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[Alpha Biz=(Chicago) Reporter Paul Lee] Naver Cloud sent SK Telecom a certificate of contents saying, "Please refrain from taking out artificial intelligence (AI) personnel." Competition between companies is intensifying over super-large AI development.
According to Naver Cloud on the 20th, the company sent SK Telecom a certification of contents with such warnings through law firm Jungjin on the 15th of this month. The proof of content said, "We cannot tolerate hiring a series of executives and employees, including hiring Chung Seok-geun, former head of Naver Clover CIC, as the head of SK Telecom's U.S. corporation." Naver Cloud understands that five leaders who worked with Vice President Chung have submitted their resignations to move to SK Telecom.
"We have judged that SK Telecom has violated laws such as the ban on competition business and the Unfair Competition Prevention Act in the delegation contract," Naver Cloud said. "We can file an injunction against the transfer and file a lawsuit for damages."
The incident began when Jung Seok-geun, vice president of SK Telecom's global and AI tech division, moved his nest from Naver Cloud. In April 2020, Vice President Chung became the CEO of Naver's in-house independent company (CIC) 'Clover CIC’' and this year he is the chief strategy officer (CSO) of Naver Cloud I resigned last April. After leaving the company, Chung moved to SK Telecom America, which is in charge of global business and venture investment, and also became the head of the global and AI tech business in June. In particular, Vice President Chung played a major role in developing and servicing the super-large AI model "HyperClover" while serving as CIC of Naver Clova in 2021.
SK Telecom said, "There seems to be a misunderstanding," and "we will solve the problem through communication with Naver Cloud."
AlphaBIZ 폴 리(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
