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By Kim Hyun-bin
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won is drawing attention for signing up recently for the invitation-only social network app, Clubhouse, to enhance communication with other industry leaders through the platform.
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| SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won |
The chairman has been working to enhance communication with employees through the conglomerate's internal broadcasting network, and now seeks to further enhance transparency and convey his down-to-earth image.
Earlier this month, Chey was appointed the sole candidate to become the next chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), and many industry watchers believe he will utilize Clubhouse to deliver his messages.
In March, Chey is set to succeed incumbent KCCI Chairman and Doosan Group chief Park Yong-man, who has served in the post for over seven years, the chamber said. Chey's appointment will be finalized at a temporary meeting of its members on Feb. 23.
This time is the first that the head of one of the big four conglomerates ― Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK and LG ― will lead the country's main business lobby group.
The heads of Korea's four major business conglomerates, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and Chey, have been known to be close, and many believe the four will utilize Clubhouse as a platform to discuss industry matters.
Battery tech cooperation
In an opening speech at a battery technology seminar hosted by the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, Friday, the SK chairman emphasized the importance of academic and industrial cooperation in the battery technology sector.
"The success found in the battery market is due to the cooperation of many industrial and academic researchers," Chey said in the speech. "It is imperative for the battery ecosystem to expand further from cooperation in the fields of developing next-generation battery materials, and ways to recycle and reuse batteries."
The seminar came a week after the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) affirmed a preliminary ruling in February 2020, backing LG Energy's claims that SK Innovation utilized stolen trade secrets to develop its electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
