Biggest Shakeup in Two Decades Looms for SK After Deals Spree

SK Inc. has a problem: the second-biggest conglomerate in South Korea is too big after a $21 billion acquisition spree.

Chairman Chey Tae-won is meeting top executives controlling $240 billion worth of assets from artificial-intelligence chip supplier, to mobile carrier and battery maker, Friday. The results may kick off the biggest shake-up of the group since he took over more than two decades ago, analysts said.

Chey Tae-won

Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg

A six-year acquisition spree has burdened the group with 170 trillion won ($123 billion) worth of liabilities by one estimate, just when crown jewel SK Hynix Inc. and its affiliates are about to ...