Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee, left, and Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairmen Han Jong-hee and Jun Young-hyun stressed the tech giant should consolidate itself as a leader in device artificial intelligence (AI) technology in their New Year message released Thursday.

Heads of other Korean conglomerates also announced their New Year messages, each describing the current business environment as a crisis and urging employees to come up with agile responses.

Han and Jun said in their New Year's message that the company should leverage its unrivaled technological leadership to lay the foundation for a resurgence and secure new growth engines.

"Now, AI technology has reached its inflection point, demanding bold innovation that transcends conventional paths to success," they said. "By leveraging advanced intelligence, we should firmly establish ourselves as a leader in device AI technologies this year."

They continued that the future reshaped by AI will present Samsung with numerous opportunities and the company will proactively explore new products and innovative business models while pursuing timely investments in future technologies and human resources.

"Let us prioritize compliance with laws and ethics as our core management principle and strive to establish a culture of compliance," they said, adding they hope this year to be remembered as a milestone of growth in the company's history.

Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, left, and Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn / Courtesy of each group

Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin also released his New Year message and stressed the importance of a thorough overhaul across the group's portfolio to restore the competitiveness of core businesses.

He forecast that this year's economic environment could be "harsher than ever" due to expanded uncertainties and a sluggish domestic market, and the group may face "a bigger crisis" without innovation.

"We must strengthen the groundwork for a rebound through structural improvements," he said. "We should proactively devise financial strategies and improve our fiscal prudence … We need to look back whether there are any unnecessary tasks that weaken efficiency and focus all efforts on laying the groundwork to reclaim leading positions in our business segments."

Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn said that the group is facing challenges and difficulties that are more unpredictable than ever before, but the most alarming matter is complacency and turning a blind eye to issues that need to be resolved.

"There is a profound difference between knowing the right way forward and actually pursuing that path," Kim said. "Now is the time to take action, advancing along the path that we know is right."

Kim underscored the importance of taking action when it comes to overcoming looming challenges, as well as the group's efforts to achieve the highest level of competitiveness expected by customers in each country in its bid to expand in the global market.

"This year, Hanwha will write new pages in its history, marked by milestones like the fourth launch of the Nuri space rocket — the first to be led in Korea by a private company," Kim said.

CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, left, and LX Group Chairman Koo Bon-joon / Courtesy of each group

CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik said in his New Year message that the group is starting this year in a "complex crisis" and emphasized the need to expand global operations to secure growth momentum.

"CJ now faces a critical crossroads," Sohn said. "Depending on our response, we may seize a golden opportunity or be left behind in the market … To overcome the crisis and restore growth momentum, the most important factor is to develop unrivaled competitiveness in each business."

Sohn said opportunities for global expansion are opening up in all industries, including food, logistics, entertainment and beauty, thus, the group must solidify its domestic business as a groundwork for future growth through global expansion.

LX Group Chairman Koo Bon-joon also noted that the current economic environment is "a crisis" itself and urged employees to set up advanced response systems to navigate through uncertainties.

"This is a critical time that requires thorough preparedness for crisis and agile responses," Koo said. "I urge you to closely examine potential risk factors, devise appropriate measures for each scenario and accelerate efforts to put them into practice."