KG Group chairman encourages new hires: 'Don't be afraid to fail'

KG Group Chairman Kwak Jae-sun met personally with the group's newest employees, delivering a message of challenge and growth.

KG Group held its integrated onboarding program "Welcome to KG" for 193 first-half new hires Tuesday at KG Tower Harmony Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul.

The event brought together new recruits from major affiliates including KG Mobility, KG Inicis, KG Steel, KG Chemical, KG ICT and KG F&B. Both fresh graduates and mid-career hires attended, marking the first time employees from different companies and roles across the group had gathered at the group level.

"Welcome to KG" is an onboarding program designed to help new members understand the group's growth history and corporate culture while building networks across affiliates. The program goes beyond basic orientation, focusing on fostering a sense of belonging as members of the broader group.

Participants introduced themselves and exchanged information about their respective companies and roles through icebreaking and networking activities. Given that KG Group's affiliates operate across diverse business areas, the session gave new hires a chance to understand one another within the shared KG organization.

The main program covered KG Group's history, the status of its affiliates, core values and ethical management principles. Attendees learned about the group's growth trajectory and management philosophy, and heard about the roles they are expected to play within the organization.

The highlight of the day was a session titled "Meeting the Chairman." Kwak welcomed the new hires in person, outlining the group's growth story and future vision. A question-and-answer session followed, with attendees raising topics ranging from workplace life and career development to challenge and growth, and Kwak offered advice drawn from his own experience.

"Each and every one of you is the protagonist who will shape KG's future," Kwak said in his welcome address. "I hope you will nurture your potential by embracing a mindset of constant learning and challenge, without fear of failure." He added that "mutual respect built on courtesy and trust, and growing together, is the organizational culture KG pursues," and said the group would support their new endeavors.

A networking dinner with group executives followed the program, giving new hires a relaxed setting to connect with colleagues across affiliates and roles and begin building relationships within the group.

KG Group has been expanding its business base across a range of affiliates in automobiles, steel, chemicals and electronic payments. KG Mobility in particular has been accelerating its push into overseas markets — earlier this year it surpassed cumulative sales of 50,000 units in Turkey, one of its key export markets.

As the group's business scope widens, the importance of a shared organizational culture and talent development framework across affiliates grows with it. The group sees it as essential that new hires not only adapt to their individual companies' work but also develop a broader understanding of KG Group's overall direction.

KG Group runs "Welcome to KG" twice a year, in the first and second halves. Through the program, the group aims to help new employees settle into the organization and share its core values and management philosophy.

"We are supporting new hires so they can get off to a stable start as members of the group," a KG Group official said. "We will continue to expand exchanges among affiliates and develop programs that foster a healthy organizational culture."