Yoo Young-sang Refutes Claims of Special Treatment for Roh Tae-woo, Saying "I Devoted My Youth and Effort to SKT"

Regarding SK Group's entry into the mobile telecommunications business and the political controversy over preferential treatment, Yoo Sang-young, CEO of SK Telecom (photo), said, "It is regrettable that SKT's efforts and achievements seem to be belittled."

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After attending the IEEE Milestone registration ceremony held at SKT headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 10th, Yoo responded to reporters' questions with these remarks.

The ceremony celebrated SKT's recognition for being the first in the world to commercialize CDMA technology, earning registration as an IEEE Milestone, often called the "Nobel Prize of the ICT field."

Recently, during the second trial of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won's divorce lawsuit, the court judged that former President Roh Tae-woo had tangible and intangible contributions to SK's (then Seonkyung Group) entry into the mobile telecommunications business in 1994.

However, SK's position is that after the inauguration of the Kim Young-sam administration, it acquired Korea Mobile Telecom (now SK Telecom) and entered the mobile telecommunications business, but the court misunderstood this as collusion between politics and business or growth through illicit funds.

In response, Yoo said, "As a member of SKT, I devoted my youth to SKT," adding, "I feel regretful that efforts and achievements such as SKT's world-first commercialization of CDMA, which marks its 40th anniversary this year, are being belittled."

He added, "We entered the mobile telecommunications business in a legitimate manner, not through preferential treatment, and have managed it very well to this day. As a member of SKT, I am proud of this," and said, "I will strive to ensure that this is widely known to the world."

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