Business Leaders: "Actively Promote New Ventures to Accelerate a Sustainable Future" (Comprehensive)

Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Euisun: "We Will Achieve Visible Results in Future Industries Such as AI, Autonomous Driving, and Robotics"
Hanwha Chairman Kim Seung-yeon: "We Will Continue Active Investment in New Technologies"
Lotte Chairman Shin Dong-bin: "Active Challenges Are Necessary"

[Asia Economy Reporters Jo In-kyung, Choi Dae-yeol, Lee Chang-hwan, Cha Min-young] "In 2022, we aim to make possibilities a reality in customers' daily lives." (Jung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group)

"In new business sectors, faster decision-making and strong execution are necessary to seize the market and lead technology." (Kim Seung-yeon, Chairman of Hanwha Group)

The key phrases from the New Year's speeches delivered on the 3rd by the heads and CEOs of major domestic groups were similar in broad terms: ‘New technology and a sustainable future based on customers.’

They expressed agreement on the need to actively pursue promising future businesses and investments despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis for the third consecutive year, and conveyed their intention to continue courageous challenges.

Chung Euisun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group

"Let's Create a Sustainable Future with New Technology"

Jung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, set this year's keyword as ‘A Better Future for Customers and Humanity.’

In his New Year's address on the 3rd, Chairman Jung stated, "By securing core software technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), we will concretely present smart solutions in future business areas such as autonomous driving, robotics, and urban air mobility (UAM) to create a better future."

He asserted that this year, visible achievements will be made in future business areas including AI, autonomous driving, robotics, and UAM.

Kim Seung-yeon, Chairman of Hanwha Group, also emphasized the importance of new technology. Chairman Kim said, "Bold investments in promising technologies and new businesses that will lead us to a sustainable future must continue," and added, "Let's accelerate the results of ongoing new businesses and continuously discover new ventures to realize the future Hanwha."

Shin Dong-bin, Chairman of Lotte Group, urged learning from past failures and actively challenging innovation. Chairman Shin mentioned, "In a converged environment, a thorough performance-based culture must be established so that the best talents can demonstrate their capabilities regardless of seniority, gender, regional ties, or educational background."

Jung Yong-jin, Vice Chairman of Shinsegae Group, said, "We must nurture excellent internal talents and actively embrace external talents and their cultures that have strengths we do not possess, thereby accepting diversity."

Gu Ja-eun, the new head of LS Group, stated on this day, "Through ambidextrous management, we will maximize business synergy between existing core businesses and future new businesses."

Ambidextrous management reflects Chairman Gu's strong will to become a company that balances advanced technologies in existing core business areas such as electricity, power, and materials in one hand, and future leading technologies such as AI, big data, and Internet of Things (IoT) in the other, maximizing business synergy and providing customer-centric value solutions.

Samsung Electronics also called for enhancing individual creativity to achieve business leaps through the joint leadership of Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee and President Kyung Kye-hyun.

Shin Dong-bin, Chairman of Lotte Group

"ESG is an Inevitable Future, We Will Strengthen It Further"

Companies pledged to strengthen ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) further this year, following last year.

Choi Jeong-woo, Chairman of POSCO Group, emphasized in his New Year's address that safety must be established as the top priority value. Chairman Choi said, "The holding company will lead group-wide ESG management." He also promised efforts such as establishing an electric furnace for eco-friendly steel production and securing competitiveness in secondary battery materials business.

Cho Won-tae, Chairman of Hanjin Group, said, "2022 will be the first year for Korean Air to advance as a global mega carrier along with the acquisition and merger of Asiana Airlines."

Telecom company leaders placed emphasis on ‘customer-centric management.’ KT CEO Koo Hyun-mo named stability, customers, and growth as the core keywords for 2022, stressing, "We must shift the business structure centered on the business model (BM) to customer-centric, innovate the way we work, and achieve growth recognized by customers."

There was also an unconventional New Year's address. Kolon attracted attention by having a regular employee, not the head of the group, deliver the New Year's speech. Lee In, newly appointed assistant general manager of Kolon Global, pledged in the speech that Kolon will return the fruits of growth to society and become a respected company.

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