[New Year's Message] Cho Won-tae "Transformation at the level of a complete overhaul... Need to increase customer choices"

Cho Won-tae, Chairman of Hanjin Group and Korean Air
Absolute Safety Is Fundamental... Customer Choices Must Also Be Expanded
Foundation for Harmony Between Both Companies Established... Integrated CI to Be Unveiled Soon

Cho Won-tae, Chairman of Hanjin Group, emphasized that the integration of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines aims to narrow the gap with leading global airlines and establish a proper competitive foundation. He called for a transformation at the level of a complete overhaul to provide customers with more diverse choices.

On the 2nd, Chairman Cho released a New Year's message containing these remarks on the company intranet. He stated, "Last year, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, and the group companies came together under the roof of Hanjin Group, marking a significant change," adding, "As Korea's representative airlines, we have a mission to develop the aviation industry and elevate the status of the Korean aviation industry worldwide."

Chairman Cho also emphasized that the launch of the integrated airline and the actual integration process represent another stage and challenge. He said, "If we become complacent during the two years leading up to the integration, the global gap will widen rapidly," and added, "While firmly upholding the values that must be preserved, it is necessary to undergo a transformation at the level of a complete overhaul in the organization, systems, and work practices."

He expressed condolences to the victims and bereaved families of the Jeju Air Muan Airport disaster and reiterated the importance of safety. He stated, "The foundation of all work is absolute safety and customer-centered service," and urged, "During times of change, safety is easily overlooked first, so we must maintain a mindset focused on safety culture and ensure organic cooperation across all fields."

He also urged that customer service should become more diverse. Chairman Cho said, "The integrated airline should enable customers to enjoy better services and have more options to choose from," and added, "We should not confine ourselves to the one-way limitation of being mere service providers but view it as a process of communication interacting with customers, requiring a paradigm shift and broadening of perspectives in customer service."

He mentioned the need to establish a foundation for harmony between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines as they move forward as an integrated airline. He said, "Although we have lived in different environments and cultures for a long time, now we must step forward together toward a greater common goal," and urged, "Members of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines should engage in intense reflection not to argue over who is right or wrong but to create something better."

He stressed that such prerequisites are essential to securing competitiveness on the global stage. Chairman Cho said, "In the case of passengers, more than half are foreign nationals, and air cargo is transported worldwide," adding, "The integration is not to gain a competitive advantage domestically but to play a greater role in overseas aviation markets."

He added that a new corporate identity (CI), which will serve as the focal point and symbol of the fusion of the two companies, will be unveiled soon.