SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, marking the start of 2026, urged employees to embrace a “Seungpungparang” challenge spirit of riding the winds of artificial intelligence innovation and overcoming the waves of the global market.

In a New Year message emailed on Wednesday morning to all SK Group members, Chey said: “With the mindset of ‘Beopgochangsin’ that creates something new based on the assets and values we have built up, let us take on the ‘Seungpungparang’ challenge of cutting through the waves ahead.”

Chey first encouraged members who focused on strengthening fundamentals over the past year. He said, “Even amid an uncertain business environment, SK Group is recovering a solid basic fitness that allows it to run farther and faster through portfolio rebalancing and operational improvements (O/I).”

He then stressed the link between SK’s business trajectory and the AI era. Chey recalled: “As the global industrial landscape is reshaped around AI, the path SK has steadily walked for decades across memory semiconductors, ICT, energy solutions and batteries was ultimately a journey that prepared us for today’s AI era.”

He added: “Based on the capabilities we have built up, we reaffirmed the global market’s trust in the AI semiconductor field last year and, standing shoulder to shoulder with leading big tech companies worldwide, strengthened our position as a core partner in the AI ecosystem.”

As a future strategy, he presented an “integrated AI solution” that brings together group-wide capabilities. He said AI innovation is not a challenge for semiconductors alone and that the business capabilities held by each affiliate in areas such as energy, telecommunications, construction and bio will serve as the foundation supporting the AI era.

Chey said SK should further solidify the essence of the businesses it has done well and apply AI innovation on top of that. He proposed: “Let us create new business models such as AI-based solutions and services in areas we do better than anyone else, and grow SK’s differentiated value.”

Chey said the AI era is only just beginning and opportunities are limitless. He urged employees to “creatively take on challenges based on AI, and build 2026 together so that achievements within that lead to each person’s happiness.”