Choi Tae-won: "Ulsan Must Become a Software Mecca Centered on Manufacturing AI"

SK Wraps Up 'Ulsan Forum 2023'

Choi Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, emphasized that "Ulsan can become a software mecca centered on manufacturing artificial intelligence (AI) through digitalization."

Chairman Choi attended the '2023 Ulsan Forum' held on the 14th at the Ulsan Exhibition & Convention Center in Ulju-gun, Ulsan, and stated, "Ulsan is a manufacturing-centered city, which is the strength that Ulsan possesses." Now in its second year, the Ulsan Forum is a regional forum initiated by SK Group in collaboration with the Ulsan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss various social issues in the local community.

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group (second from the left), is attending the closing ceremony of the '2023 Ulsan Forum' held at the Ulsan Exhibition and Convention Center on the 14th and answering questions.

Instead of a closing speech, Chairman Choi answered questions from the audience and shared his thoughts on the local community. When asked about ways to translate the discussions from the Ulsan Forum into action and the future direction the forum should take, he said, "Regional forums are rare, but watching the Ulsan Forum, I saw hope in regionalizing forums and finding new solutions through discussions within them," adding, "If the Ulsan Forum succeeds, it can be implemented in other regions as well."

He further emphasized, "Although the types of manufacturing and processes differ, if we build infrastructure that can utilize manufacturing data from the Ulsan region, the city will transform into an AI-centered city, enabling not only manufacturing but also software businesses to thrive."

He continued, "We need to create a new story where manufacturing is not seen as rigid or dominated by a male-centric military culture, but as cool and beautiful," adding, "Changing people's perception of manufacturing is important, and if Ulsan makes efforts, this can change."

Chairman Chey Tae-won of SK Group (center) is taking a commemorative closing photo with participants of the '2023 Ulsan Forum' held at the Ulsan Exhibition & Convention Center on the 14th.

In response to a question about efforts companies can make to solve women's employment issues, he explained, "Manufacturing will change in the future, and in the process of manufacturing innovation, the capabilities required for men and women are not different," adding, "To enhance corporate competitiveness, programs that lead manufacturing innovation such as AI are necessary."

Regarding a question from a small and medium-sized enterprise representative about the difficulty of practicing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), he emphasized, "If you think of ESG centered on people, E is the relationship between people and nature, S is people themselves, and G is the relationship between people," adding, "It does not require tremendous changes or difficulties, such as treating people humanely."

The forum was attended by SK executives including Chairman Choi and Kim Jun, vice chairman of SK Innovation, as well as Kim Du-gyeom, mayor of Ulsan Metropolitan City, Kim Ki-hwan, chairman of the Ulsan City Council, Lee Yoon-cheol, chairman of the Ulsan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Oh Yeon-cheon, president of Ulsan University. About 700 local university students and citizens also participated either in person or online.

An SK official said, "Based on the discussions at the Ulsan Forum, we will continue to explore future development directions together with stakeholders in the Ulsan region," adding, "We will develop the Ulsan Forum into a platform that finds practical solutions for the growth of the local community."

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