Hyundai Elevator (CEO Song Seung-bong) and KT (Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu) announced that on November 27 they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Connected Elevator business at the Hyundai Group Building, joining forces to develop next-generation elevators incorporating ICT (Information & Communication Technology). The signing ceremony was attended by Cho Jae-cheon, Acting Head of Hyundai Elevator's Elevator Business Division, and Lee Hyun-seok, Head of KT's Device Business Unit, along with other key officials from both companies.
A Connected Elevator is a next-generation elevator that uses ICT to enhance passenger convenience through connectivity with smart devices and service robots, security and safety features, and artificial intelligence (AI) call and voice command systems. In addition, the two companies plan to create synergies in the advertising business by jointly developing elevators with built-in monitors, among other initiatives.
Cho Jae-cheon, Acting Division Head at Hyundai Elevator, said, “We are pleased to have laid the foundation for developing customer-centric, next-generation elevators based on the strong ICT capabilities of KT, Korea's leading telecommunications company, together with our own R&D and maintenance technologies,” adding, “We will strive to create new, convenient, and safe elevators through our domestic research and engineering teams.”
Lee Hyun-seok, Head of Business Unit at KT, said, “We expect that combining the manufacturing and maintenance technologies of Hyundai Elevator, the industry's number one company, with KT's ICT technology will give us a competitive edge in the new field of connected elevators,” adding, “Going forward, KT will continue to strengthen cooperation with various industries by leveraging ICT technologies such as AI, 5G, and IoT.”