Kim Jung-kyu, president of SK Square, said in a New Year address on Thursday that in 2026, an era of uncertainty, AI is the key to making a difference. He said companies that are left behind in AI competition will have to worry about survival itself.

Kim set AI as the spark for growth and laid out this year’s key priorities.

SK Square and its portfolio companies will pursue AI transformation together to strengthen fundamental competitiveness. SK Square will introduce AI agents across the entire investment process to raise productivity. Portfolio companies will strengthen competitiveness through AI services.

Kim also stressed the importance of preparing and executing new investments in AI and semiconductors. He said he would seek meaningful investment opportunities in areas that can resolve bottlenecks in the evolution of AI and in the semiconductor value chain.

The final task is portfolio rebalancing. SK Square will pursue faster rebalancing while focusing on raising corporate value by securing the portfolio’s fundamental competitiveness.

Kim also urged employees to take on challenges beyond existing frameworks, make leaps that grow their capabilities and experience, and join forces to expand a one-team culture.

Kim said changes in the way of working, business models and the portfolio, centered on AI, will arrive at an unprecedented pace this year. He stressed the need to respond swiftly to change.

SK Square will continue portfolio rebalancing this year and prepare new investments in AI and semiconductors. It also plans to work to secure market intelligence through its overseas AI and semiconductor investment unit, TGC Square.

It also carried out an organisational reshuffle to strengthen global investment execution capabilities. It renamed its existing CIO and portfolio management organisation as the Strategic Investment Center. Vice Chairman Choi Jae-won, who has an extensive global network, will also support new investments and portfolio value-up efforts.

SK Square will focus on raising corporate value on that basis. In November last year, SK Square announced a new corporate value enhancement plan and presented a global-level target of lowering its net asset value (NAV) discount rate to 30 percent by 2028.