Good morning, and good evening. Thank you all for joining this conference call, and now we will begin the conference of the fiscal year 2023 fourth quarter earnings results by LG Uplus. This conference will start with a presentation, followed by a divisional Q&A session. Our call is being webcasted on our homepage so that you can follow the conference simultaneously. Today's conference call will be presented for one hour, and due to schedule, we would appreciate if questions are limited to two per person. Now we will begin the conference of the fiscal year 2023 fourth quarter earnings results by LG Uplus.
[Foreign language].
Good afternoon, I am Seong Hyun- Mo, Head of IR at LG Uplus. We would like to begin the fourth quarter 2023 earnings presentation of LG Uplus. Please refer to our Q4 earnings presentation and note that revenue breakdown of each business and details of operating expense are on the basis that excludes LG HelloVision for the benefit of ease of comparison. As a disclaimer also, all of the projections we are providing today may change subject to macroeconomic backdrop. We will also be providing consecutive interpretation for the benefit of our overseas investors. We will now begin with Q4 performance highlights, which will be followed by a Q&A at the end. With that said, I would like to turn it over to our CFO, Yeo Myung-hee, who will run through Q4 and FY 2023 earnings and business results.
[Foreign language].
Hello, I'm Yeo Myeong-Hui, the CFO.
Thank you to our analysts and investors for joining Q4 2023 earnings conference call of LG Uplus.
[Foreign language].
In FY 2023, a lot has changed in the business environment as we come into the post-COVID era. On steep rise in inbound foreign tourists, telco's roaming revenue has gone up, and OTT's impact on the media market has grown, while preference for low-end rate plans has fueled the MVNO market growth.
[Foreign language].
LG Uplus responded nimbly against such drastic changes seen in the market, growing our roaming revenue two-fold versus 2022, and repositioned IPTV to OTT TV with enhanced convenience for OTT usage. Also, supported by sustained growth of MVNO and IoT subscription, wireless subscription count posted explosive growth of more than 25%, driving changes in the market share.
[Foreign language].
At the beginning of 2023, LG Uplus announced its transformation into becoming a digital innovator and its commitment to broadening the platform business, in line with which we undertook meaningful platform businesses in both B2C and B2B.
[Foreign language].
In B2C, to offer a broader choice and stronger digital experience to users, we launched hyper-personalized rate plan called Nerget, which has won good market reception... and Studio X+U, which is the center for our content production, showcased 16 content titles, providing new enjoyment to our viewership, quite distinctive to LG Uplus's original content. Also, cumulative user count for Spoky reached above 30 million, while U +Kok , which is a mobile shopping platform, saw its cumulative sales grow by 76% versus last year.
[Foreign language].
In B2B space, we were an exclusive supplier of in-vehicle wireless communication to Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, and expanded into supplying integrated infotainment system for certain Toyota models, which helped to bolster LG Uplus's market competitiveness in connected car segment. Also, through VoltUp , our EV charging brand, we are driving expansion of the charging business. We're also gradually building up scale for new businesses of AI contact center, AICC, SOHO DX, and robots, so that we may create a new engine for future growth.
[Foreign language].
With that, let's move on to Q4 and FY 2023 financial results. Consolidated service revenue for Q4 was up 2.2% year-over-year and 3.6% on quarter, reaching KRW 3,009.8 billion. Full year service revenue posted 2% year-over-year growth, reporting KRW 11,636.4 billion.
Separate basis, full year service revenue was KRW 10,735.1 billion, growing 2.3% versus last year.
[Foreign language].
Consolidated Q4 operating profit came in at KRW 195.5 billion, with full year operating profit down 7.7% year-over-year at KRW 998 billion, with standalone OP at KRW 987.2 billion.
[Foreign language].
Consolidated Q4 EBITDA was KRW 874.2 billion, down 3.7% year-over-year, while annual EBITDA was up 1% on-year, reaching KRW 3,569.3 billion, sustaining the uptrend in operational cash flow.
[Foreign language].
Consolidated Q4 net profit was KRW 105.2 billion, and full-year net profit reported KRW 630.2 billion.
Dividend per share for 2023, including the interim payment, is KRW 651 per share, which is equivalent to 43% payout ratio. Full year CapEx for 2023 was KRW 2,514.3 billion, up 3.9% year-over-year.
[Foreign language].
In terms of consolidated financial position, as at end of 2023, total asset was KRW 20,170.6 billion, total liability, KRW 11,360.8 billion. Shareholder equity was at KRW 8,756.8 billion. Debt to equity ratio improved 4.3 percentage points year to date, and net debt ratio increased 4.2 percentage points on the back of higher leverage.
[Foreign language].
This ends the report on business and financial performance. We will go into business breakdown and outlook.
[Foreign language].
First is on the mobile business, and I am Lee Jae-Won, Head of MX Digital Innovation Group.
[Foreign language].
... Q4 mobile service revenue was up 1.6% on year, reaching KRW 1,501.4 billion. FY 2023 full year revenue was up 2.6% on year to KRW 5,981.4 billion.
[Foreign language].
Total mobile subscription count was up 26.1% year-over-year, reaching 25,097,000. Of the total, MNO 5G subscriber count was 7.04 million, growing 16.2% versus last year, accounting for 64.3% of total handset subscribers. MVNO subscriber count was 6,327,000, up 62.9% year-over-year, keeping pace with the high growth trajectory.
[Foreign language].
Marketing spend for 2023 was stable at KRW 2,164.6 billion, which is down 4.9% year-over-year.
[Foreign language].
From the mobile business in 2023, on top of the robust growth that we've seen, there were both meaningful, qualitative, and quantitative achievements. With large growth from MNO subscriber loop, market share of three telcos, which remained sticky over the years, started to shift for the first time. While Yudok and mid-tier plan for 5G, led by Nerget pricing plan and youth plan for younger segments and rate plans for senior citizens, all helped to expand customers' choice, as well as helped users save up on telco spending.
[Foreign language].
Yudok, which is our subscription service, and Nerget, which is our hyper-personalized platform, continued to expand on their user benefit offerings in Q4. By paying KRW 9,900 per month as subscription fee, users can pick and choose the subscription service of choice, and we ran Yudok Pick promotion, offering one OTT product and subscription vouchers.
Nerget partnered up with Somssidang, which is a platform for hobbies and leisure activities, where customers can choose and experience various different hobbies and activities firsthand. LG Uplus will continue to grow this life platform, going beyond the boundaries of telco products.
[Foreign language].
Studio X+U is our specialized content brand, and we showcased a total of 16 programs, three mid-form dramas, and 13 pieces from the entertainment genre. High Cookie, which is a mid-form drama, aired in Netflix, aired on Netflix, and it ranked one in non-original series category and ranked two on the top ten list of Netflix Korea. The final episode of Night Has Come ranked top two in Netflix.
Global OTT, Rakuten Viki, whose services around 190 countries and other global OTTs, have confirmed airing of the drama, paving the way for exporting of content to the global market.
[Foreign language].
As mentioned before, Spoky, the sports platform, received raving reviews from sports fans and amassed more than 30 million cumulative users since its launch. It passed 15 million cumulative user count in May 2023, following its launch in October 2022, and in December, surpassed 30 million count, sustaining a steep growth trend. User growth was fueled by offering something to be enjoyed all year around and bringing innovation to sports fans experience.
[Foreign language].
In 2024, we will solidify our platform business by growing the mobile subscriber base of LG Uplus, and also maximize convenience for users through digital transformation, which will also drive company's bottom line improvement and build a basis for sustainable growth.
[Foreign language] .
Next is on Smart Home, and I'm Park Chan-Seung, Head of Home Niverse.
[Foreign language].
I will start with performance highlights of Smart Home for the fourth quarter. Q4 Smart Home revenue was up 0.2% year-over-year, reaching KRW 594.3 billion. FY 2023 revenue posted 2.3% year-over-year growth, coming in at KRW 2,398.7 billion.
[Foreign language].
IPTV revenue in Q4 was down 3.7% year-over-year to KRW 319.8 billion, while FY 2023 revenue was up 0.2% on year, reporting KRW 1,328.5 billion. Q4 internet revenue posted 5.2% growth year-over-year, reaching KRW 274.5 billion, driven by giga subscriber growth. Full year basis revenue came in at KRW 1,070.2 billion, posting 5.1% year-over-year growth.
[Foreign language].
IPTV subscriber count reached 5,445,000, up 1.7% versus last year, while internet subscriber count posted 4.6% year-over-year growth, reaching 5,161,000.
[Foreign language].
Following the launch of U+tv N ext 2.0 back in 2023, IPTV and LG Uplus sought ways to leverage OTT as a gateway. With faster transition speed between channels, improved UI and UX, and personalized recommendations and search, based on the integration of our VOD service and all the other OTT services, we were able to effect a shift in IPTV paradigm to one that is geared towards viewers and OTTs.
[Foreign language].
By bringing next generation MSA technology to IPTV, we were able to also enhance operational stability of the media platform and address users' pain points more quickly.
[Foreign language].
In Q4, we released mobile IPTV device, U+tv Free 4, enabling IPTV viewing anywhere inside one's household. U+tv Free first launched back in December, December 12th of 20, December of 2018 , excuse me, and it has been used by 300,000 subscribers. We will broaden the device lineup tailored to different user requirements so as to enhance users' viewing experience and to improve on device usability.
[Foreign language].
In 2024, smart home business will continue to expand and build on its OTT partnerships, underpinned by better viewing experience delivered to our media audiences. We'll scale up AI-powered service offering so as to bolster our competitive edge.
[Foreign language].
Next is on B2B infrastructure, and I am Park Sung-Yul, Head of B2B Business.
[Foreign language].
I will begin with major highlights of B2B infrastructure business for Q4.
[Foreign language].
Supported by balanced growth between existing and new businesses, Q4 B2B business reported KRW 523.9 billion in revenue, posting high growth of 17.2% year-over-year, and 29.7% Q-on-Q. FY 2023 revenue posted 7.4% growth, reaching KRW 1,705.7 billion.
[Foreign language].
On the back of NI revenue growth, Q4 solutions revenue was up 29.5% year-over-year to KRW 223.1 billion, while FY 2023 solutions revenue posted 9.6% year-over-year growth to KRW 579.9 billion, which helped to fuel B2B infrastructure growth.
[Foreign language].
IDC business in Q4 posted KRW 87.3 billion in revenue, up 12.3% year-over-year, and FY 2023 revenue came in at KRW 326.4 billion, posting 16.3% year-over-year growth, maintaining the trend of high growth.
[Foreign language].
On the back of high growth from domestic and international lease lines, Q4 enterprise line posted 8.4% year-over-year growth and 2.7% growth for FY 2023.
[Foreign language].
In October, we completed the construction of ESG IDC Pyeongchon Center Number 2, built with both quality and the environment in mind. Pyeongchon Center Number 2 spans three basement floors and nine stories, size equivalent to six soccer fields that can accommodate more than 200,000 servers. We will leverage this capacity to quickly respond to cloud transitions and growing client demand for data centers for their hyperscale AI and big data requirements.
[Foreign language].
The Number 2 Pyeongchon Center uses renewable energy sources, saving up to 121 GW of energy, and is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 55,000 tons. Riding on the digital transformation wave, LG Uplus has incorporated energy saving solutions underpinned by the ESG focused management approach.
[Foreign language].
We also plan to drive B2B AI business led by AICC and A- AI solutions for small business operators. We have U+ AICC On- Premise, U+ AICC Cloud, and My Store AI as three major service pillars, which we will take to market by focusing our capabilities. As Korea's AICC market domestically is expected to grow to about KRW 500 billion in size by 2030, we will leverage our know-how in building call center infrastructures while strategically employing AI capabilities of our group affiliates to be at the very forefront of B2B AI platform market.
[Foreign language].
In the meantime, LG Uplus has been scaling up data analytics of Uplus Robot, which is a command and control platform for robots. Going forward, we will be using the robot platform to provide customer reception services, do delivery management, and connect with elevators, and adding other features based on customer needs. Also, by expanding the scope of data for analytics, we will explore what additional features are needed to provide better customer experience.
[Foreign language].
B2B infrastructure business of LG Uplus in 2024 will focus on solution-centric new business expansion and DX businesses in order to improve our business resilience and speed up new business growth.
[Foreign language].
This ends the highlight of each business. We will invite back our CFO to present on 2024 business objectives and outlook before we close.
[Foreign language].
In 2024, we will digitalize telecommunications by employing strategies to expand platform business, digital, and customer experience, while bolstering our platform competitiveness by internalizing AI and data business and capabilities. Also, to achieve qualitative as well as quantitative growth of our platform business, we will make further inroads into B2C and B2B segments.
[Foreign language].
For B2C platform business, our efforts will focus on expanding the user base to gain visible results early on, while we select and focus on business areas with higher upside for success.
[Foreign language].
In the B2C market, where we see new opportunities emerge, riding on the tide of DX popularization, we will expand AICC and EV charging business, thereby discovering and fostering new business opportunities well in advance.
For AICC, by collaborating with LG AI Research, we developed large language model called ixi-GEN, which can be used across various domains including telecom, platform finance, logistics, and manufacturing. This LLM will be used as a key backbone of our AI business to innovate customer experience and diversify revenue streams.
[Foreign language].
Accordingly, we are guiding a 2% service revenue growth, or equivalent to KRW 10.95 trillion on a standalone basis as the target for LG Uplus in 2024. We will also continue with the dividend policy of returning about 40% of separate basis net profit to shareholders for upcoming three years. We will stick to the levels of FY 2023 DPS at minimum, so as to enhance shareholder value and provide visibility into future payout.
[Foreign language].
Underpinned by quality growth from telco business in 2024 and efficient management, we will improve profitability and solidify foundation for future growth on the back of new business expansion, centering around CX, DX, and platform business. We will also live up to our ESG responsibilities and be a company that enhances corporate value and maximizes shareholder returns. Thank you.
[Foreign language].
This ends the earnings presentation. We would now like to take your questions.
[Foreign language].
Now, Q&A session will begin. Please press star one if you have any questions. Questions will be taken according to the order you have pressed the number star one. For cancellation, please press star two, that is star and two on your phone.
[Foreign language].
The first question will be provided by Eun- Jung Shin from DB Financial Investment. Please go ahead with your question.
[Foreign language].
Thank you for taking my question. I have two questions that I want to ask. The first one has to do with your guidance for 2024, where you've guided a service revenue target of KRW 10.95 trillion. What will be the strategy that's going to get you to achieve this guidance? My second question relates to your Studio X+U. You provide us with some details on the 2023 performance, but can you elaborate a little more and provide a bit more color in terms of what aspects actually make up those performance? What will be your strategy going forward for year 2024, as well as lineup of content?
[Foreign language].
Yes, this is the CFO. I will respond to your question on 2024 guidance and the strategies that we will employ. Now, regarding the guidance and the outlook on a separate basis, we have shared that our service revenue guidance is 2% growth. Now, in light of the difficulties that we will face as we go into this year in terms of slowing 5G penetration and continuing net reduction of the handset market, we do expect there will be quite a bit of challenge lying ahead in our mobile business. However, by expanding the digital channels, we are committed to enhancing profitability, and by expanding the platform service that come close to the daily lives of our customers, we will be able to strengthen competitiveness of our telecom services.
[Foreign language].
For the Smart Home business, in order to better respond to the phenomenon of cord cutting as the influence of OTT has become much more prevalent, rather than engaging in, reckless competition, we're going to stick to a open platform strategy. We will be providing high quality IPTV services through a differentiated customer experience, triggered by the improvements and enhancements that we make on UI and UX. Hence, we will focus our efforts around improving the ARPU of IPTV.
[Foreign language].
For B2B infrastructure, with the launch of the Pyeongchon Number 2 data center, we will be able to sustain our IDC top line growth, and we will actively leverage IXI, which is the company's AI platform, to expand on our AICC business. We will also fuel further expansion of new business areas, including smart mobility and DX solutions, so that we may lay a very solid basis for future growth.
[Foreign language].
It is our view that if we are able to strike a right balance between the current and existing business with the new, emerging businesses, we will be able to amply achieve the 2024 guidance target.
[Foreign language].
Now, on top of that, we will be mindful of controlling the bottom line.
We will be efficient in the amount of resources that we invest and put in, and through innovating our cost structure, we will be able to improve on the overall P&L structure that is related to doing, related to our business. We will make sure that we manage our profit and cash flow in a way that is steady.
[Foreign language].
And aside from what we disclosed today, the payout ratio of more than 40% and keeping to the minimum DPS level, we will continuously think hard as to what other options that we can choose to further maximize shareholder return in a long term perspective.
[Foreign language].
Hello, I'm CCO Lee Duk-Jae. I will respond to your question about year 2023 performance of the content business, as well as our plans for 2024.
[Foreign language].
So as mentioned during the presentation, in Q4 of 2023, Studio X+U, which is our group of studios specializing in producing the content, have been able to showcase their capabilities in making a number of successes in the market.
[Foreign language].
So the first mid-form drama since the launch of the studio in October was High Cookie, and since it aired through the U+Mobile TV, in terms of number of views and new viewership, it marked ranked number one, and also at the same time, on the Netflix platform, it was able to become a top two in terms of the mid-form dramas.
[Foreign language].
Also, Night Has Come, which is a drama that was launched in December, actually broke the record that High Cookie had won, and it landed as top two program and content on Netflix.
And also it was the first content that we were successful in distributing overseas, basically selling it to about 190 countries around the world, which really attested to the studio's capabilities in terms of global expansion.
[Foreign language].
And we've received reviews from the viewers that these two dramas and stories provided a very compressed and fast-moving storyline. And despite the fact that LG Uplus is a late entrant into the content business, we were able to prove that we have the capability to become a forerunner in the midform content segment.
[Foreign language].
So in 2024 as well, we will find and produce and develop new stories with fast-paced story, that is, so these midform content, so that we can be considered as a studio that create the hottest content of the day.
[Foreign language].
In January, we launched a new entertainment program called Man in Europe, casting the soccer legend, Ji-sung Park and Evra. In just about two weeks after it was aired through U+ Mobile TV, thanks to its uniqueness, it landed a number one ranking in terms of the number of views as well as new viewership. ...
[Foreign language].
We also have high hopes because we are seeing new inflow of young viewers in the 20s and 30s coming onto the platform, so we look forward to better performance as we go forward.
[Foreign language].
We've already made pre-sale of a mid-form drama called Branding in Seongsu-dong, and have also casted Cho Yeo-jeong and Dex, who are recent quite popular celebs in Korea, and have produced together with a top ranking producing crew, a mystery series, Tarot, an entertainment program.
With such a novel and fresh and variety array of lineup of content, in 2024, we will be offering a new value that is very distinct to LG Uplus.
[Foreign language].
And also we have highly anticipated mid-form drama called No Way Out, which is upcoming in 2024, and it's casted, it has casted, many stars, many Korean stars, many Korean stars, and which will be aired and released across the global OTTs. And we believe that this could be the first, first program or the first drama that could really set itself up as a global tentpole content. In 2024 as well, we will further bolster the strength of our content and competitiveness and sell various different content IPs to different parts of the world, so that we may further strengthen the business of Studio X+U.
[Foreign language].
Next question, please.
[Foreing language].
The following question will be presented by Soo-Jin Kim from Mirae Asset Securities. Please go ahead with your question.
[Foreign language].
Thank you for taking my question. I have two questions that I would like to ask. All of the three mobile tech telcos are very much focused on conducting the AI business. Can you provide us with an update of what LG Uplus's efforts are behind AI initiative? It seems like the key way to monetize AI technology is through AI contact centers. Can you also provide us with an update on that? Also, do you think that it would be possible for AICC to make meaningful top-line contribution?
[Foreign language].
Hello, I am Seong Jun-Hyun, in charge of AI and data products.
[Foreign language].
So our approach is, rather than taking a full stack investment approach, making investments to all of the sleeves and areas regarding AI technology, we want to align with U+ 3.0 strategy, so that we can innovate customer experience through our own services and also strengthen the new business competitiveness. So our strategy is select and focus.
[Foreign language].
So based upon the AI talent that we have secured so far, as well as the technology that we have, and bringing together EXAONE, the technology developed from LG AI Research, we've came up with the AI brand dubbed ixi. It's a hyperscale AI platform. ixi means connecting people to people.
[Foreign language].
So based upon this technology, in 2023, we came up with chatbots that is-...
[inaudible], where that uses conversation, basically providing conversational services for Yudok service, and also came up with advertisement or commercial, made commercials for the youth, which is the younger segment rate plan, and have provided a predictive feature or forecast, forecasting, basically, who the winner is going to be for a professional baseball series through the Spoky service.
[Foreign language].
Also, based on our in-house reference, we are seeing some business results come through from the B2B AICC business.
[Foreign language].
And in 2024, we're going to bring this hyperscale AI platform and apply that in developing AI agent, which is an assistant service, and also bring it to all of the areas of LG Uplus services so that we can create concrete results.
[Foreign language].
Most recently, we've made equity investment in the amount of KRW 10 billion into an AI startup company called 42Maru, and we've entered into an MOU for business cooperation.
[Foreign language].
So 42Maru is a startup company that has a solution to further improve on the accuracy of the answers given, and also they have technology to minimize the AI hallucination effect. They also have a very good cost efficiency.
[Foreign language].
So we are planning to collaborate with 42Maru in winning different B2B business projects, underpinned by the use of our capabilities in AICC and large language models, so that we may be able to drive up our competitiveness in the market.
[Foreign language].
Hello, I am Park Sung-Yul, responding to your question about AI contact center. At AI at LG Uplus, supported by our AICC business, we want to really target the AI B2B market.
In order to do that, we have an on-prem solution as well as cloud solution when it comes to AICC, and we are, at this point, employing the use of the digital transformation, the DX solution, to actually make inroads into the AI-based segment.
[Foreign language].
In particular, out of the three telcos, we are number one in terms of the contact center business, and we were able to build a lot of know-how and experience as we undertook this IP CC business, the know-how of which we are using to lead the AICC market.
[Foreign language].
In order to provide differentiated services vis-a-vis our competitors, we are closely working together with AI Institute inside the LG group of companies.
Through the model, the LLM AI or the hyperscale AI model, excuse me, EXAONE, which was developed with the LG AI Research, we are going to apply that to all of our AICC services so that we may continue to scale up our features.
[Foreign language].
With the coming of the ChatGPT, there has been heightened interest on generative AI. However, there is still no clear monetization model or business models that exist at this point. At LG Uplus, we're going to use the strategy of having the U+ AICC on-prem, which is the built up type, and AICC cloud, which employs the subscription type, as well as use My Shop AI, which is for smaller shop operators. By using these three pillars of services, we will build out our own revenue structure in the domain of AI B2B.
[Foreign language].
In the year 2023, we successfully completed the FCC project with KB Financial Group and also have won Shinhan Bank's AICC project. So we were able to expand our presence in the financial industry. Now, in 2024, we're going to focus more on the subscription-based services and collaborate with leading solution providers from each of the verticals, so that we may enter into other sectors other than financial sector.
[Foreign language].
Well, that brings us to the end of our earnings presentation for Q4 of 2023. Thank you very much for joining us today, and if you have any unanswered questions, please feel free to contact us at the IR team. Thank you very much!