SK Group chief vows to fight off downside risks

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won speaks during a ceremony marking the start of the year at the Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel in eastern Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap

By Lee Hyo-sik

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won vowed Monday to fight off a host of downsize risks this year, stressing that he will not let his personal life distract him from managing Korea’s third-largest family-controlled conglomerate.

Chey said SK would continue to expand investments and hire workers to bolster its core competence and find new growth engines, while sharing growth with small business partners and local communities.

“We will take all possible measures to ride out the ongoing difficulties,” the chairman said during a ceremony marking the start of the year at the Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel in eastern Seoul. “I will take the lead in turning risks into opportunities.”

Chey said SK would help more young people start businesses and nurture social enterprises as part of its efforts to give back to communities.

The chairman made his first public appearance since Dec. 29 when he revealed he had been having an extramarital affair and had fathered a daughter out of wedlock.

He also wants to divorce his wife, Roh So-young, the daughter of former President Roh Tae-woo, citing irreconcilable differences.