Business tycoons look for new growth engines at CES
HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun, left, introduces the company's construction equipment technologies to Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun at HD Hyundai's exhibition booth during CES 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Tuesday (local time). Courtesy of HD Hyundai
Top executives and heirs of family-controlled Korean conglomerates have been busy expanding their personal networks and finding new growth engines at the CES tech trade show in Las Vegas again this year, according to industry officials, Wednesday.
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won looked around the exhibition booths of Samsung and LG on the first day of the world’s largest tech fair, after inspecting his company’s booth displaying hydrogen, semiconductor, electric vehicle (EV) battery and urban air mobility technologies.
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, right, listens to an explanation of an artificial intelligence fortune telling service during CES 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Tuesday (local time). Courtesy of SK Group
During his meeting with Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee and President Lee Young-hee at the Korean tech giant’s booth, the SK chief asked them about the latest television and artificial intelligence technologies.
His younger brother, SK Group Executive Vice Chairman Chey Jae-won, introduced the business group’s various mobility technologies on display at its booth to Chung Euisun, the executive chair of Hyundai Motor Group, which established a joint venture with SK On to build an EV battery plant in the U.S. state of Georgia.
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, center, and SK Group Executive Vice Chairman Chey Jae-won, right, listen to SK USA Vice President Kim Dong-hyun at SK Group's exhibition booth during CES 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Tuesday (local time). Courtesy of SK On
Chung also met with Han at Samsung’s booth and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon at Hyundai Motor’s booth.
In addition, the automotive group’s chief met with his younger cousin Chung Ki-sun, vice chairman of HD Hyundai, which showcased its construction equipment technologies at this year’s event, following the exhibition of its shipbuilding technologies last year.
The two grandsons of late Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung talked about the use of hydrogen as a fuel for vessels at HD Hyundai’s booth, given that Hyundai Motor Group has been developing hydrogen-powered vehicles.
HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun, left, gives G-Dragon a high-five as the K-pop star successfully controlled a wheel loader through a simulator at the company's booth during CES 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Tuesday (local time). Courtesy of HD Hyundai
The younger Chung personally introduced HD Hyundai’s technologies to G-Dragon as well, when the K-pop star visited the company’s booth with officials of his agency, Galaxy Corporation, which also took part in CES 2024. G-Dragon also visited the booths of Samsung, LG, SK and Lotte, saying that he came to Las Vegas to learn about AI.
Other Korean business leaders at CES 2024 include GS Group Chairman Huh Tae-soo, LS Group Chairman Koo Ja-eun, Doosan Group Chairman Park Jeong-won and Ourhome Vice Chairwoman Koo Ji-eun. Heirs of SK, Lotte, Hanwha and Samyang Roundsquare also flew to Las Vegas to attend the show.