Chaebol leaders heading to CES 2024

Leaders of South Korea’s top conglomerates are set to converge at CES 2024 in Las Vegas next month to immerse themselves in emerging tech trends and expand global business networks.

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won will be making his second consecutive appearance after last year's CES.

“I’m also wondering how far artificial intelligence can be evolved. Drastic changes are expected to be made in the next five years. (That’s why) I’m heading to the CES,” the SK chief, who also doubles as chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told reporters last week.

SK Group, with its seven subsidiaries, will set up a 1,850-square-meter exhibition booth at the Venetian Expo, themed “SK Wonderland,” to showcase the group’s vision for AI and eco-friendly innovations, such as brochures made with SKC's biodegradable materials, and electric vehicle technologies, including advanced battery materials.

The group’s top executives are also expected join the event, including Chey Jae-won, senior vice chairman of SK On, and CEOs of major affiliates like Park Sang-kyu (SK Innovation), Kwak Noh-jung (SK hynix), Ryu Young-sang (SK Telecom), Choo Hyeong-wook (SK E&S), Park Kyung-il (SK EcoPlant) and Park Won-cheol (SKC).

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun will return to the CES floor for the first time in two years.

He made headlines at CES 2022 by showcasing a quadrupedal robot dog from Boston Dynamics, a subsidiary of Hyundai, highlighting the group's commitment to robotics and future mobility initiatives. This year, Hyundai Motor will present its vision for a hydrogen-powered ecosystem and a new automobile strategy driven by software innovations.

A cohort of top executives from the carmaker is expected to descend upon the venue, including Hyundai Motor CEO Chang Jae-hoon, Kia CEO Ho-sung Song, Shin Jai-won from Hyundai Motor’s air mobility subsidiary Supernal, and Song Chang-hyeon of Hyundai's Software-Driven Vehicle Headquarters.

Shipmaking and heavy industries conglomerate HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun is scheduled to deliver a keynote address on “Xite Transformation,” the company's vision for sustainable land transformation and infrastructure construction.

This vision builds on HD Hyundai's Ocean Transformation concept from CES 2023, signaling a strategic pivot from maritime to land, leveraging advanced automation, and digital twin technologies.

While Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo are unlikely to attend, their companies will turn out in force.

Samsung Electronics' Han Jong-hee, vice chairman and CEO, will deliver a keynote on Samsung’s AI vision. Alongside him will be Lee Young-hee, president of the Global Marketing Center for the Device Experience, or DX, Division, Yong Seok-woo, president of the Visual Display Division, and Cheun Kyung-whoon, chief technology officer of the DX Division.

LG Electronics CEO Cho Joo-wan will present on the company's transformation into a smart life solutions provider, joined by core division heads of LG's diverse portfolio. Lyu Jae-cheol of the Home Appliance & Air Solution Division, Park Hyoung-sei of the Home Entertainment Division, Jang Ik-hwan from the Business Solution Division, and Eun Seok-hyun of the Vehicle Component Solutions Division are tasked with gathering insights relevant to their respective fields.

CEOs of major LG affiliates, such as Jeong Cheol-dong, president of LG Display, and Moon Hyuk-soo, vice president of LG Innotek, will also be in attendance.

Also anticipated to attend are electric and energy giant LS Group's Chairman Koo Ja-eun and industrial conglomerate Doosan Group's Chairman Park Jung-won, who is returning to CES after a four-year absence.

Shin Yoo-yeol, who leads Lotte Group's future growth office, will also be there. At CES 2023, Lotte Data Communication, a group affiliate, introduced a retail virtualization service.