Jung Jai-hun, president of SK Telecom, said on the 21st that he created an enterprise task force (TF) that brings together companywide B2B (business-to-business) capabilities as a unit reporting directly to the CEO, and that the company will strengthen competitiveness in both fixed-line and wireless B2B and secure new business opportunities in public and defense artificial intelligence (AI) B2B. The TF will be concurrently headed by Han Myeong-jin, head of the communications (MNO) CIC (company-in-company).
Marking six months in office, Jung held a town hall meeting at the headquarters on Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, that day and stated accordingly, urging a full-fledged push into the B2B market based on the enterprise experience accumulated so far. He said, "In an era of disruptive innovation where the rise and fall of corporations can be decided in a short time, we must evolve into a more solid corporate structure through continuous change," adding, "The core of future cash cows and growth all comes down to AI."
In telecommunications, Jung presented a two-track approach: building planning and development capabilities for mid- to long-term projects such as an integrated IT system optimized for AI, while continuing to strengthen current digital competitiveness.
For the AI data center (DC) business, he signaled bolder, large-scale expansion by pooling capabilities with SK Group affiliates and global partners. To boost the speed and execution of the AI DC business, the company decided to establish dedicated teams within the AI CIC, including the AI DC Business Division (concurrently headed by Jeong Seok-geun, head of the AI CIC) and the AI DC Development Division (headed by Ha Min-yong).
Jung also outlined the direction for revamping corporate culture systems. SK Telecom will introduce a "growth level" system that subdivides the current two-tier A and B band employee grade structure into growth-phase practitioners (GL1), key contributors (GL2), and leaders and leader candidates (GL3) to enable members to grow systematically. In addition, Jung explained that the company will establish a "job expert track" in which even non-managers with outstanding job expertise are recognized, fostering a corporate culture where experts are acknowledged.
He said, "To prepare for 'a plan for 10 years and a plan for 20 years,' we have selected growth businesses and pushed for organizational pivoting and HR system changes," adding, "Immediate, tangible results may be slow, and AX (AI transformation) may take more time, but let's act boldly for the future that will come when we overcome this."
Emphasizing again the importance of a "customer-centered" shift that day, Jung said he would pursue the sustainable growth of the corporation through innovation in AI and telecommunications and an overhaul of corporate culture. Jung said efforts to change based on "basics and principles" are leading to the restoration of customer trust. He said, "Amid a sense of crisis that the company could collapse, the key was ultimately 'the customer,'" adding, "Drop by drop, the sweat we shed as we rose again and reached out to customers is gradually bringing change."