Cho Hyun-bum, chairman of South Korea's Hankook & Company Group, made his first official management-related appearance since being released on parole on July 30 by attending the group's August 20-21 affiliate innovation meeting at Pangyo Technoplex in Gyeonggi Province. About 50 senior executives, including Vice Chairman Lee Soo-il, attended. The group said Cho's participation was not an official return to management and that no formal timetable has been set. Artificial intelligence transformation (AX) was the central theme, with the group seeking to build AI-based operating standards for affiliates' manufacturing and logistics sites to improve productivity, quality and profitability. Executives also reviewed first-half results, mid- to long-term strategies, external risks and collaboration across the integrated Hankook brand. Hanon Systems held its strategy meeting in May and Hankook Tire & Technology is scheduled to hold one in October.