Kolon Group held an online kickoff ceremony on Jan. 2 for 2026 and pledged to strategically use artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate innovation and growth.
Kolon Group, in its New Year's address that day, selected and announced "AXcellence 2026," a coined term combining AI and excellence, as its overarching management message for the year. AXcellence means expanding future value by building outstanding capabilities based on AI and accelerating growth. With industries undergoing a major shift in step with AI technology, it conveyed the intent to use AI platforms more proactively to broaden thinking and draw creative inspiration.
Kolon Group stressed that AXcellence can succeed only if all employees form one team and demonstrate teamwork, and said AI should be accepted not as a tool for productivity gains but as a member of the one team. It added that, especially in the field, it is necessary to think first about what can be done rather than what is known and to have the drive to carry out solutions.
Kolon Group's New Year's address has, since 2022, released the recipients of the "One & Only Award," given to employees within Kolon Group with outstanding achievements and top-tier expertise.
This year, Noh Tae-hwan, principal researcher at Kolon Life Science, and Cho Hyeon-woo, deputy department head at Kolon Motors, delivered the New Year's address. Noh led the push into a new electronics materials business with the development of modified polyphenylene oxide (mPPO), and Cho surpassed cumulative sales of 2,000 BMW vehicles since joining in 2016.