Cho Won-tae, chairman of Hanjin Group, said, "We must look for the group's competitors not in Korea, not in myself, but in the global market," adding, "It is necessary to read global trends closely and respond on a macro level."
On the 6th, according to Korean Air and others, Cho stated accordingly in a New Year's address to executives and employees on the 5th, saying the group's affiliates have grown to a world-class level. He told employees, "We must broaden our perspective and strengthen our fundamentals so we can compete in the global market."
Cho said, "The integrated Korean Air has reborn as a truly global top airline operating about 240 aircraft, and the integrated JIN AIR operates about 60 aircraft," adding, "Hanjin is also continuing to expand integrated logistics services as a global comprehensive logistics corporations beyond Korea."
He said, "To overcome fierce competition in a rapidly changing environment, I ask you to derive strategic tasks frequently regardless of cycle, systematize them, and build a tight process that achieves quantifiable goals."
On safety, he emphasized, saying, "There must not be any negligence, not even in the smallest gap." In particular, he said, "Managing and protecting the precious personal information of both customers and our employees is also part of safety," adding, "I ask everyone to examine matters with the mindset that each of us is responsible for information security."
Regarding the integration of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, Cho said, "This year should not be for preparation for integration, but a period to adapt by bringing operations to a level effectively equivalent to integration," adding, "After moving as one body, from the point of integration we must naturally blend into each other."
Cho continued, "I believe the sense of mission to contribute to Korea's development through transportation, the essence of the group, and the shared spirit we have had despite having lived our lives differently will greatly help us become one," adding, "To create synergy, we must open our hearts to one another."