KT announced that it has carried out an organizational restructuring and executive personnel changes for 2018. Through this restructuring, KT plans to strengthen new growth engines such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain, while also launching future businesses such as energy and security.

The most notable aspect of KT's recent organizational restructuring is the introduction of a dedicated 5G organization to commercialize 5G, the next-generation network. While KT previously divided responsibilities for 5G preparations between the Network Division and the Convergence Technology Institute, going forward, the newly established 5G Business Headquarters within the Marketing Division will take the lead.

Following the world's first 5G pilot service in 2018, KT is preparing for the world's first 5G commercialization in 2019. The newly established 5G Business Division will play a pivotal role in providing customers with a different dimension of 5G services by meticulously preparing frequency strategies and network construction plans.

KT has also established a dedicated organization for blockchain, which is closely related to financial transactions and is one of the five major platforms the company is focusing on developing. Launched as an organization directly under the Head of the Convergence Technology Institute, the Blockchain Center plans to secure leading blockchain technologies and concretize business models. As blockchain is already a widely adopted technology in industries such as credit cards and insurance, KT expects the Blockchain Center to create an opportunity to take its financial transaction platform to the next level.

KT has extensively reorganized its AI-related organizations. In 2017, KT launched the AI Tech Center as an institution for AI technology development and training specialized personnel, and the GiGA Genie Business Unit to discover AI services and build an ecosystem. In 2018, the GiGA Genie Business Unit was expanded and reorganized into the AI Business Unit, while the status and role of the AI Tech Center were further elevated as an organization directly under the Head of the Convergence Technology Institute. This implies expanding the AI business, which was previously limited to GiGA Genie, into other fields.

Accelerating future growth businesses and providing integrated services to corporate clients

KT has decided on a strategy of "selection and concentration" to strengthen its future growth businesses and corporate sales. First, it has integrated and reorganized the "GiGA IoT Business Unit" under the Platform Business Planning Office by sector. Through this, the company plans to more actively grow its IoT businesses in each field.

In addition, support functions such as technology consulting, monitoring, and operations—which are crucial for driving future businesses like smart energy, security, and the Internet of Things (IoT)—have been integrated into the Intelligent Network Service (INS) Division. Previously, support functions were divided among the network divisions, but following the reorganization, the INS Division, which oversees technology consulting and monitoring, will take full responsibility for these functions. This is expected to provide more comprehensive services to customers in future business sectors.

To strengthen business-to-business (B2B) operations, the functions of identifying B2B business models and sales channels, previously under the Customer Division, have been integrated into the Corporate Business Division. This enables the diversification of products and services needed by corporate and public sector clients, as well as small businesses and self-employed individuals, allowing for immediate sales implementation. Furthermore, a Strategic Channel Headquarters has been established within the Customer Division to enhance the management of specialized distribution channels.

Performance-based compensation and merit-based promotions… New executives average age 49, 3 women appointed

Following the announcement of promotions for President and Vice President on the 8th, KT announced promotions for Senior Vice President, Managing Director, and Assistant Managing Director. Above all, this personnel reshuffle focused strictly on merit, along with rewards for performance. In addition, the average age of the new executives (Senior Vice Presidents) is 49, and with as many as three women among them, it is expected that they will bring vitality and dynamism to the organization.

KT promoted a total of 27 executives, including 8 Senior Vice Presidents and 19 Vice Presidents. Yang Seung-gyu, Head of the Customer First Division; Shin Hyun-ok, Head of the Daegu Customer Division; and Kim Jin-cheol, Head of the Chungnam Customer Division, who were promoted to Senior Vice President, received high praise for improving customer satisfaction and reforming the operational structure of the sales field.

Kim Young-sik, Head of the INS Division, played a pivotal role in enhancing KT's network competitiveness, including the nationwide commercialization of battery consumption reduction technology (C-DRX) for the first time in Korea. Kim Jun-geun, Head of the GiGA IoT Business Unit, enabled KT to secure differentiated competitiveness in the IoT field, including connected cars, NB-IoT, and Air Map Korea, while Kim Young-myung, Head of the Smart Energy Business Unit, achieved remarkable results, such as increasing revenue in the smart energy sector by more than three times compared to the previous year.

Woo Jung-min, Head of the KOS Project Group, was highly praised for successfully completing the integration of wired and wireless service systems, while Kim Hee-soo, Head of the External Policy Research Office, was commended for his meticulous analysis of policies and the formulation of response strategies.

A total of 19 individuals were promoted to new executive positions (Senior Managing Director), including three women. The newly appointed Senior Managing Directors, Kim Hye-ju, Ok Kyung-hwa, and Kim Jae-kyung, affiliated with the Platform Business Planning Office, IT Planning Office, and the Economic and Management Research Institute, are recognized both internally and externally for possessing exceptional passion along with their expertise. In particular, Senior Managing Director Kim Hye-ju achieved the remarkable feat of being promoted to Senior Managing Director just two years after being recruited from outside as a big data expert. Kim Sang-mu was born in 1970, graduated from Ewha Womans University with a degree in statistics, and completed master's and doctoral coursework in statistics at Seoul National University.

Lee Dae-san, Vice President and Head of KT’s Management Division, said, “This organizational restructuring will serve as an opportunity for the five major platforms that KT is focusing on to take a leap forward,” adding, “Furthermore, the executives appointed this time will play an important role in leading KT into the 5G era and the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”