Korea Western Power Co. employees dance to a choreography of the girl group Crayon

Pop made for an exciting setting, a far cry from the conventional way of celebrating the new year.

As the new year is ushered in, companies usually hold official ceremonies to announce their launch of business starting with their CEOs’ New Year’s message. But Korea Western Power Co. (KOWEPO) started off with an official reading a poem titled “New Year’s Promises Come This Way,” and the choreography of the girl group Crayon Pop made for an exciting setting, a far cry from the conventional way of celebrating the new year. 

KOWEPO staff members exchanged New Year’s greetings with each other and KOWEPO President Cho In-kook also gree-  ted each staff member and gave words of encouragement. 

They were amazed at the new way of welcoming the new year, seen as management’s will to communicate with its staff, not directing orders vertically amidst a rather slumping atmosphere and dogged with issues related to the normalization of public entities. 

CEO’s New Year’s Message

KOWEPO President Cho said, “Manage-ment conditions for the year 2014 are seen as the worst crisis.” Confrontations between the United States and China and between Japan and its neighboring countries as well as political conditions surrounding the Korean Peninsula are making things worse, and the United States’ tapering of quantitative easing, Japan’s low-yen policies, and the global recession have slowed down the growth of the national economy, and prospects of electricity and other energy industries are not bright, he said. 

“The government and the general public are demanding high-powered restructuring measures, including the normalization of public entity management as the nation is put on alert against soaring national debts,” said President Cho, adding, “We at KOWEPO are also faced with a heap of difficult tasks, including the stabilizing of electricity demand and supply, the pushing of mega construction projects, and the planned relocation of KOWEPO headquarters.”

“No matter how hard we’re faced with the situation, we will be able to overcome any crisis with the spirit of a galloping horse. Let’s make a fresh start with a determination to renew ourselves before embarking on this long journey,” he said. 

KOWEPO President Cho In-kook takes time out with his staff during 

an unconventional ceremony to kick off the new year at the headquarters on Jan. 2.

First, KOWEPO President Cho urged his executives and staff members to devote all organizational energies to put management on the right track. “The government is calling for a reform of lax management such as a cut in welfare benefits in order to cope with rising debts of public entities, and even though the implementation of mega construction projects has inevitably resulted in a raise in KOWEPO’s debts, we have a daunting task of carrying out self-rescue measures,” he said. 

Second, he called for performing major duties thoroughly. “We should not forget our principal obligation to ensure a stable, economical supply of electricity, and to this end the stable and efficient operation of power facilities in operation is essential.”

Lastly, he appealed for bracing for a bright future despite the difficult situation. “As the end of a long tunnel is finally in sight, the day will come when “Global KOWEPO” values are to be recognized around the globe. Remembering that preparations meet opportunities, we have to solidity our foundation on the rock to make a foray into all parts of the globe with a strong determination,” Cho said.