Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn.

(photo:Hanwha Group)

In his New Year’s message, Hanwha Business Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn said his group will make 2015 the first year of its efforts to make a new leap forward and firm up synergetic effects through integration of his group’s affiliates and the defense and petrochemical companies Hanwha acquired from Samsung Group. 

“The past four years was a period for laying a foundation to turn evils into blessings so that Hanwha Group can make further strides. All things are now put on the right track,” the group chairman said. 

“Despite the hard times, our group has so far never stopped investing and challenging. When all people utter a crisis, we could summon up opportunities anew,” Kim said. “Our goal of rising to a world-class company in mainstay businesses is still as firm as a rock, with our passion for achieving the dream remaining unchanged, and we’re ushering in the first year of our leap forward through strengthening of a basis of grandiose integration based on substantive growth and expanding of synergetic effects.”

“As our group has welcomed prominent defense and chemical companies (acquisition of Samsung Group’s four defense and petrochemical units) as our new family members, we’re picking up the speed for innovation,” he added. “The move, which comes on our heels of acquiring chemical and life insurance units, which have grown into its mainstay businesses, will be another historic challenge to risk creating our group’s destiny.”

Hanwha Group has been concentrating on ramping up the competitiveness of its fundamentals by looking forward a few decades and taking preemptive measures. The group strives to concentrate core capabilities on the business areas in which it has “the right stuff” to upgrade them to world-class levels, Kim said. “Each company will have to secure the capability to survive on its own by redoubling efforts to find their value of existence.”   

Chairman Kim brought up the defense and chemical units, having seen their standing go up this time, as the business areas his predecessor – father and founder – focused on and he devoted himself with passion since taking office as chairman. He said he expected the business units to be nurtured into world-class companies with an exceptional sense of mission.

Chairman Kim made the point that his group has emphasized the significance of “hybrid culture” to make strides. “In an age, dubbed ‘manpower war,’ I feel like 8,000-odd new family members supporting us now that they are on our team.” 

He stressed an open-minded attitude of recognizing and accepting each other’s differences so that all the people can help new family members settle down and go for achieving one goal with “Together, Further” spirit. 

Kim called for the photovoltaic power business division to make a new start as an integrated incorporated company, to be put on the right track by securing the world’s premier competitive edge. He also urged the financial and service units to challenge for higher positions after overcoming difficult market conditions.

Hanwha Chairman Kim’s Philosophy ‘Together, Further’

Hanwha Group donated 3 billion won to the Daejeon Social Welfare Funding Association on Jan. 6, a move designed to overcome a crisis and promote co-prosperity with the regional community and shared growth based on sharing management. 

Hanwha Life Insurance Vice Chairman Kim Yeon-bae participated in a ceremony to contribute the money to a social contribution body.

The group has donated funds to help the needy annually since 2003. It has distributed 50,000 copies of a 2015 braille calendar to welfare facilities, schools and libraries for the visually handicapped last year-end. 

Group executives and staff members were engaged in social contribution activities to give a helping hand to the facilities for the underprivileged and deliver living necessities to help them spend winter season without shivering in cold last year-end.

Hanwha E&C President Lee Geun-pyo threw a year-end party for occupants of a children’s welfare facility on Dec. 30. On the same day, Hanwha Investment & Securities Co. executives and staff members took time out in dining with foreign workers residing in Korea and gave winter clothes and living necessities to them. 

Hanwha Life Insurance Vice Chairman Kim said, “I hope the warm-hearted fund Hanwha group companies and employees have chipped in a warm-hearted manner to be a great boon to the needy neighbors. True to Hanwha Chairman Kim’s philosophy ‘Together, Further,’ not ‘Alone, Swiftly,’ we’ll join in a drive to love neighbors and promote shared growth.”