Chair Hong Seok-jo of BGF Co. urged employees in his 2026 New Year's address to "design a sustainable future through global expansion and the broadening of business areas." He also called for an aggressive push into global markets, seizing the current surge in worldwide demand for Korean products and culture driven by the popularity of K-culture.
Hong said, "Last year, even amid a difficult business environment, we achieved several meaningful results that proved our value," adding, "Among them, the opening of the first CU Honolulu store was a highly monumental event that proved our standing in the global market."
He explained, "We are now at an inflection point where the landscape of industry, the experience of customers, and the very way corporations exist are being fundamentally redefined," adding, "At the center of this sweeping change is a digital technology revolution led by artificial intelligence (AI), robots, big data, and the cloud."
He continued, "The remarkable advancement of new technologies is already completely redefining corporations' value chains and business models and will determine the success or failure of business going forward," stressing, "As we enter an era of great transformation, it is time for us to carry out in-depth deliberation, meticulous preparation, and integrated execution."
Hong urged, "We must continually study and relentlessly advance how to organically integrate our accumulated asset and emerging technologies, through what differentiation and competitive advantages we will lead the market, and what measures can maximize our essential role."
To design a sustainable future, Hong called for redefining the concept of competition and broadening horizons and thinking, putting more effort into global expansion, and expanding the group's business areas.
First, he said, "Rather than relying on past experience and practices, we need to drive ambitious work based on the latest trends and objective data," adding, "Think of competing against the entire distribution market that spans online and offline, and further, against retail distribution channels around the world."
He emphasized, "Now is an unprecedented opportunity, with global demand for Korean products and culture surging explosively on the back of K-culture's popularity," adding, "CU's strong performance in overseas markets will shine as a new hope and a core growth engine for Korea's convenience store industry."
Hong urged, "Now, based on the business capabilities we have accumulated, we must strive to discover new growth engines," adding, "We should seek new opportunities outside and build self-sustaining strength through fierce competition."
Finally, Hong said, "We have always prepared for difficulties, constantly changed, and continued to take on challenges. Perseverance and drive are etched into BGF's DNA," adding, "In 2026, the year of byeongo, let's run vigorously with unbending passion and challenge, united as one with forward-driving teamwork."