Anyone who’s been following the news or economic articles lately will know this: our economic situation is not easy. In fact, looking at the messages Chairman Chey Tae-won has delivered since 2026, I get the feeling that he’s contemplating the direction of not just the future of SK Group, but of South Korea as a whole. Especially this year, his warning that it will be a crucial year to determine the future of the Korean economy made me nod in agreement without realizing it. Aren’t you honestly curious about what he said and what thoughts lie behind it?
Honestly, Chairman Chey Tae-won is more than just a conglomerate head. As the Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he shows deep insight into the overall Korean economy. His remarks at official events like the 2026 New Year’s address or the New Year’s gathering for the business community reveal that they are not just mere pleasantries. They are not words to be taken lightly.
Playing His Hand with ‘Entrepreneurship’ and ‘AI’
In his 2026 New Year’s address, Chairman Chey Tae-won emphasized ‘entrepreneurship’ as the starting point for industrial competitiveness and growth. This was based on the judgment that past methods of success would make it difficult to overcome the current complex crisis. Without a challenging spirit to pioneer new paths, one would inevitably be swept away by the tide of change. Furthermore, he identified ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI)’ as the trend of the times and a new growth engine, stressing that not only SK Group but the entire Korean economy must innovate based on AI. Isn’t his diagnosis that AI is fundamentally reshaping the global industrial structure truly realistic? Perhaps that’s why SK Group announced its plan to build an ‘AI integrated solution’ to lead the global AI ecosystem.
Personally, I believe Chairman Chey Tae-won’s insight is truly important. It’s about focusing on creating new value through AI and transforming the corporate structure, beyond simply adopting technology. He even issued a strong warning, calling it “almost the last period” where the Korean economy will either go into negative growth or create a new year of growth. His words that “terrible things” will happen if things continue as they are truly woke me up. His words can be said to be a powerful message that goes beyond mere ‘expectation control’ for the Korean economy.
The ‘Gambler’s Instinct’ Hidden Behind SK Hynix’s Success
This gambler’s instinct of Chairman Chey Tae-won also shone through in the success story of SK Hynix. Honestly, when the decision to acquire Hynix was made, there was considerable opposition even within the group. However, Chairman Chey recognized the HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) trend early on and strengthened cooperation with global leading companies like Nvidia and TSMC, elevating SK Hynix to its current position. As a result, SK Hynix recorded an all-time high operating profit of over 23 trillion won as of 2024, and its quarterly operating profit is projected to exceed 10 trillion won in the third quarter of 2025. I believe this would have been impossible without such bold decisions and leadership.
Thanks to his leadership, SK Hynix has secured an unrivaled position in the HBM market, a core component of the AI era. This wasn’t just luck; it should be seen as the result of foresight and bold execution. His discernment in recognizing the hidden value of Hynix, which was treated as a “white elephant” at the time, is truly remarkable.
Loving Sports and Advocating ‘Beopgochangsin’
Chairman Chey Tae-won has many interesting aspects outside of business. He is especially well-known as a sports enthusiast, frequently attending games as the owner of the Seoul SK Knights basketball team. Personally, he enjoys tennis, and due to his past as a handball player in his school days, he has served as the president of the Korea Handball Association since 2008, supporting less popular sports. The fact that he led the improvement of poor handball conditions and even the construction of the first dedicated handball stadium in Korea truly shows his sincerity.
Furthermore, he presented ‘Beopgochangsin (法古創新)’ and ‘Seungpungparang (乘風破浪)’ as key themes for 2026. These mean to create new things by emulating the old, and to ride the winds of change to overcome rough waves, respectively. This seems to be underlying his overall management philosophy. It’s a glimpse into his will to constantly innovate and not just remain in past success formulas. Isn’t it thanks to these aspects that his messages resonate even more?
The messages Chairman Chey Tae-won delivers to the Korean economy and SK Group in 2026 ultimately seem to converge on ‘change and innovation.’ It’s about pioneering new paths through entrepreneurship and seizing the massive trend of AI as an opportunity to move forward. I hope his vision and leadership will have a positive impact on our society as a whole. Personally, each of his remarks has been quite intriguing lately.
