Top biz groups prepare strategic responses as new government takes office

Major conglomerates are set to begin high-level meetings later this month to review their overall business strategies in response to the launch of the new Korean administration and rising uncertainties caused by U.S. tariff policies.

According to industry officials, Tuesday, Samsung Electronics, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group and other major business groups in Korea are set to hold a series of strategy meetings from mid-June through July to strengthen their readiness for the shifting business environment.

Samsung Electronics is planning to hold a global strategy meeting later this month to outline its business strategy for the second half of the year. While the exact date has not been confirmed, key executives and heads of overseas subsidiaries are expected to attend to review issues facing each business division and assess global market conditions.

Discussions are expected to focus on revitalizing the company’s memory business and developing global sales strategies for its new Galaxy foldable smartphones, which are scheduled to be unveiled in July.

In addition to reviewing internal business strategies, the meeting is expected to address responses to economic and industrial policies under the new administration that will be inaugurated Wednesday, as well as countermeasures against tariff risks posed by the Donald Trump administration.

Major candidates have commonly pledged government support for the semiconductor, artificial intelligence and other tech industries — indicating that tax incentives, infrastructure support, and deregulation measures are likely to follow.

Since the pledges cover a wide range of areas and promise large-scale support without concrete implementation plans, discussions are expected to focus on how the company can actually translate the commitments into tangible benefits for its semiconductor business.

Samsung Display and Samsung Electro-Mechanics will also hold their respective strategy meetings on June 17 and June 23. Samsung Display is expected to discuss how to strengthen its OLED panel competitiveness in response to growing pressure from Chinese manufacturers, as well as countermeasures in case the Trump administration’s smartphone tariffs lead to pricing pressure on its display products.

SK Group will hold its group-wide business strategy meeting on June 13 and 14, to discuss the group’s plans for the second half of this year.

At the meeting, the group is expected to discuss its ongoing portfolio restructuring, as well as address the fallout from the recent user data breach at SK Telecom, its telecom unit, with particular attention to how the new administration will handle the aftermath of the incident.

Major candidates have proposed lowering telecom costs by boosting competition among the country’s three major mobile carriers, which include KT and LG Uplus.

Amid these discussions, calls are growing for the government to approve a fourth mobile carrier. This may deal a blow to SK Telecom, which is currently banned from enrolling new customers due to the data breach.

The punishment for the data breach will also be decided by the new government, leaving SK Telecom with no choice but to closely watch the administration’s stance on the matter. Possible benefits for SK hynix from the government’s semiconductor policies are also expected to be on the meeting’s agenda.

Hyundai Motor Group also plans to hold its regular meeting of heads of overseas regional offices later this month.

The key agenda for this year’s meeting is expected to be how to respond to the worsening trade environment for carmakers, stemming from the U.S. tariff policies.

Given that tariff negotiations are conducted at the government-to-government level, Hyundai Motor Group is also expected to discuss its public affairs strategy to ensure the next administration addresses potential risks the auto industry may face in the process.

“While each company is expected to focus on its own business strategies, the meetings are also expected to serve as a chance to discuss how to navigate an increasingly uncertain business environment,” an official of a group holding firm said.

“In addition to tariff policies, companies are expected to review how the new administration will shape its industrial policies and how groups should respond. Discussions may also include potential responses to changes in the regulatory landscape, such as revisions to the Commercial Act and possible shifts in corporate governance.”