CEO wants workers to be '3 tool player'

LG Display CEO Han Sang-beom talks about the company’s updated business strategies for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) embedded applications during this year’s IFA trade fair in Berlin, Germany, in this file photo. / Korea Times file

By Kim Yoo-chul

“If you want to achieve something new, then you should become a three tool player. You need passion, have the ability to pass on conventional thinking and improve your abilities with good command of understanding in fields that you are involved in.”

LG Display CEO and Vice Chairman Han Sang-beom said the global-leading display manufacturer is at a major crossroads as LG Group’s display affiliate never stops exploring new business chances beyond conventional business models to beat market uncertainty.

“LG Chairman Koo allowed me to proceed on more challenging tasks holding a vice chairman title,” the vice chairman told The Korea Times recently. “Maintaining my original intention in carrying out given tasks is important to me. If you lose your own discipline, then you lose everything.”

He significantly helped LG Display extend its winning streak in quarterly profits for the 14th straight quarter, despite growing challenges from its chief local rival Samsung Display and the rise of Taiwanese and Chinese companies.

Such achievements impressed LG Chairman Koo Bon-moo and Han was one of two to hold the vice chairman title along with LG Uplus CEO Kwon Young-soo, a former LG Display CEO.

Holding a bachelor’s degree from Seoul’s Yonsei University, Vice Chairman Han earned his master’s and doctoral degrees at Stevens Institute of Technology in the United States with a major in materials engineering.

Han joined the now-dismantled LG Semiconductor in 1982 and moved to LG Display in 2001.

According to his observations, the role of the field manager is more important than that in the back-offices, as Han believes passion comes out of field-driven work.

“As a CEO for a display-manufacturing company, I can’t underestimate the value of faster execution, bold implementation and empowerment,” the CEO said. “If you nap, then you die.”

When he managed the LCD factory dubbed P5 in the North Gyeongsang Province city of Gumi, the city where LG Display operates massive display plants focusing on small-sized gadgets, he visited the factory six times a week.

“This was because we need better communications between company management and factory workers. If you don’t understand their issues, then you can’t reach a higher level,” said the CEO.

Stressing the importance of straightforwardness, sincerity and maintaining original intention, the CEO said the time is ripe for LG Display to go further as a global leader in the organic light-emitting display (OLED) display industry which the company identified as its next revenue stream.

“LG Display needs your support,” he said. “Korea has long been leading the global display market. However, we aren’t safe and that means we need to find something new that hasn’t existed before. This is what I believe is OLED.”

LG Display will increase its investments in OLEDs to 10 trillion won including its latest decision to spend 1.84 trillion won for the construction of a new OLED factory in Paju, a city near the North-South border.

He will fly to Las Vegas for a series of business meetings with LG Display’s top clients during a technology fair early next year. Han plans to hold a press conference for the Korean media to unveil his new vision and business strategy.