The Three Major Telecoms Continue Beyond Telecommunications This Year... Aligning Frequencies to 'Customers' (Comprehensive)

Koo Hyun-mo, CEO of KT
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] "We must boldly and firmly transform from a traditional telecommunications operator into a digital platform company." (Koo Hyun-mo, CEO of KT)

The three major mobile carriers continue their 탈(tal, meaning 'escape from') telecommunications approach in the new year of the Year of the Ox. With the mobile market practically saturated, their strategy is to increase the proportion of future new businesses that will become sources of revenue (cash cows), such as media and robotics. In particular, the three carriers have put 'customer-centricity' at the starting point.

On the morning of the 4th, KT held a "Live Online New Year's Ceremony" at its headquarters in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, under the theme "Digico (Digital Platform Company) that we all create together." At the event, CEO Koo said, "We are ready to challenge high-growth new businesses by transitioning to a Digico," urging employees to strengthen the so-called 'ABC' capabilities, which combine 5G networks with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, and Cloud.

He emphasized, "Unlike ordinary large corporations, KT is a company that must take the lead when the nation and society face difficulties," and added, "We must become a leading company that creates breakthroughs in innovation." He also cited "customer-centric thinking" and "changes in the way we work" as management keywords, stating, "The customer is the starting point and standard for how we work."

Hwang Hyun-sik, President of LG Uplus

Hwang Hyun-sik, president of LG Uplus, who is about to officially take office, also announced the launch of the Hwang Hyun-sik administration centered on customers through a New Year's message video on the same day. Filmed at 'Ilsangbi Ilsang-ui Teum,' a popular complex cultural space in Gangnam among the MZ generation, he said, "The beginning of all change is the customer," and urged, "All our employees must focus on the customer and, in other words, be 'crazy' about the customer."

Emphasizing the need to secure so-called 'true fans,' he stressed, "We must provide a level of quality that exceeds customer expectations," and urged prioritizing activities that meet customer demands. He also called for creating new growth engines such as smart factories and autonomous driving. At the end of last year, President Hwang announced plans to personally oversee new businesses by establishing a New Business Promotion Division in the organizational restructuring.

Jung-ho Park, CEO of SK Telecom and Vice Chairman of the Group

SK Telecom declared its transformation into an AI big tech company. At the year-end organizational restructuring, it reorganized existing core technology departments around AI, laying the groundwork. Vice Chairman Park Jung-ho views AI as the foundational platform for all future businesses and emphasizes the role of SK Telecom as a 'hub' that connects AI to all products and services.

This year is expected to be the year when SK Telecom's ongoing initiatives, such as the name change befitting a big tech company, transition to an intermediate holding company, and subsidiary listings, bear full fruit. Vice Chairman Park is also expected to emphasize these points in a separate meeting with SK Telecom executives in the afternoon. Due to amendments in the Fair Trade Act that raised the shareholding requirements for subsidiaries and sub-subsidiaries of holding companies, SK Telecom faces the task of completing the transition to an intermediate holding company within the year.

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