000 teachers as of the end of June. Other exemplary cases of customer-driven self-innovation include 'non-face-to-face self-activation,' 'local government policy promotion,' and 'easy and fast electronic contracts.'

Financial, AI, and Ultra-collaboration Growth Drivers in the Second Half

For growth factors in the second half of the year, he cited K Bank, collaboration with Hyundai Robotics, and the AI One Team. CEO Koo said, "K Bank will become a KT group company in the second half of this year," adding, "It will play a role in pioneering the financial sector of the KT group together with BC Card." Regarding Hyundai Robotics, in which KT became the second-largest shareholder in June, he said, "(In the second half) cooperation will become more concrete." CEO Koo also noted, "We will start many projects related to the government's Digital New Deal," and expressed confidence that "the growth of core businesses such as mobile, internet, and TV, which improve monthly, will continue."

CEO Koo emphasized, "Through the AI One Team, we will lead innovation in various industries such as heavy industry, finance, and electronics." He also mentioned that the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) demands new perspectives and business opportunities. CEO Koo said, "Examples include employee safety and emergency preparedness, non-face-to-face work methods, and the activation of non-face-to-face medical and educational businesses," adding, "We will closely monitor the economic and social changes caused by COVID-19 and create new business opportunities."

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