(Photo= Yonhap news)

 

[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Sangjin] SK Telecom is moving forward with the sale of its subsidiary SK Communications, which operates the portal site "Nate" and messaging service "NateOn." This decision is seen as part of a broader business restructuring (rebalancing) strategy within SK Group.

According to the ICT industry on the 10th, SK Telecom has begun the process of selecting an advisor to facilitate the sale of SK Communications. The company is considering various options, including selling the entire stake or breaking up the assets for sale.

Once a leading IT company, known for services like Cyworld, Nate, and NateOn, SK Communications has struggled to adapt to the mobile era. Nate, which once rivaled Naver and ranked second in the portal market, now holds an insignificant market share. NateOn, which maintained its dominance in the PC messenger market until 2012, has since lost ground to KakaoTalk. Last year, SK Communications posted an operating loss of 8.65 billion KRW.

In addition, SK Group is reportedly considering selling its stake in F&U Credit Information, a subsidiary that handles the collection of unpaid telecom bills for SK Telecom. SKT holds a 50% stake in F&U Credit Information.

 

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