KTF moves to boost efficiency

The nation’s second-largest mobile carrier, KTF Co., yesterday celebrated the opening of its new headquarters in Jamsil, southeastern Seoul. The old premises were on Teheran Road, in southern Seoul. KTF expects its new office to bring enhanced business efficiency, a company spokesman said, as various departments that had been scattered around southern Seoul are now all in one place. At a reception held at the Lotte Hotel, Cho Young-chu, KTF’s chief executive officer, said, “Jamsil means ‘a room for raising silkworms,’ and just as silkworms turn into moths and eventually fly, KTF will grow to break through the domestic boundary and march into the global market.” KTF has been busy recently: Earlier this month, the company signed an agreement with NTT ToCoMo Inc., a leading Japanese mobile carrier, which will make it easier for KTF customers to use their phones overseas. In addition, KTF recently announced plans to boost its forecast investment of 350 billion won ($346 million) in the next-generation mobile communication standard W-CDMA. Mr. Cho, who next month will mark his sixth month at the helm of KTF, announced at his inauguration his intention to go beyond merely “satisfying” customers and push a management style that actively “serves” customers. The engineer-turned-chief executive has also been trying to listen to his employees more, a company spokesman said, believing that discussion can lead to innovation. Last month, Mr. Cho launched a Change and Innovation Committee by selecting 20 talented employees who will report any new ideas directly to him. by Seo Ji-eun, Lee Hee-sung