KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu.

KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu has been selected as one of the keynote speakers for the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017, slated for Feb. 27 in Barcelona, Spain. This is the second time Chairman Hwang will deliver a keynote speech at the MWC following his appearance at the tradeshow in 2015. 

The GSM Association (GSMA) announced on Jan. 20 that 18 people, including KT Chairman Hwang, will take the stage as keynote speakers. They include globally prominent global ICT founders and business leaders. They include Netflix founder Reed Hastings; AT&T Entertainment Group CEO John Stankey; Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri; NEC CEO Takashi Niino, and John Hanke; CEO and founder of Niantic, famous for the new mobile game hit “Pokemon Go.” 

KT chairman, the first speaker on the opening day on Feb. 27, will speak about the vision of the telecommunications industry ranging from artificial intelligence to IoT and 5G communications. 

Hwang’s Bid for Reelection as KT Chairman

KT Chairman Hwang has expressed his intention to run for another term as KT’s chairman.Chairman Hwang made the remarks in an interview on the sidelines of the CES 2017 in Las Vegas.

"I've decided to challenge it since I think that Korea is a country with top ICT competitive edge, and I still have a role in taking KT a step forward for the development of the Korean ICT industry," he was quoted as saying. If he is successful in winning another term as KT’s chairman, Hwang said he would reinforce and overhaul KT's personnel management system “in a desirable way.” Looking back his three years in office, Chairman Hwang said KT has demonstrated the potential to develop KT into a global ICT powerhouse through greater innovation. 

KT has joined the club of companies posting 1 trillion won in operating profit, solidifying its management fundamentals through structural reforms and exploring new businesses. During the process, KT executives and staff members have been able to restore their "can do spirit," he said.

Vice President Oh Sung-mok of KT’s network department, demonstrates KT’s 5G services at a recent session. (Photos: KT)