In the last three months, it was noted that large corporations with assets of over 5 trillion won have reorganized a total of 148 affiliates, reducing their scale. In contrast, in certain industries such as aviation, transportation, and energy, the establishment of new corporations and mergers and acquisitions have been actively carried out.
The Fair Trade Commission announced on the 10th its report on the "Status of Corporate Changes in Large Corporations from November 2024 to January 2025."
According to the Fair Trade Commission, the number of affiliated companies within 88 targeted large corporations decreased from 3,284 to 3,205 over three months, a reduction of 79 companies. During this investigation period, a total of 148 affiliates were excluded from the group through methods such as mergers, equity sales, and liquidation. This is the highest figure since the Fair Trade Commission began compiling the changes of affiliated companies in large conglomerates quarterly in 2018.
The place with the most exclusions was Taeyoung, which reorganized a total of 30 affiliates, including selling the equity of waste disposal company Ecobit and merging with its subsidiary Blue One Leisure to improve financial structure and management efficiency.
SK also excluded 13 affiliates, including merging with SK Ence and selling equity in ISCM as part of its business reorganization.
Additionally, several corporations such as Hanwha, Kakao, and DL pursued business restructuring through mergers and equity sales.
While large corporations were reorganizing their affiliates, the establishment of new corporations and acquisitions were also actively progressing. During this investigation period, 69 affiliates were newly included from 38 large corporations.
The places with the most new inclusions were Hanjin (8), Hanwha (4), and KT, MDM, and Jungang (3 each) in that order. Hanjin included three airlines, including Asiana Airlines, which received corporate merger approval last year, as new affiliates.
Kumho Asiana established 'Kumho Mokpo City' for its city bus business, while Jungang set up the logistics and delivery-related 'DILLI Jungang' as a new corporation. Eugene secured equity in Alliance to strengthen its home appliance and furniture installation and delivery services.
In the energy, healthcare, and material sectors, there was also active incorporation of affiliates for business diversification.
LS acquired equity in 'Yeosu Green Energy' to expand its LNG power generation business and established 'Incheon Clean Energy Hub' for hydrogen supply. Kyobo Life Insurance established 'Kyobo Dasom Care' to enter the healthcare business, and BGF secured equity in 'Daewon K-Cal' to expand its chemical business.