Ryu Young-sang, CEO of SK Telecom, shared his New Year’s message for 2025 with SK Telecom team members. Below is a summary of CEO’s message.
In 2024, we fortified the stability of the communication business through Operational Improvement (OI), thereby bolstering our fundamental competitiveness. We also enhanced the execution power of our artificial intelligence (AI) pyramid strategy. These efforts laid the groundwork for us to become a Global AI Company, with telecommunication and AI as our two main pillars.
However, 2025 is expected to bring about an unprecedented crisis. The market forecast is bleak due to geopolitical issues, such as global economic instability. The domestic economy is also projected to face various challenges, including a slump in domestic demand.
From a technological standpoint, we anticipate market growth driven by AI-based digital innovation and new opportunities arising from the combination of AI and telecommunication. However, we also foresee an intensification in the competition for AI technology supremacy and investment.
In 2025, I want to underscore three things as we embark on our journey to become a Global AI Company, in order to overcome the impending crisis.
Go beyond Operational Improvement to achieve Operational Excellence
We must strike a balance between short-term profitability and long-term sustainability, while weeding out unnecessary elements and bolstering competitiveness through the application of AI transformation (AT) and digital transformation (DT) technologies.
Ultimately, our goal is to evolve from a traditional telecommunications business to a forward-thinking AI enterprise, with steadfast focus on achieving both immediate profitability and enduring sustainability.
Create tangible results in AI
In 2024, we not only established a synergy system with other SK Group members for our B2B AI business, but also showcased the potential of our B2C AI services through A. (A-DoT) and our global AI agent, Aster (A*). Moving forward, our goal for 2025 is to ensure that our AI business drives significant revenue growth.
Let’s strive to make significant progress across the entire AI value chain. This includes areas critical to constructing the ‘AI Infrastructure Superhighway,’ such as the AI data center (AIDC), GPU-as-a-Service, and Edge AI businesses to AIX Solutions and Personal AI Agent (PAA).
Establish a competitive, rigid, yet flexible corporate culture
We must steadfastly execute our plans in line with SK Group’s management philosophy, the Supex (Super Excellent) Spirit, while promoting flexibility through open and horizontal communication that encourages open dialogue. Moreover, the business, infrastructure and staff organizations must unite as one to foster robust teamwork.
We are presently charting a course that no one has traversed before.
Let’s advance together on this challenging journey, bearing in mind that tough times necessitate transformation, change brings about solutions, and solutions guarantee enduring success.
At SK Telecom, challenge and innovation are woven into our DNA. We are boldly forging ahead to realize our vision of becoming a Global AI Company. We invite you to join us on this exciting journey.
