KT's process to appoint a new CEO has been tainted by overt political pressure, leading to the resignation of candidate Yun Kyung-lim and significant shareholder frustration. This event reflects potential authoritarian influence in corporate governance, compromising the company’s independence.

A recent Thomson Reuters field study outlines key practices for minimizing forced labor in global supply chains through improved transparency, regular audits, and human rights impact assessments. As a major telecom provider, KT Corporation is encouraged to evaluate and strengthen its supply chain policies to ensure compliance with international labor standards and avoid complicity in systemic labor abuses.

KT Corporation announced a major restructuring program, including the creation of two subsidiaries and the elimination of thousands of jobs as part of its pivot towards an AI-centric business model. The mass layoffs and voluntary retirement scheme raise significant concerns about labor rights and worker exploitation, which can contribute to broader economic inequality and support conditions that favor authoritarian practices.

KT Corporation is under scrutiny for political interference in its executive decisions, notably failing to appoint a new CEO due to government pressure. The company has vowed to reform its governance, highlighting long-standing issues of political influence and lack of transparency.

KT's chairman Hwang Chang-gyu has been accused of employing former politicians and bureaucrats as lobbyists, suggesting a pattern of political entanglements and potential undermining of democratic norms. The allegations, reported by The Korea Times and raised by a Democratic Party member, indicate the company’s willingness to leverage political influence to secure favorable outcomes.

KT Corporation faced a $6.3 million penalty for FCPA violations, involving the creation of slush funds used to make illegal political contributions and gifts to government officials in Korea and Vietnam. High-level executives, including the CEO, were implicated, revealing deep-rooted issues in the company's political engagement and ethics.

KT Corp, South Korea's largest telecommunications provider, has settled with the SEC over FCPA charges related to improper payments and illegal political contributions in Korea and Vietnam. The settlement highlights systemic issues in internal controls and corporate governance that facilitated corrupt practices.