This year, Hanjin Group a South Korean ‘chaebol’ (a conglomerate run by one individual or family) primarily focused on transportation and logistics, celebrated their 80th birthday with a party in Seoul that set the direction for the next 25 years of business. At a Grand Hyatt Seoul gala for 400 guests, the group teased a future built on AI, space logistics and tighter aviation-logistics ties. The spotlight moment was the unveiling of Group VISION 2045, a plan aimed at turning Hanjin into a global, integrated mobility and logistics powerhouse by its 100th birthday.
The celebration
On 23 October, Hanjin Group celebrated its eight decades with a gala that mixed multimedia art and live orchestra. Chairman Walter Cho framed the group as a national pioneer in transport and logistics. Emily Cho, president and CMO of HANJIN Logistics, unveiled Group VISION 2045. The group reported last year’s numbers: assets KRW 58 trillion, revenue KRW 31 trillion and operating profit KRW 2.5 trillion. Hanjin now counts 42 affiliates and more than 40,000 employees worldwide.
About 400 guests attended, including government officials, ambassadors and business leaders. The theme was “The Art of Connection,” and the event leaned into the idea that Hanjin’s work is cultural as well as commercial. It was showmanship with a point: the group says logistics is about linking people and communities, not just moving boxes.
Chairman Walter Cho stressed continuity. He put the group’s growth alongside Korea’s rise and said Hanjin will keep “serving the nation through transportation,” while expanding its role globally.
Group VISION 2045
Vision 2045 is the big, long-term play. Emily Cho described it as the roadmap to a centennial company. The goals are bold and broad. They aim to turn Hanjin from a traditional shipping and airline group into an integrated mobility provider with tech at its core.
Emily Cho highlighted the figures behind the confidence: strong assets, healthy revenue and sustained profits. That balance sheet gives Hanjin room to invest, she said, and to bet on new tech and new markets.
Hanjin laid out seven strategic pillars to make Vision 2045 real. Short version:
- Move from logistics to integrated mobility across aerospace, future mobility and e-commerce.
- Lead with AI-based Hyper-Autonomous Logi-Tech.
- Build sustainable space logistics using defence and launch know-how.
- Deliver top-tier transport and logistics through digital transformation and advanced IT.
- Create new value via aviation-logistics synergy in tourism, hospitality and real estate.
- Invest heavily in talent to develop global logistics experts.
- Push ESG and Creating Shared Value initiatives for sustainable growth.
Those are not buzzwords on a slide. If executed, they would reshape how freight, passenger travel and even space missions are planned and run in the region.
New look, same roots
Hanjin also revealed a new corporate identity. The refreshed “H” keeps the group’s heritage while aiming for a cleaner, more global aesthetic. The new CI places the HANJIN GROUP wordmark next to Korean Air’s Taegeuk mark to show unity. The message is simple: legacy plus renewal.
For passengers, the changes won’t happen overnight but will likely mean smoother travel experiences and stronger connections between airlines, logistics, and e-commerce. Expect faster cargo handling, smarter technology, and more integrated travel services that combine flights, transfers and accommodation under one brand.
For the industry, Hanjin’s focus on AI, digital logistics and even space transport signals serious intent. The company isn’t just adapting to the future – it’s helping build it.
The bottom line
Hanjin’s 80th anniversary wasn’t just about nostalgia. It was a statement. Vision 2045 sets out a bold path that sees Hanjin growing from a shipping and airline conglomerate into a cornerstone of global mobility, connecting people and goods on Earth, and possibly beyond. Big ambitions backed by big experience. The next 20 years will show whether Hanjin’s plans truly take flight.
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