As artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a key driver of corporate competitiveness, SK Telecom has embarked on a sweeping transformation aimed at restructuring its organization around AI. The company’s vision extends beyond improving efficiency to establishing AI-powered work systems that will evolve the company into a future-ready enterprise.
SK Telecom announced on June 16 that it is accelerating the rollout of “AX Innovation 2.0,” an initiative designed to help employees integrate AI naturally into all aspects of their work. The program aims not only to automate tasks and enhance productivity but also to drive innovation in business models.
At the recently held “2026 New Icheon Forum,” SK Telecom CEO Jeong Jae-heon outlined a new direction for embedding AI into corporate culture. He emphasized that companies must move beyond improving workflows and build systems in which AI serves as a core engine of growth.
The centerpiece of the initiative is the deployment of AI as an active participant in day-to-day operations. SK Telecom plans to create an environment in which AI agents handle a wide range of tasks while collaborating with employees.
Under this model, AI agents will take over repetitive tasks such as report writing, information retrieval, and data organization, allowing employees to focus more on strategic planning, innovation, and customer value creation.
To support this transition, the company will establish a dedicated governance framework for AI agents. The framework will define operational roles, access rights, and data usage standards to ensure that AI systems can function safely and effectively within the organization.
SK Telecom is also expanding experimentation with new ways of working through an “AX Sandbox” program. The initiative encourages employees across departments and job levels to redesign workflows from the ground up with AI utilization in mind, aiming to identify practical cases of workplace innovation.
According to the company, pilot projects have already demonstrated improvements in work speed and decision-making efficiency. In some cases, the time required for planning and data analysis was significantly reduced, while collaboration among teams became more streamlined.
To further strengthen AI adoption, SK Telecom plans to integrate its internal AI platforms and development environments. By linking various AI services and connecting them to major business systems, the company aims to make AI tools more accessible and expand their application across operations.
The company is also building support systems to foster AI capabilities among employees. Dedicated personnel will lead AI initiatives within each organization, while expanded training programs will provide employees with practical skills that can be immediately applied in the workplace.
Industry observers say SK Telecom’s strategy reflects a broader trend among Korean companies moving beyond the adoption of generative AI toward redesigning organizational structures and business processes around AI.
“Competition in AI is shifting from acquiring technology to driving real workplace innovation,” said an industry official. “Efforts to transform both corporate culture and operational processes simultaneously carry significant implications for long-term competitiveness.”
SK Telecom said it will continue creating an environment in which employees can naturally incorporate AI into their daily work, enhancing both productivity and business competitiveness.
“Time and capabilities gained through AI will become the driving force behind new growth opportunities,” CEO Jeong said. “We will continue supporting employees so they can leverage AI to achieve greater outcomes.”
