Jowon Tae "Today I am the Chairman of Asiana Airlines"

Posted a Message on Asiana Airlines' Internal Bulletin Board
A Bonus Equivalent to 50% of Regular Pay to Be Granted

Cho Won-tae, Chairman of Korean Air, referred to himself as the Chairman of Asiana Airlines to the employees of Asiana Airlines. Along with this, a bonus equivalent to 50% of the regular bonus will be paid next week. This is interpreted as a measure to encourage and boost the morale of employees ahead of the merger of the two companies.

On the 16th, Chairman Cho posted a message with this content on Asiana Airlines' internal bulletin board. He said, "Today, I want to introduce myself like this and greet you: 'I am Cho Won-tae, Chairman of Asiana Airlines,'" adding that "the weight of responsibility contained in the title of Chairman of Asiana Airlines feels heavier than anything else."

He continued, "The integrated airline will not be a case where one company absorbs another, but a natural process of blending together," and urged, "Let us build a foundation of harmony by not only preparing physically to unify the organization and systems but also by understanding and respecting each other."

On the same day, Asiana Airlines and its subsidiaries, Air Busan and Air Seoul, each held extraordinary general meetings of shareholders and replaced all key executives, including CEOs, with former Korean Air personnel. Song Bo-young, Vice President of Asiana Airlines, will serve as CEO, while Jung Byung-seop, Executive Director, and Kim Jung-ho, Senior Deputy General Manager, will lead Air Busan and Air Seoul respectively. It appears that Chairman Cho left this message to alleviate concerns among Asiana Airlines employees about this 'shake-up.'

The announcement of financial compensation is in the same context. Following the completion of the merger, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines plan to pay employees a 'corporate merger encouragement bonus' equivalent to 50% of their regular bonus next week. Chairman Cho emphasized, "Throughout the process leading to integration and after, we will ensure fair opportunities and rewards based on ability and effort."

He added, "To me, who is both the Chairman of Korean Air and the Chairman of Asiana Airlines, all employees of both companies are equally precious family members," and said, "I am confident that I understand and cherish you, who have become one family, better than anyone else."