by Kim Heungsoon
Published 02 Feb.2026 15:55(KST)
Cheil Worldwide continued its upward performance trend last year, driven by growth in its digital business and strong overseas operations.
On February 2, Cheil Worldwide announced in a regulatory filing that its consolidated operating profit for last year was provisionally tallied at 336.9 billion won, a 5% increase from the previous year. During the same period, revenue rose 4.7% to 4.5469 trillion won, and gross profit, calculated by subtracting cost of sales from revenue, increased by 8% to 1.8599 trillion won. In the advertising industry, gross profit-excluding outsourcing costs paid to production and other partners-is considered a key performance indicator due to the high proportion of such expenses.
In detail, the headquarters saw a 5% year-on-year increase in gross profit, driven by non-affiliate development achievements such as BYD and Nongshim, as well as growth in retail and digital-focused operations. Consolidated subsidiaries expanded their presence in emerging markets such as North America, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, resulting in a 9% increase in gross profit.
Last year, the business composition by service was 55% digital, 29% BTL (below-the-line advertising), and 16% ATL (above-the-line/traditional advertising). Among these, digital performance grew by 10% year-on-year, supported by continuous expansion in business areas such as dot-com and commerce.
Cheil Worldwide set its cash dividend for last year at 1,230 won per share. The company emphasized, "In 2026, we will simultaneously pursue qualitative growth, sound management, and selective future investments to minimize external uncertainties." The company also set targets of 5% annual growth in gross profit and maintaining an operating margin of 18%.
Meanwhile, Cheil Worldwide's operating profit for the fourth quarter of last year was 90.4 billion won, up 9.7% from the same period a year earlier, while gross profit for the quarter rose 7% to 485.3 billion won.
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