Korea Inc.’s AI executives double with LG Group leading the pack

The number of executive-level artificial intelligence (AI) specialists at South Korea’s 30 largest conglomerates has more than doubled in the last year, with LG Group posting the most significant growth rate.

According to a study by Leaders Index, a Seoul-based corporate research firm, the number of AI experts in executive roles at the country’s top 30 enterprises by assets stood at 187 at the end of the first quarter, up from 89 a year earlier.

The research was based on first-quarter statements from 295 subsidiaries of the 30 conglomerates that reshuffled their executives, including outside directors.

The latest count of AI-focused executives represents 1.6% of the 30 groups’ total executive workforce, according to a Leaders Index report released on Tuesday.

The number of business groups with at least one AI executive rose to 17 in the first quarter from 15 a year earlier.

LG LEADING THE PACK

Growth in AI leadership was observed across the board with LG, Korea’s fourth-largest conglomerate, showing the sharpest rise.

The number of AI executives at LG Group jumped to 55 at the end of the first quarter from 25 a year ago.

The expansion includes 15 executives at LG AI Research, established in 2020, 19 at LG Electronics Inc. and 20 at other LG Group affiliates.

Earlier this year, LG CNS Co., an information technology service affiliate of LG Group, hired Jin Yohan, head of E-Mart Inc.'s digital business, as the LG CNS AI Center chief.

Following LG, SK Group trailed with 53 AI executives – a significant increase from 14 the year prior.

SK Hynix Inc., the world’s second-largest memory chipmaker, played a critical role by creating a new AI infrastructure division and appointing 24 AI-focused executives under AI Infrastructure President Kim Joo-sun.

SK Telecom Co. had 22 AI executives at the end of the first quarter.

Other notable increases were spotted at KT Corp., which saw a doubling of its AI executives to 28 from 14.

Korea’s top business conglomerate, Samsung Group, had 19, followed by Hyundai Motor Co. with six and Naver Corp. with four.

Mirae Asset, POSCO Holdings Inc., Lotte and CJ each reported three AI executives, while HD Hyundai Co. and Kakao Corp. had two each.

Samsung Electronics Co., Korea’s top company and the world’s largest memory chipmaker, had 11 AI executives, including Hansung University AI professor Cho Hye-kyung, a Samsung outside director; Kim Dae-hyun, chief of Samsung Research Global AI Center; and Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) Vice President Ryu Kyung-dong, formerly the Google Android Automotive chief.

Analysts said the rapid increase in AI executive appointments underscores the strategic importance of AI in enhancing competitiveness and innovation across various industries in Korea.

Write to Jeong-Soo Hwang at hjs@hankyung.com

In-Soo Nam edited this article.