GS E&C revamps internal structure to improve public trust

GS Engineering & Construction (E&C) President and CEO Huh Yoon-hong poses in this captured image from his video message for employees, posted Friday. Courtesy of GS E&C

GS Engineering & Construction (E&C) has announced a new company vision and introduced new internal rules for employees to improve quality in construction and regain public trust, the major construction firm said Sunday.

It comes after the company has suffered a series of criticisms since last year for its past apartment projects that were found to be built with sub-standard construction practices like insufficient number of steel bars or windows uncertified in the country.

President and CEO Huh Yoon-hong released a video on GS E&C's internal communication platform conveying the new vision, Friday. He said in the video that the company must "build the world, beyond structures."

"Perfecting a safer today, forging a brighter tomorrow: with transparent trust and relentless innovation, we create a better future for all," he said.

He introduced the company's six new target values for employees to keep in mind. They were customers, trust, responsible freedom, orthodox management, future-oriented and expertise.

A GS E&C official said that voices of the company's entire employees were reflected in the new vision. The company held workshops dedicated to collecting feedbacks from the employees. Consultants outside the company also have worked with the company for months to introduce a new assessment system over the company's business portfolio and competence.

He added that the company will introduce new digital work infrastructure to raise work efficiency for employees. The company will also allow employees to address each other more comfortably and have a more creative mindset by unifying the hierarchical internal titles.

"We'll have our employees see clearly the very reason why our company exists," Huh said in the video. "Then, every stakeholder around us will start trusting and loving us."