SK Group to invest 1.3 tln won in R&D this year

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- SK Group, South Korea's third-largest conglomerate,
said Wednesday it plans to spend 1.3 trillion won (US$1 billion) on research and
development (R&D) this year in an effort to find new growth engines.

The amount marks an 18 percent increase from a year earlier and the group's
biggest-ever annual R&D investment, SK Group said in a statement.
The group plans to focus on new growth sectors such as renewable energy,
information technology, life science and display technology.
SK Group will hire 1,000 new employees this year, up 25 percent from its original
recruitment plan, it said. Last year, the group hired 1,200 new employees.
The group added it plans to spend 5.7 trillion won on research and development
activities until 2012.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
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