SK Group Bets on Innovation, Sustainability

Editor's Note:

The annual International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai (IBLAC) will convene on October 12, with six new members joining the council. Shanghai Daily speaks with some of the executives about their expectations, the expertise they will contribute to the council, and the topics they hope to discuss with the mayor.

How does it feel to become a new member? What are your expectations from IBLAC?

Since its founding in 1989, IBLAC has been a valuable platform supporting Shanghai's remarkable progress. By providing policy input, fostering investment and partnerships, and encouraging innovation, it has helped shape the city into a leading global economic center.

Joining IBLAC is both an honor and a responsibility. It reflects our group's commitment to China and to Shanghai's continued development, while giving us the opportunity to share insights from our own experience. We are grateful for this trust.

I look forward to working with fellow members to explore new directions in science, technology, and industry and to discuss how Shanghai can strengthen its role as an international innovation hub and attract top global talent. I hope our dialogue will help translate forward-looking policies into practical outcomes that benefit both business and society.

What expertise and insights will you bring to IBLAC?

Each member of IBLAC brings different expertise, and together we can offer diverse perspectives to support Shanghai's future.

SK Group operates across energy and chemicals, ICT, semiconductors and biopharmaceuticals, with artificial intelligence now a key strategic focus for us. At the same time, we remain committed to sustainability. For example, we established a Social Value Lab with the SASAC Research Center to advance methods for measuring social value creation.

By combining technological strengths with long-term social responsibility, we hope to contribute ideas that reflect both innovation and sustainability from a corporate perspective.

Are there particular areas of Shanghai's development that you are interested in further exploring and discussing with other members and the mayor of Shanghai?

Shanghai's 14th Five-Year Plan emphasizes emerging industries such as AI, ICT, biotechnology, new-energy vehicle batteries and advanced materials. These priorities are closely aligned with SK Group's strategic directions.

AI is of particular interest. SK Telecom recently launched a dedicated AI company and also has partnered with Amazon Web Services to build a hyperscale AI data center in South Korea. These efforts reflect our belief that AI will drive the next wave of growth.

I look forward to meaningful exchanges with fellow members and the mayor of Shanghai on how to advance these sectors together and how Shanghai can continue to strengthen its position as a center of global innovation.