SK chief shifts focus to KCCI overhaul at home

Mar 30, 2026, 10:06 am

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SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. / Park Sang-sun

Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is set to launch a major reform drive within the business lobby group after focusing on global engagements in the first quarter.

According to industry sources on March 29, Chey will begin the second quarter by concentrating on domestic issues, including organizational reform at the KCCI. He is scheduled to host a meeting of regional chamber heads on March 31, followed by a town hall meeting with KCCI staff on April 2 to share reform plans and gather feedback.

The reform push comes after recent controversies involving a KCCI press release on inheritance tax and an audit related to budget execution for the APEC CEO Summit.

Earlier this month, the KCCI said it would take the audit findings seriously and has already implemented personnel measures against responsible executives. Chey stated that the organization would use the incident as an opportunity to overhaul its decision-making processes and internal control systems.

As part of the reform, the KCCI plans to create a new “chief economist” role to oversee research and analysis functions, as well as to verify and review external communications such as press releases.

In the first quarter, Chey strengthened global networks in the artificial intelligence sector through meetings with leaders of major tech companies in the United States. However, his role as KCCI chairman has become increasingly significant as the organization’s influence grows, particularly amid the reduced role of the Federation of Korean Industries.

Meanwhile, Chey also faces key challenges within SK Group. SK hynix is preparing for a potential American depositary receipt (ADR) listing in the United States later this year, with the scale expected to reach between 10 trillion and 15 trillion won.

In addition, SK’s U.S.-based AI solutions subsidiary is set to invest up to $10 billion, placing pressure on the group to deliver tangible results in the global market.

Observers say the reform of the KCCI will be a critical test of Chey’s leadership, as he balances global expansion with strengthening domestic institutional credibility.

#Chey Tae-won #SK Group #Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry #KCCI reform #APEC CEO Summit