[DigitalToday, Jin-ho Lee] KTis posted gains in both revenue and operating profit in the third quarter, helped by growth in its AI contact center (CC) business. Operating profit was the highest quarterly figure in the past five years.

KTis said on the 12th it recorded 165.2 billion won in revenue and 9.2 billion won in operating profit in the third quarter. The figures were up 5.9 percent and 39.8 percent from a year earlier, respectively.

Cumulative revenue from the first to the third quarter totalled 475.5 billion won, up 9.0 percent from a year earlier. Cumulative operating profit rose 4.2 percent over the same period to 21.5 billion won.

The company said the improvement was driven by the expansion of its general contact center business and growth in its AICC business, including the KT customer service center operation. Cumulative third-quarter revenue for its contact center business reached 165.4 billion won, up 20.6 percent from a year earlier. The KT customer service center business also helped, with cumulative revenue rising 6.4 percent to 207.9 billion won.

KTis is expanding its business into a range of industries including the public sector, healthcare and finance, based on its existing contact center operating experience. It is accelerating corporate customers' AI transformation (AX) through its AICC business, which combines AI solutions with contact center build and operations capabilities.

The company is also pursuing a shareholder return policy. Under its mid-term shareholder return plan announced in September, it plans to use 40 percent of adjusted net profit as resources for shareholder returns from 2026 to 2028. It plans to maintain an annual minimum dividend of 140 won per share, and to pursue both cash dividends and share buybacks and retirement to raise corporate value.

Yoon Young-gyun (윤영균), executive vice president and head of management planning at KTis, said, "We are continuing to improve profitability along with growth in our key businesses." He added, "We will continue to strengthen competitiveness in the AICC business and, based on stable management performance, strive for sustained growth and enhanced shareholder value."