Daedong Chairman Junsik Kim: "2026 Marks the Inaugural Year of AI and Robotics Transformation"

Emphasizing AI-Based Product Innovation Needed in the Agricultural Field Through New Year's Address

On January 7, Daedong announced that Chairman Junsik Kim, in his New Year's address to executives and employees, declared 2026 as the inaugural year of the company's transformation into an artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics enterprise. He also unveiled plans to pursue company-wide AX (AI transformation) and to strengthen profit growth.

Since proclaiming its vision to become a leading company in future agriculture in 2020, Daedong has driven phased innovation in three-year increments. From 2020 to 2022, the company focused on building a foundation for change and digital transformation (DT). Starting in 2023, it shifted its business focus to future-oriented ventures and the development of core competencies such as AI and robotics. With the arrival of a new three-year period in 2026, Daedong plans to fully implement an AI and robotics transformation across all business areas, leveraging the capabilities it has developed so far.

Junsik Kim, Chairman of Daedong Group

Chairman Kim emphasized that Daedong's AI and robotics transformation must translate into tangible improvements in productivity and profitability for customers in the agricultural sector. To this end, he outlined three key initiatives for 2026: ▲AI and robotics product innovation ▲company-wide AX implementation ▲and the realization of visible profit growth.

Chairman Kim underscored the need for product innovation and the achievement of tangible results based on such innovation, instructing that AI and robotics value be consistently applied to all products and throughout the entire customer experience provided by the company.

The company will also accelerate AX at the enterprise level. By expanding the use of personal AI agents throughout the organization, Daedong aims to boost work productivity and further integrate AI into all operational processes. The company plans to establish a culture focused on problem-solving-oriented work design, data-driven decision-making, and fast, accountable execution.

Regarding profit growth, Chairman Kim highlighted the importance of cash generation and financial strength as core elements of corporate competitiveness. He noted that, beyond short-term cost reductions, structural innovation is needed at the level of redesigning cost structures across all processes, including design, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, and services.

Chairman Kim stated, "Organizational change is achieved through execution, not declarations," and urged employees to "act boldly in your respective roles, especially in an era of accelerating AI and robotics technological revolution, embodying the principle that actions speak louder than words." He added, "The AI and robotics transformation in 2026 will serve as a beacon for Daedong's centennial vision. If all executives and employees unite their efforts, Daedong can advance unwaveringly toward its 80th and 100th anniversaries."