Leadership Messages from Domestic Mobile Carriers
The chief executive officers (CEOs) of domestic mobile carriers delivered a strong message through their New Year’s addresses, emphasizing the importance of overcoming last year’s hacking incident and making a fresh leap forward. Their speeches highlighted key themes such as innovation, trust, and customer-centric approaches.
SK Telecom President Jung Jai-hun: Focusing on Innovation and AI
Jung Jai-hun, president of SK Telecom, emphasized the need for energy and innovation in his New Year’s address. He stated, “Let’s gather energy to make SK Telecom run again,” and added, “Let’s create a new icon of innovation with customers at the center, the essence of our business.”
Jung also highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) transformation, saying, “AI transformation is an essential condition to make daily life more valuable and happier.” He encouraged the team to create valuable achievements through AI, stating, “Let’s create valuable achievements of our own through AI.”
As a leader, Jung pledged to support members in challenging themselves freely, describing himself as a Change Executive Officer. His message was one of empowerment and forward-thinking, aiming to drive the company toward a more innovative future.
KT President Kim Young-shub: Gratitude and Restoring Trust
Kim Young-shub, president of KT, focused on gratitude and the importance of restoring customer trust. He mentioned, “The government announced the final results of its comprehensive investigation into the information security incident that began in September of last year, including a vast investigation, cause analysis, and measures to prevent recurrence.”
Kim expressed his appreciation for the employees who participated in the long-term investigation and measures, stating, “I extend special gratitude to many employees who directly or indirectly participated in the long-term investigation and measures.”
He urged all employees to work together in the process of restoring customer trust moving forward. His message emphasized unity and a commitment to learning from past challenges to build a stronger future.
LG Uplus CEO Hong Bum-shik: The Power of Trust
Hong Bum-shik, CEO of LG Uplus, presented “TRUST” as the keyword for 2026 in his New Year’s address. He said, “Let’s move toward a year of growing together on solid trust.” The concept of TRUST includes several components:
- T for keeping promises with customers
- R for courage to reveal problems
- U for solidarity based on trust
- S for in-depth understanding through customer segmentation
- T for change created through praise and gratitude
Hong explained that TRUST represents a pledge to achieve sustainable growth amid trust between members, management, the company, and customers. He added, “2026 will be a year to expand successful experiences and accumulate actual success regarding the future competitiveness we designed.”
According to Hong, the powerful driving force enabling this vision is trust. His message emphasized the importance of building and maintaining trust as a foundation for long-term success.
Conclusion
The messages from the CEOs of SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus highlight a shared commitment to overcoming past challenges and focusing on the future. Each leader has emphasized different aspects of growth, whether it be innovation, trust, or customer-centric strategies. These messages not only reflect the current state of their companies but also set the tone for the coming year. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration, these leaders aim to lead their organizations toward a more secure and prosperous future.
